wisdom
understanding stoic wisdom
The Stoic virtue of wisdom, known in Greek as sophia, is foundational to Stoic philosophy and encompasses the pursuit and application of knowledge to live a noble and fulfilling life. It is the ability to discern what is truly good and bad, right and wrong, and to act accordingly. Wisdom
the role of stoic wisdom in navigating everyday life
The Stoic virtue of wisdom, or sophia, stands as a beacon guiding us through the complexities of everyday life. It is not merely the accumulation of knowledge, but rather the application of understanding to navigate the world with equanimity and discernment. In our fast-paced, information-saturated age, wisdom becomes an indispensable
the eternal student: a meaningful lesson from marcus aurelius
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
— Mahatma Gandhi
Picture the most powerful man in the world hurrying through palace corridors, arms laden with books. This was no imagined scene, but rather a real moment from the life of Roman Emperor
a heartfelt prayer for cultivating the stoic virtue of wisdom
Dear God,
I bow to the Eternal wisdom that flows through all things.
Grant me the clarity to distinguish
What lies within my power from what does not.
Let me face each moment with equanimity,
Finding strength in reason and virtue,
Not in fleeting pleasures or hollow praise.
Guide my
the path to liberation: the quest for “what next?”
What is the fruit of these teachings? Only the most beautiful and proper harvest of the truly educated—tranquility, fearlessness, and freedom. We should not trust the masses who say only the free can be educated, but rather the lovers of wisdom who say that only the educated are free.
the stoic path: a journey of consistent practice and training
“That’s why the philosophers warn us not to be satisfied with mere learning, but to add practice and then training. For as time passes we forget what we learned and end up doing the opposite, and hold opinions the opposite of what we should.”
— Epictetus, Discourses, 2.9.13-14
embrace the gentler way of being
Have you ever tried opening a jar with a tight lid, and you tried and tried, and
the jar just wouldn’t open? You gave all your strength, but still no success!
The more force you applied, the harder you tried, and the more frustrated you
became. Right? And then,