Philosophy Quotes

The Daily Stoic [Book]

From this Book: 192 Quotes

Book Overview: Why have history’s greatest minds—from George Washington to Frederick the Great to Ralph Waldo Emerson, along with today’s top performers from Super Bowl-winning football coaches to CEOs and celebrities—embraced the wisdom of the ancient Stoics? Because they realize that the most valuable wisdom is timeless and that philosophy is for living a better life, not a classroom exercise.

The Daily Stoic offers 366 days of Stoic insights and exercises, featuring all-new translations from the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the playwright Seneca, or slave-turned-philosopher Epictetus, as well as lesser-known luminaries like Zeno, Cleanthes, and Musonius Rufus. Every day of the year you’ll find one of their pithy, powerful quotations, as well as historical anecdotes, provocative commentary, and a helpful glossary of Greek terms.

By following these teachings over the course of a year (and, indeed, for years to come) you’ll find the serenity, self-knowledge, and resilience you need to live well.

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Post(s) Inspired by this Book:

26 Seneca Quotes from The Daily Stoic on Vices, Virtues, and Fulfillment

“Men, the philosopher’s lecture-hall is a hospital—you shouldn’t walk out of it feeling pleasure, but pain, for you aren’t well when you enter it.”
Epictetus, via The Daily Stoic (Page 264)

“You’re welcome to take all of the words of the great philosophers and use them to your own liking (they’re dead; they don’t mind). Feel free to tweak and edit and improve as you like. Adapt them to the real conditions of the real world. The way to prove that you truly understand what you speak and write, that you truly are original, is to put them into practice. Speak them with your actions more than anything else.”
Ryan Holiday, The Daily Stoic (Page 241)

“For I believe a good king is from the outset and by necessity a philosopher, and the philosopher is from the outset a kingly person.”
Musonius Rufus, via The Daily Stoic (Page 206)

“But what is philosophy? Doesn’t it simply mean preparing ourselves for what may come? Don’t you understand that really amounts to saying that if I would so prepare myself to endure, then let anything happen that will? Otherwise, it would be like the boxer exiting the ring because he took some punches. Actually, you can leave the boxing ring without consequence, but what advantage would come from abandoning the pursuit of wisdom? So, what should each of us say to every trial we face? This is what I’ve trained for, for this my discipline!”
Epictetus, Discourses, via The Daily Stoic (Page 155)

“Those who receive the bare theories immediately want to spew them, as an upset stomach does its food. First digest your theories and you won’t throw them up. Otherwise they will be raw, spoiled, and not nourishing. After you’ve digested them, show us the changes in your reasoned choices, just like the shoulders of gymnasts display their diet and training, and as the craft of artisans show in what they’ve learned.”
Epictetus, Discourses, The Daily Stoic (Page 137)

Seneca Quote on Philosophy and How Only Those Who Prioritize It, Truly Live.

“Of all people only those are at leisure who make time for philosophy, only they truly live. Not satisfied to merely keep good watch over their own days, they annex every age to their own. All the harvest of the past is added to their store. Only an ingrate would fail to see that these great architects of venerable thoughts were born for us and have designed a way of life for us.”
Seneca, via The Daily Stoic

Beyond the Quote (Day 373)

“Philosophia” is the Ancient Greek word for the “love of wisdom.” Wisdom is the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. It can be thought then, that those who make time for Philosophy are those who make time for better living. For, what is better living composed of but better experience, better knowledge, and better judgement?

“There is no guarantee that tomorrow at this time we will be here. But still we are working for that purely on the basis of hope. So, we need to make the best use of our time. I believe that the proper utilization of time is this: if you can, serve other people, other sentient beings. If not, at least refrain from harming them. I think that is the whole basis of my philosophy.” ~ Dalai Lama, The Art of Happiness

Edmund Hillary´s 10 Steps to the Summit of the World

1) Nothing ventured, nothing gained
2) Challenge, uncertainty, excitement
3) Fear makes you focus
4) Passion gives you confidence
5) Fun makes for a great team
6) Make sure you have more than one thing to live for
7) Resist the flock factor
8) You are all you have
9) Great challenges result in powerful experiences
10) A view from the summit – to new horizons

“Be true to yourself.
Make each day your masterpiece.
Help others.
Drink deeply from good books.
Make friendship a fine art.
Build a shelter against a rainy day.
Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.”
~ John Wooden

“We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.” ~ Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

“As we learn in Zen philosophy, when you learn to ‘let go’ of problems instead of resisting with all your might, your life will begin to flow.” ~ Richard Carlson, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

Be water, my friend.

“Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason so few engage in it.” ~ Henry Ford

“Where you stand depends on where you sit.” ~ Nelson Mandela

“This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“To finish the moment, to find the journey’s end in every step of the road, to live the greatest number of good hours, is wisdom.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” ~ Dalai Lama