Some Stoic principles

Just started reading letters from a stoic by seneca, great book. It is a collection of some of the letters that seneca wrote for his friends and leaders. He goes over some really great concepts with all of them relating or a part of Stoicisim.

What difference does it make how much there is laid away in a man’s safe or in his barns, how many head of stock he grazes or how much capital he puts out at interest, if he is always after what is another’s and only counts what he has yet to get, never what he has already.

You ask what is the proper limit to a person’s wealth? First, having what is essential, and second, having what is enough.

Refrain from following the example of those whose craving is for attention, not their own improvement, by doing certain things which are calculated to give rise to comment on your appearance or way of living generally.

Wild animals run from the dangers they actually see, and once they have escaped them worry no more. We however are tormented alike by what is past and what is to come…

adapt yourself to the present instead of projecting your thoughts far ahead. Memory brings back the agony of fear while foresight brings it on prematurely.

Nothing, to the wise man, is a necessity.

What difference does it make, after all, what your position in life is if you dislike it yourself?