“The Sage desires only one thing, virtue, and he is cautious about only one thing, vice. He is the same in every circumstance because what is most important lies within him, and not with external events, which are constantly changing.” — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share Image
“Throughout the day, practise bringing your attention back to the present moment, rather than allowing it to wander off into daydreams, rumination about the past, or worry about the future. ✽ If you have to think about something else, that’s okay, but try to keep one eye on the present moment, by noticing how you’re using your body and mind… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share
“Loving your fate and joyful acceptance Epictetus actually describes a three-stage process to his students, which relates to the discipline of desire. He begins by emphasizing the need for Stoics to train themselves rigorously to adhere to their principles, having certain phrases constantly ready-to-hand day and night. These should be written down, read over, analysed and discussed, until they have… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share
“According to the Stoics therefore a man is free if his desires are not thwarted. However, if we only desire what is within our control, then we can never be frustrated, and our freedom is guaranteed regardless of circumstances. By contrast, if we desire things which are potentially outside our control, then we become slaves to fortune and to our… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share
“It was a famous Stoic ‘paradox’ that the Sage is believed to be absolutely free, even when imprisoned or exiled by a powerful tyrant. This was often put to the test because ancient philosophers were quite frequently imprisoned, exiled or even executed! The freedom of the truly wise man consists in following his own rational nature, by doing what is… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share
“The Stoics, by contrast, believed that we are essentially social creatures, with a ‘natural affection’ and ‘affinity’ for all people. This forms the basis… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share Image
“As social beings, it is in our relationships that we have most opportunity to flourish. Indeed, the Stoics argued that our own self-interest, as rational beings, happens to coincide with the wellbeing of others. We flourish as individuals by attaining the virtues of wisdom and justice, but these bring us into greater harmony with the rest of mankind. Animals naturally… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share
“your choices themselves are the consequences of a massive string of causation, set in motion countless billions of years before you were even born,… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share Image
“The Sage desires only one thing, virtue, and he is cautious about only one thing, vice. He is the same in every circumstance because… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share Image
“Epictetus actually says all the enmity between people is down to a single judgement of this kind, they ‘put themselves and what belongs to themselves in the category of things which lie outside the sphere of volition’ (Discourses, 2.22). We see dogs playfully fawning on each other and might say that they ‘love’ one another as ‘friends’ but if we… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share
“Wild beasts run away from dangers when they see them. Once they have escaped, they are free of anxiety. But we are tormented by… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share Image
“Goodness in other people naturally arouses our affection and friendship, not because it’s of some material advantage to us, but because it’s the mirror… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share Image
“Even if we’ve never met them in person but only heard about them in stories, we are drawn to the wise and good, and… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share Image
