seneca
strive for excellence in every action
“This can be swiftly taught in very few words: virtue is the only good; there is no certain good without virtue; and virtue resides in our nobler part, which is the rational one. And what can this virtue be? True and steadfast judgment. For from this will arise every mental
a good person never settles for easy
the stoic who turned pale in a storm
In Aulus Gellius' The Attic Nights, there's a fascinating tale about a Stoic philosopher who found himself in a dire situation at sea. This anecdote, to be specific, describes the Stoic doctrine concerning involuntary emotional reactions or “proto-passions” (propatheiai), and thus, paints a vivid picture of human
the taxes of life: a different perspective
“Nothing will ever befall me that I will receive with gloom or a bad disposition. I will pay my taxes gladly. Now, all the things which cause complaint or dread are like the taxes of life—things from which, my dear Lucilius, you should never hope for exemption or seek
why the easy life isn't praiseworthy
“Success comes to the lowly and to the poorly talented, but the special characteristic of a great person is to triumph over the disasters and panics of human life.”
— Seneca, On Providence, 4.1
You may know some people who seem to have had it made in life from the
conquer fear once and for all
“But there is no reason to live and no limit to our miseries if we let our fears predominate.”
— Seneca, Moral Letters, 13.12b
The ancient Stoic philosophers had an interesting take on fear. They said we should be more afraid of being afraid than of the things we'
building mental toughness: the foundation of lasting happiness
“For even peace itself will supply more reason for worry. Not even safe circumstances will bring you confidence once your mind has been shocked—once it gets in the habit of blind panic, it can’t provide for its own safety. For it doesn’t really avoid danger, it just