--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In my mind, there is no reason why…" description: "\"In my mind, there is no reason why Stoicism shouldn't become as popular as Buddhism, especially in the Western world, where the dominant culture, Chris..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bf/massimo-pigliucci-18479_buddhism_in-my-mind-there-is-no-reason-why-stoici_2461240.png" --- # In my mind, there is no reason why Stoicism shouldn't… ![“In my mind, there is no reason why Stoicism shouldn't become as popular as Buddhism, especially in the Western world, where the dominant culture, Christianity, itself absorbed a large number of elements from Greco-Roman Stoicism.” quote by Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bf/massimo-pigliucci-18479_buddhism_in-my-mind-there-is-no-reason-why-stoici_2461240.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bf/massimo-pigliucci-18479_buddhism_in-my-mind-there-is-no-reason-why-stoici_2461240.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bf/massimo-pigliucci-18479_buddhism_in-my-mind-there-is-no-reason-why-stoici_2461240.png) > “In my mind, there is no reason why Stoicism shouldn't become as popular as Buddhism, especially in the Western world, where the dominant culture, Christianity, itself absorbed a large number of elements from Greco-Roman Stoicism.” [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stoicism can become as mainstream as Buddhism, especially since Western Christianity already incorporates Stoic ideas. **In simple terms:** Stoicism could be widely adopted. Key Takeaway Explore Stoic practices for modern life. Themes philosophy culture religion modernity Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - personal development - academic study - interfaith dialogue - public lectures Key Concepts Stoic ethics cultural diffusion religious syncretism Questions to Reflect On - Why might people resist Stoic ideas? - How can Stoicism complement existing beliefs? A Different Perspective Resistance from entrenched religious traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Self absorbed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-absorbed/) [Stoicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stoicism/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“The establishment of Protestant Christianity was one not only of law, but also, and far more importantly, of culture. Christianity supplied the nation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-demar/the-establishment-of-protestant-christianity-was-one-not-only-of-law/) [Gary DeMar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-demar/) > [One of the gifts of the Jewish culture to Christianity is that it has taught Christians to think like Jews, and any modern man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-e-rees/one-of-the-gifts-of-the-jewish-culture-to-christianity-is-that-it-has/) [William E. Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-e-rees/) > [What is the relation between Christianity and modern culture; may Christianity be maintained in a scientific age? It is this problem which modern liberalism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gresham-machen/what-is-the-relation-between-christianity-and-modern-culture-may/) [John Gresham Machen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gresham-machen/) > [ “In place of \[the classic spirit\] … entered with Christianity the principle of unlimited, extravagant, fanatical, supranaturalistic subjectivity; a principle intrinsically opposed to that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/in-place-of-the-classic-spirit-entered-with-christianity-the/) [Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/) > [There are clearly people for whom Stoicism immediately "clicks," it comes natural, and others for whom it doesn't. Then again, Stoicism isn't the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/there-are-clearly-people-for-whom-stoicism-immediately-clicks-it/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > ["Fate permitting" is a standard Stoic phrase meant to remind ourselves that planning things is up to us, but the ultimate outcomes are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/fate-permitting-is-a-standard-stoic-phrase-meant-to-remind-ourselves/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [“One of the first lessons from Stoicism, then, is to focus our attention and efforts where we have the most power and then let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/one-of-the-first-lessons-from-stoicism-then-is-to-focus-our-attention/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [If you are a Christian, you can still practice Stoicism and think of the Logos as the Word of God. If you are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/if-you-are-a-christian-you-can-still-practice-stoicism-and-think-of/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [The Stoics thought that a fundamental insight into human life is that some things are up to us and others are not, the famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/the-stoics-thought-that-a-fundamental-insight-into-human-life-is-that/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [I don't see any Stoic practice as problematic or risky, but I would advise to engage in extreme versions of the negative visualization exercise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/i-don-t-see-any-stoic-practice-as-problematic-or-risky-but-i-would/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [The Stoic discipline of action, which is connected to the virtue of justice, says that we ought to treat others fairly and we should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/the-stoic-discipline-of-action-which-is-connected-to-the-virtue-of/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [I believe Stoicism can help anyone who takes it seriously and begins to practice it. It will help them flourish because it will provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/i-believe-stoicism-can-help-anyone-who-takes-it-seriously-and-begins/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [Death itself is a natural occurrence, it is unavoidable, and the Stoics thought that part of philosophical practice is to get comfortable with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/death-itself-is-a-natural-occurrence-it-is-unavoidable-and-the-stoics/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [The media tries to destroy Republicans who make little faux pas and they start telling everybody how dumb and stupid or uncaring they are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-media-tries-to-destroy-republicans-who-make-little-faux-pas-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“You can be bit in the leg by a rattlesnake and seek help to heal your wound, or you can run after it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/you-can-be-bit-in-the-leg-by-a-rattlesnake-and-seek-help-to-heal-your/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) ## More by Massimo Pigliucci > [Death itself is a natural occurrence, it is unavoidable, and the Stoics thought that part of philosophical practice is to get comfortable with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/death-itself-is-a-natural-occurrence-it-is-unavoidable-and-the-stoics/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [If a theory purports to explain everything, then it is likely not explaining much at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/if-a-theory-purports-to-explain-everything-then-it-is-likely-not/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [“The many-worlds theory basically maintains that the reason quantum mechanics seems so strange is because we have access to only one of an infinite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/the-many-worlds-theory-basically-maintains-that-the-reason-quantum/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [“as astronomer Carl Sagan once aptly put it, you do not want to keep your mind so open that your brain is likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/as-astronomer-carl-sagan-once-aptly-put-it-you-do-not-want-to-keep/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [Given the power and influence that science increasingly has in our daily lives, it is important that we as citizens of an open and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/given-the-power-and-influence-that-science-increasingly-has-in-our/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [I believe Stoicism can help anyone who takes it seriously and begins to practice it. It will help them flourish because it will provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/i-believe-stoicism-can-help-anyone-who-takes-it-seriously-and-begins/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [“Following the Post Modernist route, we may indeed never arrive at meaning, but not because meaning is not there... only because we are lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/following-the-post-modernist-route-we-may-indeed-never-arrive-at/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [I can't speak for others, but I find the fundamental idea that a life worth living is one during which one strives every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/i-can-t-speak-for-others-but-i-find-the-fundamental-idea-that-a-life/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [The Stoic discipline of action, which is connected to the virtue of justice, says that we ought to treat others fairly and we should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/the-stoic-discipline-of-action-which-is-connected-to-the-virtue-of/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [“Or maybe, another explanation goes, we are in fact surrounded by ETs and simply don't know it, perhaps because they decided to make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/or-maybe-another-explanation-goes-we-are-in-fact-surrounded-by-ets/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [“Science progresses. Ideology tends to linger unchanged, and often unquestioned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/science-progresses-ideology-tends-to-linger-unchanged-and-often/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [I don't see any Stoic practice as problematic or risky, but I would advise to engage in extreme versions of the negative visualization exercise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/i-don-t-see-any-stoic-practice-as-problematic-or-risky-but-i-would/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [The Stoics thought that a fundamental insight into human life is that some things are up to us and others are not, the famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/the-stoics-thought-that-a-fundamental-insight-into-human-life-is-that/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [... it is because one can build a compelling set of arguments - informed by science and thoroughly compatible with it - that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/it-is-because-one-can-build-a-compelling-set-of-arguments-informed-by/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) > [“It is instructive to note that different cultures "discovered" completely different constellations in the sky, a fact that is more consistent with the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/it-is-instructive-to-note-that-different-cultures-discovered/) [Massimo Pigliucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) [Explore all 34 Massimo Pigliucci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/) ## More Buddhism quotes > [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [My mom and my aunties are really devout Christians. My mom married a Muslim when I was 12, so I got teachings from both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/my-mom-and-my-aunties-are-really-devout-christians-my-mom-married-a/) [Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The extraction of discrete parts of Chöd teachings from their broader philosophical contexts is symptomatic of how Chöd has been incorporated into and transmitted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sorensen/the-extraction-of-discrete-parts-of-ch-d-teachings-from-their-broader/) [Michelle Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sorensen/) > [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. If you are miserable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buddhism-advises-you-not-to-implant-feelings-that-you-don-t-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That's all there is, enlightenment on the end of a cock. It doesn't get any more Zen than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-wilkes/that-s-all-there-is-enlightenment-on-the-end-of-a-cock-it-doesn-t-get/) [Jaden Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-wilkes/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) [Browse all 6,100 Buddhism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In my mind, there is no reason why Stoicism shouldn't become as popular as Buddhism, especially in the Western world, where the dominant culture, Christianity, itself absorbed a large number of elements from Greco-Roman Stoicism.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Massimo Pigliucci" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/in-my-mind-there-is-no-reason-why-stoicism-shouldn-t-become-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buddhism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/in-my-mind-there-is-no-reason-why-stoicism-shouldn-t-become-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bf/massimo-pigliucci-18479_buddhism_in-my-mind-there-is-no-reason-why-stoici_2461240.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bf/massimo-pigliucci-18479_buddhism_in-my-mind-there-is-no-reason-why-stoici_2461240.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bf/massimo-pigliucci-18479_buddhism_in-my-mind-there-is-no-reason-why-stoici_2461240.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In my mind, there is no reason why Stoicism shouldn't become as popular as Buddhism, especially in the…” — Massimo Pigliucci", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Massimo Pigliucci", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/massimo-pigliucci/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In my mind, there is no...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/in-my-mind-there-is-no-reason-why-stoicism-shouldn-t-become-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-pigliucci/in-my-mind-there-is-no-reason-why-stoicism-shouldn-t-become-as/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```