Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.
In this episode, we turn to Epictetus, Discourses, Book 2, Chapter 10, where he begins with a powerful invitation:

“Examine who you are. For you are capable of understanding the divine governance of the universe and of reasoning on what follows from that.”
Epictetus, Discourses, Book 2, Chapter 10

At the heart of this quote lies the Stoic call to self-knowledge. Epictetus reminds us that our first duty is not to chase success, fame, or wealth, but to understand ourselves. Only when we know who we are can we know how to live. This isn’t abstract philosophy; it’s an invitation to observe, question, and align our actions with our nature. In modern terms, it’s about becoming aware of our beliefs, values, and reactions, the foundations of a meaningful life.

Epictetus follows the example of Socrates, who famously said that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” The Stoics carried this Socratic insight further: by knowing ourselves, we come to understand nature itself. As Marcus Aurelius often reminded himself, we are fragments of the same Logos that governs the universe.
This idea connects deeply with the three Stoic disciplines:

• Desire – wanting only what aligns with nature.

• Assent – judging impressions clearly and rationally.

• Action – behaving in a way that reflects our true character.
  Through self-examination, we cultivate harmony between what we think, desire, and do.

Pause before reacting. When something triggers you, ask: Why does this affect me so strongly? What belief lies beneath my reaction?
Reflect daily. Journal about your choices and emotions. What patterns do you see? What virtues guide your actions?
Detach from labels. You are not your job, income, or reputation. You are the sum of your moral choices — your character revealed through action.

For more, check out this related article with quotes on self-knowledge: https://viastoica.com/how-to-know-yourself/

And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:
https://viastoica.com/stoic-quotes
https://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quotes
https://viastoica.com/epictetus-quotes
https://viastoica.com/seneca-quotes

Make sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.

Support the show
https://viastoica.com
https://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coaching
https://viastoica.com/benny-voncken
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info@viastoica.com

Produced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.

What if love begins not with grand gestures, but with simple attention? In this episode, we explore the link between love, presence, and awareness — what philosopher Simone Weil called “attention.” In a distracted world, the Stoics remind us that attention is more than focus; it’s a moral act, a form of love, and the foundation of a virtuous life.

Drawing from the wisdom of Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, this episode reflects on prosochē, the Stoic discipline of attention. Epictetus warns, “When you relax your attention for a while, do not fancy you will recover it whenever you please.” (Discourses, 4.12).

For the Stoics, this wasn’t about perfection, but about wakefulness. Attention trains the mind to notice impressions before they harden into judgments, to respond instead of react, and to live deliberately. Marcus Aurelius reminds himself: “Concentrate every minute like a Roman… on doing what’s in front of you with precise and genuine seriousness.” (Meditations, 2.5). In other words, love life by truly being present in it.

Here are a few Stoic practices from this episode you can explore in your own life:

• Examine your impressions – Pause before reacting. Notice your first impulse and ask: “Is this really good or bad, or just my opinion?”

• Practice deep listening – Give someone your full presence. Listen not to reply, but to understand.

• Anchor in the present – When your thoughts drift to the past or future, bring attention back to the task or person before you.

• Pause and breathe – When overwhelmed, take one slow breath and ask: “What deserves my attention right now?”

In a time when our focus is scattered by screens, tasks, and constant noise, attention becomes an act of rebellion, and of love. It’s how we connect with others, with nature, and with ourselves. Stoicism teaches that to live wisely is to live attentively: seeing what is, accepting it fully, and acting from virtue.

By the end of this episode, you’ll see that Stoicism isn’t a cold philosophy of detachment, but a way of living gratefully, wisely, and in harmony with what is.

Listen to the full episode now and discover how attention can transform the way you think, act, and see your life.

Read the companion article: https://viastoica.com/what-is-prosoche

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🎙️ Produced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the show where ancient wisdom meets modern life.

In this episode, Benny explores a passage from Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 1.9, a lesson Marcus attributes to his teacher Sextus:

“Not to display anger or other emotions; to be free of passion and yet full of love.”

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 1.9

This quote captures a profound Stoic balance, emotional freedom without emotional emptiness. Marcus reminds himself that true strength lies not in suppressing feelings, but in mastering them through reason.

To be “free of passion” (apatheia) is not to be cold, but to live without being ruled by destructive impulses like anger or fear.

Seneca called anger “temporary madness,” and Epictetus taught that emotions begin as impressions, automatic responses we don’t control, but that what we do with them is up to us. The Stoic discipline of Assent helps us pause between feeling and action, so that love, kindness, and reason guide our response instead of passion and impulse.

This teaching also points to the discipline of Desire, learning not to crave emotional intensity, and instead to choose harmony. And through Action, we express virtue outwardly: gentleness, compassion, and integrity toward others.

How to Practice This Teaching:

When anger arises, recognize it as a pre-emotion, a reflex, not a command.

Pause before reacting, and ask: “What would love choose here?”

Cultivate the good emotions (eupatheiai), joy, wish, and caution that arise from virtue and clear thinking.

By freeing ourselves from destructive passions, we make space for a tender, affectionate heart, the kind Marcus admired in Sextus, and that remains a timeless expression of Stoic strength.

For more, check out this related article with quotes on anger and emotional control:

https://viastoica.com/what-is-the-stoic-emotional-focus/

And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:

https://viastoica.com/stoic-quotes

https://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quotes

https://viastoica.com/epictetus-quotes

https://viastoica.com/seneca-quotes

Make sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.

Support the show:

https://viastoica.com

https://viastoica.com/stoic-life-coaching

https://viastoica.com/benny-voncken

https://x.com/ViaStoica

info@viastoica.com

Produced by: badmic.com