Stoic Index

Meet the porch

Short biographies with their signature teachings and historical influence.

Marcus Aurelius

Roman emperor (161–180 CE) whose private journal, the Meditations, captures a lifetime of Stoic training amidst political turmoil.

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Epictetus

Born enslaved in Hierapolis, Epictetus founded a school in Nicopolis and stressed radical responsibility over external events.

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Zeno of Citium

Founder of Stoicism who taught on the Painted Porch in Athens and blended Cynic toughness with Socratic logic.

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Cleanthes

Successor to Zeno who preserved Stoicism through hymns, notes, and patient teaching despite poverty.

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Chrysippus

Systematizer of Stoicism who wrote hundreds of works on logic, ethics, and determinism.

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Diogenes of Babylon

Head of the Stoic school in the 2nd century BCE who introduced Stoicism to Rome.

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Stoicism 101

Stoicism: a practical philosophy for living well

Born on the painted porch in Athens around 300 BCE, Stoicism grew into a practical toolkit used by statesmen, teachers, and everyday citizens. Its promise is straightforward: peace, resilience, and moral excellence do not depend on external events but on how we choose to respond.

Core principles

Dichotomy of Control

Epictetus opens the Enchiridion with the reminder that some things are up to us and others are not. Our judgments, intentions, and actions belong to us; reputation, weather, and other people never do.

Invest energy only in what is within your control.
Meet everything else with equanimity, even when it stings.

Virtue Is the Sole Good

Stoics call wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance the only true goods. Wealth, fame, or even health are merely indifferents—they can be preferred, but they never define a good life.

A person can be poor or ill and still flourish if their character is sound.

Live According to Nature

Use reason to align daily choices with human nature (rational, social beings) and the wider logos—the orderly, interdependent cosmos.

Act rationally, contribute to your community, and accept your role in the whole.

Four Cardinal Virtues

Wisdom (knowing what truly matters), courage (moral bravery), justice (fair dealing), and temperance (self-mastery) guide Stoic decision making.

Key practices

Premeditation of adversity: rehearse setbacks so they cannot ambush you.
View from above: zoom out to see your worries shrink against the cosmic backdrop.
Voluntary discomfort: occasionally choose hardship to build resilience and gratitude.
Evening reflection: review what you did well, poorly, and what you will improve tomorrow.
Amor fati: love whatever fate delivers and use it as material for virtue.

Emotions & the Stoic lens

Stoics do not suppress every feeling. They distinguish between healthy emotions (joy, thoughtful caution) and destructive passions fueled by mistaken judgments. Change the judgment and the passion loses its grip.

Guides along the way

Zeno of Citium: Founded Stoicism on the Painted Porch and set the communal tone for the school.
Epictetus: A former slave whose Discourses and Enchiridion emphasize control over our judgments.
Seneca the Younger: Statesman and dramatist who taught that life is long when used wisely.
Marcus Aurelius: The philosopher-emperor whose Meditations model disciplined self-talk under pressure.

Why it still matters

Psychological resilience that inspired cognitive-behavioral therapy.
A focus on controllables—helpful when social feeds and news cycles feel overwhelming.
Ethical clarity rooted in reason rather than dogma.
Lessons that scale from CEOs to students to anyone navigating hardship.

“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” — Marcus Aurelius

Stoicism is not about becoming cold or passive. It is about focusing on what you can control, pursuing excellence of character, and greeting each twist of fate with courage and grace. Difficulty still arrives, but it no longer has the power to break your inner calm.