Stoic Clippings

A Sage will find himself “sick and yet happy, in peril and yet happy, dying and yet happy, in exile and happy, in disgrace and happy.” — Epictetus

Serenity and tranquility have costs; the soul training required.  Happiness is the benefit. Life is a performance art. How good is my current performance? Am I happy happy happy yet?

When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love.

We’re not affected by events, but rather our understanding of events. Once you realize this you realize you have control over by what and how you are affected.

The only good is moral good, or virtue, and the only evil is moral evil, or vice.

Happiness is found exclusively in ethical excellence, or virtue, and in doing what is right.

External things are neither excellence nor evil, they are indifferents.

The only things in our control are inner events such as our judgements, values, beliefs; these in turn direct desires, impulses, emotions; these in turn direct the art of living well.

Emotions arise from false beliefs that externals have value or judgements that I have been wronged, or that I should care about your ignorance.