The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living

The single most important practice in Stoic philosophy is differentiating between what we can change and what we can’t. What we have influence over and what we do not.

While you don’t control external events, you retain the ability to decide how you respond to those events. You control what every external event means to you personally.

We’d rather be pissed off, bitter, raging inside than risk an awkward conversation that might actually help this person and make the world a better place.

When someone has a strong opinion about something, it usually says more about them than whatever or whomever the opinion happens to be about.

When we become successful, we forget how strong we used to be. We are so used to what we have, we half believe we’d die without it.

Just because you agree with the philosophy doesn’t mean the roots have fully taken hold in your mind.

Don’t be the person who says yes with their mouth but no with their actions.

“Receive without pride, let go without attachment.”

Instead of wasting even a second considering the opinions of future people—people who are not even born yet—focus every bit of yourself on being the best person you can be in the present moment. On doing the right thing, right now. The distant future is irrelevant. Be good and noble and impressive now—while it still matters.

“Aren’t you ashamed to reserve for yourself only the remnants of your life and to dedicate to wisdom only that time can’t be directed to business?”