Stoicism in Easy English: Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus and Seneca

What is Stoicism?

Stoicism is a school of philosophy that began in Athens around 300 BC and became popular in Rome. Its central idea is simple: some things are in our power and some are not. Our judgements, choices and actions are up to us. Other people's opinions, the weather, illness and fame are not. Peace of mind comes from putting your energy into the first group and accepting the second.

Today Stoicism is popular again, in books, podcasts and sports psychology, because it is practical. It does not ask you to believe anything strange. It gives you exercises for staying calm under pressure. Three Roman writers are the best way in, and all three are on SeoJae Story in easy English.

Epictetus: the slave who taught emperors

Epictetus was born a slave and became one of the most famous teachers in Rome. His student Arrian wrote down his lessons in a short handbook, the Enchiridion. It opens with the line that sums up Stoicism: some things are within our power, and some things are not.

• What Is in Our Power: the famous opening, and why worrying about what you cannot control makes you a slave.
• An Actor in a Play: you did not choose your role in life, but you can play it well.
• Show It by Your Actions: stop talking about philosophy and live it.

Seneca: time is your most precious possession

Seneca was a rich Roman writer and the adviser of the emperor Nero. In On the Shortness of Life he tells a busy friend that life is not short; we make it short by wasting it on other people's demands, on ambition and on putting things off.

• Life Is Long Enough: we guard our money carefully but give away our time to anyone.
• Live Now: the danger of always waiting for tomorrow.
• Friends from Every Age: how reading the great minds makes a life long.

Marcus Aurelius: notes from an emperor

Marcus Aurelius ruled the Roman Empire and wrote the Meditations as a private notebook, never meant for publication. That is why it feels so honest: an emperor reminding himself to be patient, kind and calm.

• What I Owe to Others: a list of what he learned from family and teachers.
• The Inner Citadel: you can always retreat into your own mind.
• The Obstacle Becomes the Way: what stands in the way of the action moves the action forward.

Useful Stoic words in English

These words appear again and again in Stoic texts. Knowing them makes every reading easier.

• judgement: your opinion about something. Stoics say events don't upset us; our judgements about them do.
• virtue: being a good person in action. For the Stoics, the only true good.
• indifferent: things that are neither good nor bad in themselves, like money or fame.
• tranquillity: calm, peace of mind. The goal of the Stoic life.
• fate and providence: the order of the world that we cannot change, only accept.

Where to go next

If you enjoy the Stoics, try Laozi's Tao Te Ching for an Eastern take on not forcing things, or Thoreau's Walden for a modern experiment in simple living. For the whole shelf, see Philosophy classics in easy English.