My Stoic Philosophy

One of the great stoic philosophers I admire is Emperor Marcus Aurelius, born in 121 CE. He was educated in rhetoric and philosophy succeeded his adoptive dad Antoninus Pius, Emperor of Rome in 161 CE. Stoicism teaches that virtue is the only good for oneself and that vice is the only evil, everything else is indifferent so far as happiness is concern. He was famous for his work on the Meditations during his last military campaign and reign, which was troubled by the attacks from Germany, rebellions in northern Italy and Egypt, and the outburst of the plague.

Here are some of his profound expressions – a crippling anxiety is that “You have power over your mind – not outside events, realize this, and you will find strength”.

You do not need much – “The needs of a happy life are very few”.

Lapse into anger – “You do not have to turn this into something, it does not have to upset you”.

Face challenges head on – “The impediment to action advances action, what stands in the way becomes the way”.

It is not what we say that defines our character, it is our actions – “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one”.

If you see fraud and do not say fraud, you are a fraud – “Just that you do the right thing. The rest does not matter”.

Time is the most precious commodity we have. No matter how much you have, none of us can get any more of it. Once it is gone, it is gone – “Understand that your time has a limit set to it. Use it, then to advance your enlightenment; or it will be gone, and never in your power again”.

Although stoic philosophy has many dissimilarities with my spiritual convictions and Christian beliefs, there is one verse in the Bible that has a common similarity: 2 Thessalonians 3:10 “For even we were with you, we gave you this rule: The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat”.

Paul and his associates had taught the Thessalonians believers not to tolerate those who were capable of work, yet chose to be idle, in modern terms, such a person might be called a “slacker.” He instructs the Thessalonians not to support those who were unwilling to work. In others word those who are social loafers and merely freeloaders.

May the Lord bless you as you work to glorify His name.