March 31st Reading from The Daily Stoic (Round 2) - You're A Product of Your Training

"Chasing what can't be done is madness. But the base person is unable to do anything else."

~ Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 5.17

The Distichs of Cato, I.28

From The Distichs of Cato, I.28:

Cum tibi sint nati nec opes, tunc artibus illos

Instrue, quo possint inopem defendere vitam.

Translation from the Loeb Classical Library edition:

"Since sons you have - not wealth - such training give

Their minds that they, though poor, unharmed may live."

March 30th Reading from The Daily Stoic (Round 2) - Reason In All Things

"Hurry to your own ruling reason, to the reason of the Whole, and to your neighbor's. To your own mind to make it just; to the mind of the Whole to remember your place in it; and to your neighbor's mind to learn whether it's ignorant or of sound knowledge - while recognizing it's like yours."

~ Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 9.22

March 27th Reading from The Daily Stoic (Round 2) - Pay What Things Are Worth

"Diogenes of Sinope said we sell things of great value for things of very little, and vice versa."

~ Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Eminent Philosophers, 6.2.35b

March 26th Reading from The Daily Stoic (Round 2) - "What Rules Your Ruling Reason?"

"How does your ruling reason manage itself? For in that is the key to everything. Whatever else remains, be it in the power of your choice or not, is but a corpse and smoke."

~ Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 12.33

March 25th Reading from The Daily Stoic (Round 2) - "Wealth and Freedom Are Free"

". . . freedom isn't secured by filling up on your heart's desire but by removing your desire."

~ Epictetus, Discourses, 4.1.175

March 24th Reading from The Daily Stoic (Round 2) - There Is Philosophy In Everything

"Eat like a human being, drink like a human being, dress up, marry, have children, get politically active - suffer abuse, bear with a headstrong brother, father, son, neighbor, or companion. Show us these things so we can see that you have truly learned from the philosophers."

~ Epictetus, Discourses, 3.21.5-6

March 17th Reading from The Daily Stoic (Round 2) - The Beauty of Choice

"You are not your body and hair-style, but your capacity for choosing well. If your choices are beautiful, so too will you be."

~ Epictetus, Discourses, 3.1.39b-40a

You are your power to choose. A powerful, simple statement of Stoic philosophy: you are your rational capacity for choice, and nothing else - not your body or hair, not your clothes, not your possessions, not your titles and occupations. You are the chooser. Choose well.