June 30th Reading from The Daily Stoic - The Obstacle Is The Way

"While it's true that someone can impede our actions, they can't impede our intentions and our attitudes, which have the power of being conditional and adaptable. For the mind adapts and converts any obstacle to its action into a means of achieving it. That which is an impediment to action is turned to advance action. The obstacle on the path becomes the way."

~ Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 5.20

June 29th Reading from The Daily Stoic - No Excuses

"It is possible to curb your arrogance, to overcome pleasure and pain, to rise above your ambition, and to not be angry with stupid and ungrateful people - yes, even to care for them."

~ Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 8.8

June 28th Reading from The Daily Stoic - No Self-Flagellation Needed

"Philosophy calls for simple living, but not for penance - it's quite possible to be simple without being crude."

~ Seneca, Moral Letters, 5.5

June 27th Reading from The Daily Stoic - Adversity Reveals

"How does it help, my husband, to make misfortune heavier by complaining about it? This is more fit for a king - to seize your adversities head on. The more precarious his situation, the more immanent his fall from power, the more firmly he should be resolved to stand and fight. It isn't manly to retreat from fortune."

~ Seneca, Oedipus, 80

June 26th Reading from The Daily Stoic - Try the Opposite

"What assistance can we find in the fight against habit? Try the opposite!"

~ Epictetus, Discourses, 1.27.4

June 25th Reading from The Daily Stoic - The Wise Don't Have "Problems"

"This is why we say that nothing happens to the wise person contrary to their expectations."

~ Seneca, On Tranquility of Mind, 13.3b

June 24th Reading from The Daily Stoic - The Truly Educated Aren't Quarrelsome

"The beautiful and good person neither fights with anyone nor, as much as they are able, permits others to fight . . . this is the meaning of getting an education - learning what is your own affair and what is not. If a person carries themselves so, where is there any room for fighting?"

~ Epictetus, Discourses, 4.5.1; 7b-8a