The Universal Appeal of Stoicism

Stoicism for All: Gender, Age, and Status

Stoicism, a school of thought founded in ancient Greece by Zeno of Citium, is one of the most universally applicable philosophies in human history. It doesn’t cater to a particular class, gender, or age group. The beauty of Stoicism lies in its accessibility and practicality for anyone, whether you’re rich or poor, young or old, male or female. It is not just for the powerful, the wealthy, or those in positions of influence. It’s for anyone who seeks to live a life of purpose, wisdom, and resilience. Whether you’re a young person just starting out, or an older individual looking back on your life, Stoicism provides timeless advice for navigating life's inevitable ups and downs.

For young people, Stoicism offers a powerful framework for navigating the complexities of modern life. It teaches the crucial lesson of focusing on what you can control and letting go of what you cannot. In today’s world, where social media constantly feeds comparisons, career pressures push us to measure success by external standards, and relationships can often feel overwhelming, it's easy to lose sight of what's truly important. The Stoics remind us that happiness and fulfillment are not found in external achievements, possessions, or validation from others. Instead, true contentment comes from living in harmony with nature and cultivating inner virtue. This philosophy encourages individuals to shift their focus inward, developing qualities like wisdom, courage, and self-discipline, rather than chasing material success or societal approval. As Epictetus wisely said, “First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” By understanding and embracing this mindset, young people can build resilience, maintain inner peace, and live a life that is authentically their own, regardless of the chaos that surrounds them. Stoicism, therefore, becomes not just a guide but a lifelong practice of focusing on personal growth and virtue, rather than being swayed by the ever-changing demands of the external world.

For the elderly, Stoicism offers more than just a guide; it becomes a profound philosophy for navigating the inevitable transitions that come with aging, including the passage of time and the approach of death. Marcus Aurelius frequently meditated on the concept of death—not with trepidation or sorrow, but with a deep sense of acceptance and tranquility. He believed that understanding and confronting mortality was essential for living a fulfilled life. "It is not death that a man should fear," he famously wrote, "but he should fear never beginning to live." This sentiment encapsulates the Stoic mindset, which teaches that death is a natural part of life, one that should be acknowledged without fear or resistance. Instead of focusing on the end, Stoicism encourages us to fully embrace the present moment, to live in a way that aligns with our values and purpose. By concentrating on what we can control—our actions, thoughts, and attitudes—we can let go of our anxieties about the things we cannot change, including death itself. Through this lens, Stoicism transforms the inevitability of death into a call to live more deeply, more intentionally, and more courageously.

Gender plays no role in one's ability to live a Stoic life, as the Stoics firmly believed that virtue is a universal quality accessible to all, regardless of gender. For the Stoics, virtue was the highest good and was not restricted by societal norms or biological differences. They taught that anyone—man or woman—could cultivate the virtues of wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance and live according to reason. This belief is evident in the lives of notable Stoic women such as Porcia Catonis, the daughter of Cato the Younger, who demonstrated the principles of Stoicism in her own life. Despite being raised in a patriarchal society, Porcia's adherence to Stoic philosophy showed that virtue transcended gender expectations. For the Stoics, virtue was not the privilege or the domain of one sex over the other, but rather the highest and most noble pursuit available to all human beings. Whoever works to cultivate it, regardless of their circumstances, is fortunate, honorable, and deserving of admiration.

For both the rich and the poor, Stoicism emphasizes the importance of directing our attention to what we can control—our thoughts, actions, and attitudes—rather than getting caught up in external circumstances such as money or social status. Wealth may provide comfort and ease, but it does not guarantee happiness or fulfillment. The rich might enjoy material abundance, yet without cultivating virtues like wisdom, temperance, and compassion, they can still experience a profound sense of dissatisfaction or emptiness. On the other hand, those who are poor often face significant challenges, but they can find genuine contentment by fostering resilience, gratitude, and a sense of purpose. By recognizing the value of their inner strength and the richness of their experiences, individuals can appreciate what they have rather than fixating on what they lack. Stoicism teaches that external wealth is fleeting and can be lost at any moment, while the development of one’s character and mindset is a lasting source of fulfillment and peace.

Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor

Marcus Aurelius, known as the philosopher-king, was born into privilege, becoming the ruler of the Roman Empire. His wealth, power, and status afforded him every luxury, yet Marcus continually reflected on the fleeting nature of these things. He understood that while he could command armies and control vast lands, the real challenge was commanding his own thoughts and desires.

In his Meditations, a personal journal not intended for public consumption, Marcus writes as if he’s giving advice not to an emperor, but to an ordinary person struggling to live a virtuous life. His reflections were meant to remind himself of the Stoic ideals he valued, but they resonate universally. His focus was on self-control, humility, and service to others—values that transcend wealth, class, or status. Despite being the most powerful person in the world, Marcus Aurelius knew that true power came not from external authority, but from mastering one's own mind and actions.?

Despite his immense power, Marcus found that true contentment and strength came from within. His reign was marked by constant war, political challenges, and personal loss—his wife Faustina and several of his children died during his lifetime, and he spent many years on military campaigns. Yet, he managed to remain grounded by adhering to Stoic principles. He didn’t see his position as an opportunity for indulgence or personal gain but viewed his authority as a duty, guided by wisdom and virtue. He believed that his role as emperor required him to act justly and compassionately, even when faced with difficult decisions or personal sacrifices.

Marcus's life offers a powerful example of how even those at the top of the social hierarchy must struggle with the same human difficulties: fear, desire, anger, and grief. His Stoicism did not eliminate these feelings but helped him manage them. In his Meditations, Marcus reflects on anger, mortality, personal duties, rationality, and more. When faced with anger, he counseled himself to remember that everyone, even those who wrong us, acts according to their understanding of good. This compassionate outlook allowed him to forgive others more easily and to focus on what he could control: his own responses. "The best revenge," he writes, "is to be unlike him who performed the injury." By choosing not to mirror the faults of others, Marcus embodied the Stoic ideal of emotional resilience and rational detachment.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Marcus's writings is his constant confrontation with mortality. As an emperor, he had to face death regularly on the battlefield and within his own family, yet he sought to view death as a natural and inevitable part of life. "You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think," he wrote, encouraging himself to act with a sense of urgency and purpose. Rather than fearing death, Marcus saw it as an opportunity to live better, more fully, and in accordance with nature.

Furthermore, his writings reveal his ongoing battle to remain rational and virtuous, even in the face of overwhelming responsibility. As emperor, Marcus faced temptations toward corruption and tyranny, yet he fought these urges by reminding himself of the Stoic principle that one’s character is more important than external power. His Stoicism taught him that while he could control an empire, he could not control the outcome of every battle or political struggle, and he often reflected on the transient nature of his authority. “All things fade into the storied past, and in a little while are shrouded in oblivion,” he wrote, demonstrating his understanding that even his reign and legacy would be but a brief moment in the grand span of time.

His humility is also striking, particularly given his status. Marcus Aurelius often reminded himself that he was merely a small part of a much larger whole. "You are a soul carrying a corpse," he wrote, echoing the Stoic belief that our physical bodies and material lives are impermanent, while the soul and mind remain our true essence. This perspective allowed him to act with restraint, avoiding indulgence in the material excesses that were available to him as emperor. Instead of seeking pleasure, Marcus sought to live simply and in harmony with nature, focusing on his duties as a leader and his personal growth as a philosopher.

In his writings, Marcus Aurelius also reflects on the importance of rationality and living in accordance with reason. He believed that human beings were part of a larger, rational cosmos and that we should strive to align ourselves with its natural order. “The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it,” he famously wrote, acknowledging that while we can’t control external events, we have complete power over how we interpret and respond to them. This rational approach allowed him to find peace amid the chaos of ruling an empire, reminding him that his internal state was always within his control, no matter how turbulent the external world became.

In sum, Marcus Aurelius’s life and writings provide a profound example of how Stoic principles can guide even the most powerful individuals to live with wisdom, humility, and virtue. His reflections are not those of a distant, untouchable emperor, but of a man grappling with the same fundamental human challenges that we all face. By practicing self-control, maintaining a focus on his duties, and seeking inner contentment rather than external validation, Marcus Aurelius exemplified the Stoic ideal of living a virtuous life. His writings continue to inspire people from all walks of life to embrace Stoicism as a practical guide to navigating the complexities of existence, regardless of wealth, status, or power.

Epictetus: The Stoic Slave

Epictetus’s story stands in stark contrast to that of Marcus Aurelius. While Marcus was born into privilege and commanded one of the most powerful empires in history, Epictetus was born into slavery. He had no wealth, power, or societal standing. His body was not even his own—he endured harsh treatment, physical suffering, and extreme deprivation under his master’s control. Yet, despite these adversities, his philosophy did not dwell on the external hardships but on how to transcend them. For Epictetus, Stoicism was not a luxury for the elite, but a necessity for survival and inner freedom.

Living in conditions where he had little control over his environment, Epictetus realized that the key to freedom lay within the mind. He famously taught that, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” In his view, the external world is filled with events beyond our control—illness, poverty, death, or in his case, enslavement. However, Stoicism taught him to focus only on what was within his power: his own thoughts, actions, and attitudes. “No man is free who is not master of himself,” he asserted, underscoring the idea that freedom is a mental state, not a physical condition.

What is extraordinary about Epictetus’s teachings is how accessible and empowering they are for everyone, regardless of external circumstances. Whereas Marcus Aurelius, with his wealth and power, could write about the transience of material goods, Epictetus’s experience of deprivation gave his philosophy a raw, visceral edge. He knew, firsthand, what it meant to have nothing, and yet he found a way to liberate himself through the disciplined control of his mind. His message was clear: You may not be able to control whether you are a slave or free, rich or poor, but you can always control your response to life.?

Epictetus’s Discourses are filled with examples of this resilience, emphasizing the importance of focusing on what is within our control and letting go of everything else. “When something happens, the only thing in your power is your attitude toward it; you can either accept it or resent it.” For him, the external world could bring both good fortune and adversity, but neither could affect his inner peace unless he allowed it to. This teaching represents the Stoic notion that we are not victims of circumstance unless we choose to be. It is our interpretations of events, not the events themselves, that cause distress.

Even in conditions of extreme deprivation, Epictetus refused to view himself as a victim. His Stoicism empowered him to rise above suffering, not by denying its existence, but by recognizing that pain and hardship are part of life. What mattered to Epictetus was how one faced these challenges. When confronted with suffering, he advised adopting an attitude of acceptance and reason, stating, "Demand not that events should happen as you wish, but wish them to happen as they do, and you will go on well." This advice reflects the Stoic idea of Amor Fati—the love of fate—which encourages people to embrace everything that happens to them, both good and bad, as part of the natural order.

This radical acceptance is what allowed Epictetus to maintain his sense of inner freedom despite the confines of his external life. He understood that no amount of physical or material deprivation could rob him of his ability to live virtuously. For him, virtue was not something that depended on wealth, power, or status; it was a state of mind and character that anyone could achieve through discipline and wisdom.?

Epictetus’s life also demonstrated the transformative power of Stoic philosophy. Although he was born a slave, he eventually gained his freedom and became a renowned philosopher, teaching students from all walks of life. His teachings attracted not just fellow freedmen and slaves, but also Roman nobles, soldiers, and politicians, many of whom sought his guidance on how to live well. His personal transformation from slave to philosopher illustrates the Stoic belief that while we cannot control our starting point in life, we can always choose how to shape our future. By cultivating inner strength and focusing on virtue, anyone can transcend their circumstances.

Perhaps the most profound lesson from Epictetus’s life is the idea that external circumstances, whether favorable or harsh, do not define who we are. In his view, a person could live in luxury and still be a slave to their desires, while someone in chains could be freer than the wealthiest of rulers. His famous analogy of the archer illustrates this point: we can only aim at our target with skill and precision, but the final outcome—the release of the arrow—is beyond our control. Success, failure, wealth, and poverty are all outcomes that we can strive for, but we cannot guarantee them. What we can control is how we approach these aims and how we react when things do not go as planned.

For Epictetus, the discipline of Stoicism was a form of mental liberation. In his Enchiridion, he teaches that we should strive to remain indifferent to external events and focus only on the cultivation of a virtuous character. "Some things are in our control and others are not," he wrote. This simple yet powerful distinction is at the heart of Stoic thought and offers a practical guide for how to live a fulfilling life. It is a call to take responsibility for one’s own life, regardless of external circumstances. As Epictetus reminds us, “We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them.”

Wealth and Poverty

The lives of Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus offer an illuminating contrast. Marcus had everything the world could offer, yet he knew that none of it could make him truly happy or wise. Epictetus had nothing, yet he saw his lack of material wealth as irrelevant to his happiness. In this way, Stoicism teaches us that both wealth and poverty are illusions of power. Neither has the ability to affect your inner life unless you allow it to.

Both men arrived at the same fundamental Stoic insight: external circumstances are indifferent, neither good nor bad in themselves. What matters is how we respond to them. As Marcus reminds us, “You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” In the same vein, Epictetus teaches, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”

This Stoic belief in the insignificance of external conditions is liberating. It means that no matter what life throws at you—whether you are born into wealth like Marcus or endure poverty and suffering like Epictetus—you have the same potential for inner peace, strength, and virtue.

A Philosophy of Action

At its heart, Stoicism is not just a philosophy of thought, but a philosophy of action. It’s about applying these principles in everyday life. Whether you’re facing financial struggles, relationship difficulties, or personal loss, Stoicism teaches that you can always choose your response. This philosophy empowers individuals by showing that no matter your circumstances, you have the ability to live with virtue, integrity, and purpose.

In a world that often seems out of control, Stoicism offers a refuge—a way to find peace and strength within. As Marcus Aurelius said, “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.” Whether you are rich or poor, young or old, man or woman, the Stoic path is open to you. All it requires is the willingness to focus on what truly matters: your thoughts, your actions, and your virtue.