Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.

In today’s Stoic Quotes episode, we explore a powerful reflection from Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 2.1, a reminder of responsibility, harmony, and our place within the larger human community:

“No one can implicate me in ugliness. Nor can I feel angry at my relative or hate him. We were born to work together, like feet, hands, and eyes; like two rows of teeth, upper and lower. To obstruct each other is unnatural.”

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 2.1

Marcus opens with a simple but profound truth: the state of your character is yours alone. No one can force you to act without integrity. No one can push you into bitterness or moral compromise. The choice, the judgment, is always yours. And then he widens the frame: because we share the same nature, hurting others ultimately harms ourselves. Unity is our natural state; hostility is the obstruction.

This teaching points directly to two Stoic principles: responsibility for one’s own moral choices, and cosmopolitanism, the idea that we are all parts of one body. In modern language: you are accountable for the way you respond, and the people around you are not obstacles but fellow limbs of the same organism.

Epictetus says that nothing external can force your judgment. Seneca grounds responsibility in the integrity of one’s own soul. And Marcus constantly reminds himself that he is part of a larger whole.

Seen through the three Stoic disciplines, this passage becomes even clearer:

• Desire — letting go of the impulse to want people to be different from what they are.

• Assent — choosing not to accept impressions that provoke anger or hatred.

• Action — behaving in a way that supports the unity and well-being of the larger human community.

When you look at life this way, the quote becomes an invitation: protect your character, and treat others as parts of the same living structure.

Here are a few practical reflections for daily life:

• When someone behaves poorly, pause before reacting. Their action is theirs. Your judgment is yours.

• Choose responses that strengthen the connection rather than fracture it. Even a moment of patience is a step toward harmony.

• When tempted to blame others for your choices, remind yourself that accountability is freedom. You keep your integrity by owning your decisions.

For more, check out this article to learn how to Practice Stoicism: https://viastoica.com/how-to-practice-stoicism/

And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:

https://viastoica.com/stoic-quotes

https://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quotes

https://viastoica.com/epictetus-quotes

https://viastoica.com/seneca-quotes

Make sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.

Support the show

https://viastoica.com

https://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coaching

https://viastoica.com/benny-voncken

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Produced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.
In this special episode, we dive into one of the most important and most misunderstood topics in the entire Stoic tradition: the nature of emotion.

Today, I’m joined by Margaret Graver, the Aaron Lawrence Professor of Classics at Dartmouth College, and one of the world’s leading scholars on ancient Stoicism. Her book Stoicism and Emotion has shaped how modern readers understand the emotional life of the Stoics. Together, we explore how ancient philosophy can help us meet the complexity of our own inner lives.

At the heart of this episode is the Stoic idea that emotions are not things that happen to us, but judgments we make, often unconsciously, about what is good or bad. For the Stoics, joy is not mere smiling or comfort, but the deep, steady uplift that comes from living in harmony with reason, virtue, and our responsibilities to others.

Margaret explains how Stoicism views emotions as voluntary in structure but not always voluntary in the moment, why some emotions feel automatic, and how the Stoics distinguished between destructive impulses and the good emotions grounded in truth. We discuss the role of character formation, the misconceptions about “suppressing feelings,” and why Stoicism is far more about love, courage, community, and responsibility than about detachment.

In a world of constant stimulation and quick reactions, Stoicism helps us return to clarity. It shows us that emotions are not enemies but signals, invitations to examine ourselves more honestly. By the end of this episode, you’ll see that Stoicism isn’t about shutting down your humanity; it’s about living wisely, lovingly, and courageously within it.

Listen to the full episode to get a clear introduction into Stoicism and Emotions, and follow this up by reading Margaret Graver's book.

Learn more about Margaret Graver here:

Dartmouth Faculty Page:
https://classics.dartmouth.edu/people/margaret-graver

Books:
• Stoicism and Emotion – University of Chicago Press
https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/S/bo3625910.html

• Seneca: The Literary Philosopher – Cambridge University Press
https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/seneca/O01F0E7E3C9D6469A4C47A65BE85866E

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🎙️ Produced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.

Today’s episode reflects on a line from Seneca’s Consolation to Helvia, written while he was exiled on the island of Corsica. In this letter to his mother, he tries to steady her grief, and perhaps his own, with a reminder of what truly satisfies the human spirit:

“Greed is satisfied by nothing, but nature finds satisfaction even in scant measures.”
Seneca, Consolation to Helvia, 10

Seneca’s point is simple but piercing. Greed is never about what you have; it is always about what is missing. The moment you chase fulfillment in externals, the finish line moves. Nature, in contrast, asks little. It finds sufficiency in the present moment, in the fact that you are alive, thinking, choosing. What Seneca is offering here is a lesson in the Stoic principle of desire: when you want what the moment actually gives you, you stop feeling deprived.

This teaching echoes Epictetus, who reminds us that trouble begins when we demand reality to be other than it is. Marcus Aurelius writes that the wise person “follows nature willingly,” aligning inner choices with the structure of the world. All three are pointing to the same truth within the Stoic disciplines.

Desire: Want only what is in your control.
Assent: Don’t believe the story that “more” will finally make you complete.
Action: Use whatever this moment gives you as material for virtue.
When greed falls away, what remains is clarity, the sense that nothing essential is missing from this moment, because the only real good is the way you choose to meet it.

In everyday life, this means noticing when your mind starts reaching into the future for something it says you “need” before you can feel at ease. It means returning to the present long enough to see what is already supporting you. And it means treating difficult moments not as interruptions but as invitations to practice strength, gratitude, and presence. When you train this mindset, satisfaction comes not from abundance but from alignment.

For more, check out this related article with quotes on desire and letting go of externals:
https://viastoica.com/how-to-practice-the-stoic-discipline-desire/

And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:
https://viastoica.com/stoic-quotes
https://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quotes
https://viastoica.com/epictetus-quotes
https://viastoica.com/seneca-quotes

Make sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.

Support the show
https://viastoica.com
https://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coaching
https://viastoica.com/benny-voncken
https://x.com/ViaStoica
info@viastoica.com

Produced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.
In this episode, we explore what it truly means to be a friend and to have one. We often say “a friend in need is a friend indeed,” but the Stoics invite us to look deeper. What makes a friendship good? When does it help us grow in virtue, and when does it distract us from it? Drawing on the insights of Seneca, Epictetus, and even Aristotle, this episode looks at friendship not as a social convenience but as a moral relationship that reflects our own character and self-knowledge.

For the Stoics, friendship begins within. Seneca reminds us that “The wise person is content with themselves, but not that they wish to be without friends.” (Moral Letters to Lucilius, 9.3)
In other words, genuine friendship can only grow from inner stability. If we depend on others to complete us, we’ll mistake attachment for care and convenience for connection. But if we first learn to be at peace with ourselves, we can approach others freely, not out of need, but from shared virtue and goodwill.

Aristotle described three types of friendship: those of pleasure, of utility, and of virtue. The Stoics agree that only the last kind, friendship rooted in moral growth, endures. As Seneca wrote to Lucilius, “Associate with those who will make a better man of you; welcome those whom you yourself can improve.” (Moral Letters, 7.8)
True friends are those who help us live according to reason, who hold us accountable with honesty and kindness, and who rejoice in our happiness as their own.

Here are a few Stoic practices from this episode you can explore in your own life:

• Be content alone. Practice solitude to build a calm inner base before seeking connection.

• Examine your friendships. Ask whether they are based on pleasure, utility, or virtue.

• Pay full attention. When with a friend, give them your complete presence; it is the essence of friendship.

• Cultivate gratitude. Cherish the time you share with good friends; hold them in spirit even when apart.

Friendship, like all externals, is a preferred indifferent; it enriches life but should never define our peace of mind. When we accept that change and loss are natural, we can honor past friendships without clinging to them and stay open to new ones that align with virtue.

By the end of this episode, you’ll see that Stoic friendship isn’t about dependence or detachment, but about mutual improvement, two people walking the path of virtue together, freely, honestly, and with joy.

Listen to the full episode now and discover how friendship can transform the way you think, act, and see your life.

Read the companion article: https://viastoica.com/10-seneca-quotes-on-friendship/

Support the show
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🎙️ Produced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.
In this episode, we turn to Epictetus, Discourses, Book 2, Chapter 10, where he begins with a powerful invitation:

“Examine who you are. For you are capable of understanding the divine governance of the universe and of reasoning on what follows from that.”
Epictetus, Discourses, Book 2, Chapter 10

At the heart of this quote lies the Stoic call to self-knowledge. Epictetus reminds us that our first duty is not to chase success, fame, or wealth, but to understand ourselves. Only when we know who we are can we know how to live. This isn’t abstract philosophy; it’s an invitation to observe, question, and align our actions with our nature. In modern terms, it’s about becoming aware of our beliefs, values, and reactions, the foundations of a meaningful life.

Epictetus follows the example of Socrates, who famously said that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” The Stoics carried this Socratic insight further: by knowing ourselves, we come to understand nature itself. As Marcus Aurelius often reminded himself, we are fragments of the same Logos that governs the universe.
This idea connects deeply with the three Stoic disciplines:

• Desire – wanting only what aligns with nature.

• Assent – judging impressions clearly and rationally.

• Action – behaving in a way that reflects our true character.
  Through self-examination, we cultivate harmony between what we think, desire, and do.

Pause before reacting. When something triggers you, ask: Why does this affect me so strongly? What belief lies beneath my reaction?
Reflect daily. Journal about your choices and emotions. What patterns do you see? What virtues guide your actions?
Detach from labels. You are not your job, income, or reputation. You are the sum of your moral choices — your character revealed through action.

For more, check out this related article with quotes on self-knowledge: https://viastoica.com/how-to-know-yourself/

And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:
https://viastoica.com/stoic-quotes
https://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quotes
https://viastoica.com/epictetus-quotes
https://viastoica.com/seneca-quotes

Make sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.

Support the show
https://viastoica.com
https://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coaching
https://viastoica.com/benny-voncken
https://x.com/ViaStoica
info@viastoica.com

Produced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.

What if love begins not with grand gestures, but with simple attention? In this episode, we explore the link between love, presence, and awareness — what philosopher Simone Weil called “attention.” In a distracted world, the Stoics remind us that attention is more than focus; it’s a moral act, a form of love, and the foundation of a virtuous life.

Drawing from the wisdom of Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, this episode reflects on prosochē, the Stoic discipline of attention. Epictetus warns, “When you relax your attention for a while, do not fancy you will recover it whenever you please.” (Discourses, 4.12).

For the Stoics, this wasn’t about perfection, but about wakefulness. Attention trains the mind to notice impressions before they harden into judgments, to respond instead of react, and to live deliberately. Marcus Aurelius reminds himself: “Concentrate every minute like a Roman… on doing what’s in front of you with precise and genuine seriousness.” (Meditations, 2.5). In other words, love life by truly being present in it.

Here are a few Stoic practices from this episode you can explore in your own life:

• Examine your impressions – Pause before reacting. Notice your first impulse and ask: “Is this really good or bad, or just my opinion?”

• Practice deep listening – Give someone your full presence. Listen not to reply, but to understand.

• Anchor in the present – When your thoughts drift to the past or future, bring attention back to the task or person before you.

• Pause and breathe – When overwhelmed, take one slow breath and ask: “What deserves my attention right now?”

In a time when our focus is scattered by screens, tasks, and constant noise, attention becomes an act of rebellion, and of love. It’s how we connect with others, with nature, and with ourselves. Stoicism teaches that to live wisely is to live attentively: seeing what is, accepting it fully, and acting from virtue.

By the end of this episode, you’ll see that Stoicism isn’t a cold philosophy of detachment, but a way of living gratefully, wisely, and in harmony with what is.

Listen to the full episode now and discover how attention can transform the way you think, act, and see your life.

Read the companion article: https://viastoica.com/what-is-prosoche

Support the show
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🎙️ Produced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the show where ancient wisdom meets modern life.

In this episode, Benny explores a passage from Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 1.9, a lesson Marcus attributes to his teacher Sextus:

“Not to display anger or other emotions; to be free of passion and yet full of love.”

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 1.9

This quote captures a profound Stoic balance, emotional freedom without emotional emptiness. Marcus reminds himself that true strength lies not in suppressing feelings, but in mastering them through reason.

To be “free of passion” (apatheia) is not to be cold, but to live without being ruled by destructive impulses like anger or fear.

Seneca called anger “temporary madness,” and Epictetus taught that emotions begin as impressions, automatic responses we don’t control, but that what we do with them is up to us. The Stoic discipline of Assent helps us pause between feeling and action, so that love, kindness, and reason guide our response instead of passion and impulse.

This teaching also points to the discipline of Desire, learning not to crave emotional intensity, and instead to choose harmony. And through Action, we express virtue outwardly: gentleness, compassion, and integrity toward others.

How to Practice This Teaching:

When anger arises, recognize it as a pre-emotion, a reflex, not a command.

Pause before reacting, and ask: “What would love choose here?”

Cultivate the good emotions (eupatheiai), joy, wish, and caution that arise from virtue and clear thinking.

By freeing ourselves from destructive passions, we make space for a tender, affectionate heart, the kind Marcus admired in Sextus, and that remains a timeless expression of Stoic strength.

For more, check out this related article with quotes on anger and emotional control:

https://viastoica.com/what-is-the-stoic-emotional-focus/

And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:

https://viastoica.com/stoic-quotes

https://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quotes

https://viastoica.com/epictetus-quotes

https://viastoica.com/seneca-quotes

Make sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.

Support the show:

https://viastoica.com

https://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coaching

https://viastoica.com/benny-voncken

https://x.com/ViaStoica

info@viastoica.com

Produced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.

Gratitude is often seen as soft, sentimental, or religious, but for the Stoics, it was a pillar of strength. In this episode, we explore how Stoicism offers a deeper, more grounded form of gratitude: one rooted in reason, awareness, and acceptance of the present moment.

Drawing on Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, we reveal how the Stoic view of gratitude isn’t about comparison or comfort, it’s about clarity.

Through practice, gratitude becomes a rational response to life’s impermanence and change.

When Epictetus writes, “When you kiss your child goodnight, whisper softly: tomorrow you will die,” he isn’t being morbid. He’s reminding us to be fully present, to love, notice, and appreciate what’s here before it’s gone.

From there, we can connect gratitude to the three Stoic disciplines:

Desire – wanting less and appreciating what you already have.

Assent – perceiving events clearly, without distortion or complaint.

Action – living with fairness, kindness, and awareness of the whole.

You’ll learn how gratitude aligns with Amor Fati, the love of fate, and how to stop the mental habit of complaining that clouds perception. With practical reflections and modern examples, we show how even simple awareness of what’s present can calm anxiety, reduce comparison, and restore peace of mind.

By the end of this episode, you’ll see that Stoicism is not a cold philosophy of detachment; it’s a joyful, grateful way of seeing the world as it truly is.

Listen to the full episode now and discover how gratitude can transform the way you think, act, and see your life.

Read the companion article: https://viastoica.com/how-to-view-the-world/

Support the show:

🌐 viastoica.com

🎯 viastoica.com/stoic-life-coaching

👤 viastoica.com/benny-voncken

▶️ YouTube: @viastoica

📧 info@viastoica.com

🎙️ Produced by: badmic.com