“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… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share Image
“The Stoics, by contrast, believed that we are essentially social creatures, with a ‘natural affection’ and ‘affinity’ for all people. This forms the basis of Stoic ‘philanthropy’, the rational love of our brothers and fellow citizens in the universe, or… — 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… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share Image
“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… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share Image
“According to the Stoics therefore a man is free if his desires are not thwarted. However, if we only desire what is within our… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share Image
“It was a famous Stoic ‘paradox’ that the Sage is believed to be absolutely free, even when imprisoned or exiled by a powerful tyrant.… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share Image
“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… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share Image
“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… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share Image
“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
“the famous Hymn to Zeus written by Cleanthes said: ‘The willing are led by fate, the reluctant dragged’.” — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share Image
“The majority of people pursue friendship for mutual advantage, in terms of ‘indifferent’ things such as wealth or reputation but this is not the… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share Image
“Whether we realize it or not, we are all living out the lives fated for us, either willingly or reluctantly. Zeno illustrated this with… — Donald J. Robertson Copy Share Image
