Summary and key points from the writings of the ancient Stoics (Letters from a Stoic, Meditations, Discourses of Epictetus, and many more)
In letters from a stoic 24, Seneca responds to a letter by Lucilius about an impending lawsuit against him. He asked him not to panic the case has not been decided after all. “It is indeed foolish to be unhappy now because you may be unhappy at some future time.” Then, he told him an unusual way of dealing with anxiety which is to assume that whatever he fears is…
In letters from stoic 23, Seneca talks about true joy. First, true joy is constant - meaning it should be accessed under all circumstances. It letters 5, the wise old man discourage Lucilius from clinging to any kind of hope. Hope is not true joy, Seneca said. While it may lift our spirit, it’s only momentarily and will only wind us down in the long run for the eventual…
In letters from a stoic 22, Lucilius seems to be holding on his office as a procurator. In letter 19 Seneca has advised him to retire from office and no longer chase other pursuits. In this letter the wise old man gave Lucilius a blueprint on how to completely withdraw himself away from the highly colored occupation. Lucilius and Seneca are both high profiled men in Ancient Rome. To be sure,…
In letters from a stoic 21, Lucilius seems to be wanting to depart his job. It’s known that Lucilius was a procurator in Rome. What was not clear is that if he was departing his job for retirement, which Seneca advised him on letter 19, or if he was trying to get another job. Seneca told Lucilius that if he was trying to find an “ideal state of calm”…
In letters from a stoic 20, Seneca talks about practicing what you preach. “philosophy teaches us to act, not to speak; it exacts of every man that he should live according to his own standards, that his life should not be out of harmony with his word”. Unlike other philosophies that are highly academic, Stoicism has a unique appeal because it’s very helpful in real and challenging life situations…