• In Stoicism, what you do with the given circumstances matters much more. Stoics recognized that the good life depends on the cultivation of one’s character, on one’s choices and actions rather than on what happens in the uncontrollable world around us.

• “If it is not right, do not do it, if it is not true, do not say it.” – Marcus Aurelius

• “First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” – Epictetus

• As wood is to the carpenter, and bronze to the sculptor, so are our own lives the proper material in the art of living.

• Every life situation presents a blank canvas or a block of marble that we can sculpt and train on, so that over a lifetime we can master our craft.

• The Stoics were particularly concerned with applying philosophy to everyday life. They saw themselves as veritable warriors of the mind and thought the primary reason to study philosophy was to put it into practice.

• In other words, it’s our nature to complete what’s been started with that divine seed and bring our human potential to life.

• We should close the gap between who we’re capable of being (our ideal self) and who we actually are in that moment.

• In short, areté directly translates as “virtue” or “excellence,” but it has a profounder meaning—something like “expressing the highest version of yourself in every moment.”

• Philosophy trains us to be able to take on every obstacle in life with the right mindset so that life keeps on going smoothly.

• “A brave man isn’t someone who doesn’t experience any trace of fear whatsoever but someone who acts courageously despite feeling anxiety.”

• He tells us that euthymia, which gets translated as tranquility, is all about knowing your path and walking that path.

• You’re confident that what you’re doing is right, and you don’t need to listen left and right for what others have to say.

• “If a man knows not which port he sails, no wind is favorable.” – Seneca

• “Since every man dies, it is better to die with distinction than to live long.” – Musonius Rufus

• “Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it.” – Epictetus

• “It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.” – Marcus Aurelius

• Live with Areté: Express your highest self in every moment. If we want to be on good terms with our highest self, we need to close the gap between what we’re capable of and what we’re actually doing. This is really about being your best version in the here and now. It’s about using reason in our actions and living in harmony with deep values. This is obviously easier said than done, what supports this ambitious goal is to separate good from bad and focus on what we control.

• “As it is we are glib and fluent in the lecture-room, and if any paltry question arises about a point of conduct, we are capable of pursuing the subject logically; but put us to the practical test and you will find us miserable shipwrecks.” – Epictetus

• Or as Epictetus puts it, we might get miserably shipwrecked. That’s why we must practice. He says a carpenter becomes a carpenter by learning certain things. And a helmsman becomes a helmsman by learning certain things. So it’s clear that if we want to become good people, we must learn certain things.

• "What would have become of Hercules, do you think, if there had been no lion, hydra, stag or boar - and no savage criminals to rid the world of? What would he have done in the absence of such challenges?” – Epictetus

• Don’t fight with reality, but bring your will into harmony with it, and focus on where your power lies.

• “When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive—to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.”