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

Where we take a moment to slow down and reflect on what the Stoics can teach us about living with reason and restraint. In this episode, we turn to Seneca and a striking passage from On Anger, Book 3, section 3:

“So tell me, will someone call a man sane who, as if caught up in a tempest, does not walk, but is driven along and takes as his master a furious demon?”

Seneca uses vivid language to show what anger does to the mind. When anger takes over, we are no longer choosing our actions; we are being carried by them. The Stoic principle at work here is self-command. Anger is not strength, but a loss of inner direction, a momentary madness that blocks reason and leads us away from acting well.

This idea connects closely with Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, who both warn against being ruled by impressions instead of examining them. Through the disciplines of Desire, Assent, and Action, Stoicism teaches us to loosen our attachment to emotional impulses, question the judgments that ignite anger, and respond deliberately rather than react blindly. In everyday life, this means learning to pause when irritation arises, recognizing when emotion is taking the lead, and choosing restraint over release, especially in moments of pressure or conflict.

For more, check out this related article with quotes on Stoicism and anger:
https://viastoica.com/10-seneca-quotes-on-anger/
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.
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Produced by: badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.
In this episode, we explore why the idea of the Stoic lone wolf is a myth. While modern culture often praises isolation and radical self reliance as strength, the Stoics understood human beings as deeply social by nature. Solitude can restore us, but cutting ourselves off from others slowly erodes purpose and direction.

Marcus Aurelius captures this clearly when he writes:
“Have you ever seen a severed hand or foot, or a decapitated head, lying somewhere apart from the rest of the body? That is what a person makes of himself when he refuses to accept what happens and cuts himself off from others.”
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 8.34
He is not condemning solitude, but reminding us that we flourish only when we see ourselves as part of a larger whole.

This episode reflects on the difference between chosen solitude and harmful isolation, the Stoic importance of roles and duties, and why real strength lies in connection, responsibility, and contribution. Stoicism invites us not to withdraw from life, but to take our place in it with reason, kindness, and steadiness.

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

Read the related article: https://viastoica.com/why-the-stoic-lone-wolf-doesnt-exist/

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🎙️ Produced by: https://badmic.com

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism. In this week's Stoic Quotes episode, we look at Epictetus, Discourses, Book 4, Chapter 4, recorded by Arrian. He writes:

“But it is a much finer thing to be happy, to have a peaceful and undisturbed mind, to have what concerns you depend on nobody but yourself.”

At first glance, this can sound like withdrawal from the world, but Epictetus is pointing to something more demanding. He is reminding us that the moment we tie our happiness to externals, whether comfort, leisure, approval, or even quiet, we become dependent and easily disturbed. Stoic happiness is not about arranging perfect conditions, but about cultivating inner steadiness through right judgment. In modern terms, peace comes not from controlling life, but from aligning our desires with what is truly up to us.

This teaching echoes through Stoicism, from Marcus Aurelius’ emphasis on inner rule to Seneca’s insistence that freedom begins with self-command. It touches all three Stoic disciplines: Desire, by letting go of attachments to externals; Assent, by examining the judgments that create disturbance; and Action, by choosing what accords with reason and virtue, even when it feels uncomfortable. Practically, this means learning to remain composed when plans fail, choosing values over convenience, and finding contentment in acting well rather than feeling comfortable.

For more, check out this related article with quotes on Stoic inner peace and solitude:
https://viastoica.com/10-marcus-aurelius-quotes-on-being-alone/
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