Find the good

“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: 'I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do?” — Marcus Aurelius

22 days left to preorder the fourth and final book in the Stoic virtue series, called "Wisdom Takes Work." Only preorders have access to bonuses like signed first editions, manuscript pages, and a live Q&A with @ryanholiday. Get yours at dailystoic.com/wisdom

"If it is not right, do not do it. If it is not true, do not say it." Marcus Aurelius

“How long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself and in no instance bypass the discriminations of reason? — Epictetus

Preorder the fourth and final book in the Stoic virtue series, coming out in 23 days, called "Wisdom Takes Work." Only preorders have access to bonuses like signed first editions, manuscript pages, and a live Q&A with @ryanholiday. Get yours at dailystoic.com/wisdom

“When you examine a gift, look at the giver too.” - Seneca

"No man is free who is not master of himself." — Epictetus

Break the cycle

Preorder for exclusive bonuses at dailystoic.com/wisdom

"Be careful not to rashly refuse to learn from others.” — Cato

"If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it." — Marcus Aurelius

Only 27 days left to preorder @ryanholiday's new book "Wisdom Takes Work." Preorder now for a ton of bonuses at dailystoic.com/wisdom

"Every place is safe to him who lives with justice." — Epictetus

"Trust that all is for the best. For we carry our fate with us—and it carries us." — Marcus Aurelius

Just 28 days left to preorder @ryanholiday's new book "Wisdom Takes Work." It is the final book in the Stoic virtue series. Lock in access to bonuses like signed first editions, bonus chapters, and dinner with @RyanHoliday. Preorder now at dailystoic.com/wisdom

"Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one." — Marcus Aurelius

"If your choices are beautiful, so too will you be” - Epictetus

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” ― Epictetus

"To live long, live slowly." — Cicero

“Wisdom begins in wonder.” ― Socrates

"I cannot escape death, but at least I can escape the fear of it" — Epictetus

“How much better to heal than seek revenge from injury. Vengeance wastes a lot of time and exposes you to many more injuries than the first that sparked it." — Seneca

From the author lucky enough to speak to Super Bowl-winning sports teams and NBA Champions, Special Forces Officers, Fortune 500 companies, groundbreaking startups and even at the White House. — Join Ryan Holiday on stage in Austin, TX on September 17th. Sign up at dailystoiclive.com

“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” ― Epictetus

“Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labour does the body.” — Seneca

"It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live." — Marcus Aurelius

Remember this today.

“If you wish to be loved, love.” ― Seneca

"The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it". — Marcus Aurelius

A few reminders.

"Nobody is thinking about you. They’re too busy thinking about themselves." — Ryan Holiday

Wisdom isn’t a destination but a practice. It’s choosing to learn from mentors, history, and books. It’s stepping outside your comfort zone, asking hard questions, owning mistakes, challenging assumptions, and moving through the world with humility.

3 Things you should never do (according to a Stoic):

We can’t let bad times turn us into bad people. The winds may howl but we must not be swept away. We must remain good. We must remain sane. This is our job.

"Get back up when you fail, to celebrate behaving like a human—however imperfectly—and fully embrace the pursuit that you've embarked on.” — Marcus Aurelius

You have agency over your own life.

"No man is more unhappy than he who never faces adversity." — Seneca

“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.” ― Marcus Aurelius

"Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants." — Epictetus

“If you live in harmony with nature you will never be poor; if you live according what others think, you will never be rich.” ― Seneca

“Be satisfied with even the smallest progress," Marcus Aurelius said. You’re never going to be perfect—there is no such thing. You’re human. So instead, aim for progress, even the smallest amount.

"We must give ourselves relaxation: it is not to be taken as though we were yielding to weakness but as though we were allowing a respite to labor". — Seneca

“Don't explain your philosophy. Embody it.” ― Epictetus

Everything.

The point of Stoicism is not about the elimination of emotion, but the ability to identify that you have it, to not be overrun and deceived by it, and to decide what to do after it. @ryan-holiday.bsky.social on @cnn.com with Boris Sanchez