Simple Stoic Advice
Principles
Principles
The beautiful thing about Stoic philosophy is the advice contained within it is just as applicable today as it was when it was first written all those many years ago. We can learn a great deal from interpreting the advice provided and using it to our advantage as we go throughout our own lives.
Today’s quote comes to us courtesy of Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, IV.2:
Quote
“No random actions, none not based on underlying principles.”
Advice
The Stoics believed that everything in life was guided by Nature, or underlying principles. The Stoics in a sense tried to replicate this by making sure that each and every action taken had a reason behind it. This entry can be viewed as Marcus reminding himself that everything he did needed to be supported by a belief or rational. As Donald Robertson once explained, at an early age, Marcus was placed under the watchful eye of Hadrian, the emperor. During this time, the palace where Marcus lived was filled with people spying and lying on one another to get ahead. From this, Marcus probably attempted to find transparency as a way to combat these lies and spies that surrounded him. This is also why Stoicism was one of his favorite philosophies, it is built upon wisdom and transparency, getting to the heart of a matter.
Remember: If you are going to act, make sure that that action is supported by reason and an underlying principle which guides your life.
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