by Phil Van Treuren “Constantly think of the universe as a single living being, comprised of a single substance and a single soul; and how all things issue into the single perception of this being, and how it accomplishes all things through a single impulse; and how all things work together to cause all that comes to be, and how intricate and densely woven is the fabric formed by their interweaving.” — Marcus Aurelius In order for the world to exist as it does, all human beings — even those you don’t like — need to be exactly who they are, playing the specific roles they’re playing on the sta ..read more

by Phil Van Treuren “The mind is like a bowl of water, and our impressions are like rays of light falling upon the water. When the water is troubled, it appears that the light itself is moved too . . . but it isn’t.” — Epictetus Saying that someone looks at things “through rose-colored glasses” usually implies that they’re naive about the world. But the concept that we can choose to view external circumstances through different “lenses” or “frames” is one of the most profound ideas that the human mind ever devised. There are idioms in every language that describe this unique human superpow ..read more

by Phil Van Treuren “Animals run from the dangers they actually see, and once they have escaped, they worry no more. We however are tormented alike by what is past and what is to come.” — Seneca Some philosophers have said that dogs embody the teachings of Stoicism better than any other animal. In fact, the oldest Stoic parable is about a dog tied to a cart (with the dog representing our choice to fight or follow, and the cart representing the fate that pulls us along). Dogs are undeniably graced with a spirit of enduring joy that reflects Stoic teachings about “anchoring” ourselves in the ..read more

by Phil Van Treuren “Whenever you take offense at someone’s wrongdoing, immediately turn to your own similar failings . . . by thinking on this, you’ll quickly forget your anger, considering also what compels them — for what else could they do?” — Marcus Aurelius It’s an insidious little sentence that your ego whispers to you during stressful situations: when you’re arguing with someone, or when the checkout line is moving too slow, or when you’re prevented from doing things your own way. “I’m smarter than they are.” Okay, maybe that’s the truth . . . but so what? The folks you’re passing ..read more

by Phil Van Treuren “It is not only the sword and the battle-line that prove the soul alert and unconquered by fear; a man can display bravery even when wrapped in his bed-clothes. You have something to do: wrestle bravely with illness. If it shall compel you to nothing, beguile you to nothing, it is a notable example that you display.” — Seneca All of this practice, all of this reading about philosophy and training your mind to think logically . . . and for what? Will Stoicism ever avail you in brutal combat, or torture, or prison, or exile to some barren wilderness? No, nothing so dramat ..read more

The Little Book of Stoic Quotes: Philosophy for a Meaningful & Courageous Life is the newest publication from author Phil Van Treuren, and will be available for purchase in September 2024. A Sneak Peek at the Introduction of The Little Book of Stoic Quotes When I was a twenty-something, I asked my grandfather if he’d been scared while going through months of radiation treatment for prostate cancer. “No,” he said matter-of-factly. “There was nothing I could do about it, so worrying wouldn’t have made any difference.” I doubt that my grandfather — who still lives independently in his 90s ..read more

by Phil Van Treuren “If you have a favorite cup, remember that it is only a cup that you prefer. If it is broken, you can bear it.” — Epictetus There are things in your life that you love, or that help you, or that you enjoy having around — and that’s okay. Just be sure to remind yourself of what they really are. Epictetus gives the example of a cup. If you like a specific cup, he tells us, you should remind yourself that it’s really just some ceramic and paint. That way, if it ever breaks, you won’t be as upset. Try applying that to things that might seem more important, too. If you’re pro ..read more

by Phil Van Treuren “If anyone starts talking about philosophy, stay quiet, because you might end up just vomiting out the stuff you’ve learned without digesting it. Sheep don’t throw up grass to show a shepherd how much they ate . . . instead, they digest it and use their food to produce wool and milk.” — Epictetus When you first discover philosophy, it’s tough to resist the urge to tell everyone about what you’re learning. But blabbing about your newfound knowledge could hold you back from making progress . . . which is why Epictetus used to warn his students about the vomiting sheep. If ..read more

by Phil Van Treuren “We have the power to hold no opinion about a thing and to not let it upset our state of mind — for things have no natural power to shape our judgments.” — Marcus Aurelius It isn’t easy to stay neutral in a world that seems to constantly demand your opinion on everything. What team are you rooting for? What political party do you support? What do you think about this issue . . . and this one, and this one? As human beings, we have an instinctive desire to feel like part of a group, a member of a club, a player on a team. Unchecked, it becomes an urge to classify everyone ..read more

Phil Van Treuren is an author & entrepreneur based in Cleveland, Ohio. You Have a Beautiful Mind You have a beautiful mind. I’m not talking about how intelligent or clever you are. I’m talking about a gift you were born with that’s worth more than all the money in the world. Read More >> The Art of Not Hating People: 6 Stoic Techniques to See the Best in Everyone My biggest personal flaw has always been cynicism, which is one of the most nefarious attitudes a person can have. Read More >> Natural Born Stoics: Why Some People Have Built-In Stoicism When I was a ..read more