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Stoicism for Discipline
Discipline, to a Stoic, is freedom. The person ruled by impulse is ruled by whatever appears next; the person who chooses deliberately is self-governed. Small, repeated choices are how character is built.
Stoic ideas for this
“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
Marcus Aurelius · Meditations
“Waste no more time arguing about what a good person should be. Be one.”
Marcus Aurelius · Meditations
“If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.”
Marcus Aurelius · Meditations
“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”
Marcus Aurelius · Meditations
“No man is free who is not master of himself.”
Epictetus · Discourses
“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”
Epictetus · Discourses
“If you want to improve, be content to appear foolish and stupid to others.”
Epictetus · Enchiridion
“If a man knows not to which port he sails, no wind is favorable.”
Seneca · Letters from a Stoic
“Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.”
Seneca · Letters from a Stoic
“If you are going to learn, you must be punished; for the man who is not punished is not taught.”
Musonius Rufus · Lectures
“Neither should a free man be a slave to his body, nor should he neglect it.”
Musonius Rufus · Lectures
“Philosophy is not a skill for display, but a discipline for living.”
Musonius Rufus · Lectures
“Well-being is attained by little and little, and nevertheless is no little thing itself.”
Zeno of Citium · Diogenes Laertius, Lives of the Philosophers
Put it into practice
A Stoic tool is only useful if you actually use it. Try this small loop the next time discipline shows up:
- Name it plainly. Say what is happening without the story you are adding on top of it.
- Split what’s yours from what isn’t. Invest your energy only in the part you can actually choose.
- Do one small thing. A single deliberate action today beats a week of intending to.
Related ideas
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