Don’t hope that events will turn out the way you want, welcome events in whichever way they happen: this is the path to peace.

Don’t hope that events will turn out the way you want, welcome events in whichever way they happen: this is the path to peace.

1080. The path to peace

What quality belongs to you? The intelligent use of impressions. If you use impressions as nature prescribes, go ahead and indulge your pride, because then you will be celebrating a quality distinctly your own.

What quality belongs to you? The intelligent use of impressions. If you use impressions as nature prescribes, go ahead and indulge your pride, because then you will be celebrating a quality distinctly your own.

1079. The use of impressions

It is not events that disturb people, it is their judgements concerning them.

It is not events that disturb people, it is their judgements concerning them.

1078. Facts vs value judgments

When you’re about to embark on any action, remind yourself what kind of action it is. If you’re going out to take a bath, set before your mind the things that happen at the baths, that people splash you, that people knock up against you, that people steal from you. And you’ll thus undertake the action in a surer manner if you say to yourself at the outset, ‘I want to take a bath and ensure at the same time that my choice remains in harmony with nature.’

When you’re about to embark on any action, remind yourself what kind of action it is. If you’re going out to take a bath, set before your mind the things that happen at the baths, that people splash you, that people knock up against you, that people steal from you. And you’ll thus undertake the action in a surer manner if you say to yourself at the outset, ‘I want to take a bath and ensure at the same time that my choice remains in harmony with nature.’

1077. You should always have two goals in mind

If you kiss your child or your wife, say to yourself that it is a human being that you're kissing; and then, if one of them should die, you won't be upset.

If you kiss your child or your wife, say to yourself that it is a human being that you're kissing; and then, if one of them should die, you won't be upset.

1076. Remember, we are all mortals

Cicero tells us that some indifferents are preferred for their own sake, some for the results they bring, some for both reasons.

565. Why some indifferents are preferred

Stoicism occupies a logical space between the kin philosophies of Cynicism and Aristotelianism.

564. Stoicism, Cynicism, and Aristotelianism

Virtue is all or nothing, and yet we can make progress toward it. How does this Stoic paradox work?

563. The drowning man metaphor

Cicero explains how Aristotelians and Stoics treat externals, such as health, wealth, and so on.

562. More on Aristotelians vs Stoics

Cicero reminds us that how we experience pain -- both physical and emotional -- in part depends on how we mentally approach the experience.

Cicero reminds us that how we experience pain -- both physical and emotional -- in part depends on how we mentally approach the experience.

561. On pain and mind

Aristotelianism and Stoicism differ in their conceptions of eudaimonia, the kind of life we should pursue. In a sense, they are both right.

560. Aristotelianism vs Stoicism

Unlike much modern thinking in moral philosophy, Stoicism is about intentions. Which doesn't mean Stoics don't care about consequences.

559. Intentions vs consequences

Cicero reminds us of the quintessential Stoic motto: we should live in accordance with nature. It's a crucial concept, spanning the arc of ancient Stoicism, from Zeno of Citium to Marcus Aurelius.

Cicero reminds us of the quintessential Stoic motto: we should live in accordance with nature. It's a crucial concept, spanning the arc of ancient Stoicism, from Zeno of Citium to Marcus Aurelius.

558. Living according to nature

Cicero articulates a Stoic syllogism aiming at demonstrating that the good life is a moral life. We look at whether the syllogism is valid and sound.

Cicero articulates a Stoic syllogism aiming at demonstrating that the good life is a moral life. We look at whether the syllogism is valid and sound.

557. Why a good life is a moral life

The wise person is happy because she is in complete control of the chief good in life: the moral good. Everything else is a preferred or dispreferred (moral) indifferent.

The wise person is happy because she is in complete control of the chief good in life: the moral good. Everything else is a preferred or dispreferred (moral) indifferent.

556. The chief good is the moral good

Occasional reflections on the wisdom of Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers with Prof. Massimo Pigliucci. Complete index by author and source at https://massimopigliucci.org/stoic-podcast/. (cover art by Marek Škrabák; original music by Ian Jolin-Rasmussen).

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