Looking for some powerful stoic quotes? We have rounded up the best collection of stoic quotes, sayings, and captions (with images & pictures) by the big three of Stoicism: Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus, and others. Learn the wisdom of life from the Stoics about life, love, death, anger, change, calm, peace, and more.
Stoicism, a philosophical movement birthed in ancient Greece and flourishing in Rome, offers timeless wisdom on leading a life of virtue, resilience, and mindfulness.
Also See: Greek Quotes
The four virtues of Stoicism focus on courage, justice, wisdom, and self-control. It also teaches that our suffering is only a perception or interpretation of circumstances, rather than reality. It teaches the endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without complaint.
Top 10 Stoic Quotes
- “No man was ever wise by chance” ― Seneca
- “To be even minded is the greatest virtue.”— Heraclitus
- “It is the power of the mind to be unconquerable.” ― Seneca
- “He has the most who is content with the least.”— Diogenes
- “Man conquers the world by conquering himself.”— Zeno of Citium
- “It is not things that trouble us, but our judgements about things.” ― Epictetus
- “Self-control is strength. Right thought is mastery. Calmness is power.”— James Allen
- “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” ― Marcus Aurelius
Most Famous Stoic Quotes
- “If you wish to be a writer, write.” ― Epictetus
- “Cease to hope and you will cease to fear.” — Seneca
- “Fate leads the willing, and drags along the reluctant.” — Seneca
- “The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately.”— Seneca
- “It does not matter what you bear, but how you bear it.”— Seneca
- “He who laughs at himself never runs out of things to laugh at.” ― Epictetus
- “Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life.” ― Seneca
- “It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it.” — Seneca
- “A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.”― Seneca
- “Today I escaped from anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions — not outside.” — Marcus Aurelius
The Best Stoic Quote of The Day
- “What stands in the way becomes the way.” ― Marcus Aurelius
- “The Fates lead the willing, but drag the unwilling.” ― Cleanthes
- “An angry man opens his mouth and shuts his eyes.” — Cato The Elder
- “It is unrealistic to expect people to see you as you see yourself.” ― Epictetus
- “Remember that very little is needed to make a happy life.” — Marcus Aurelius
- “A ship should not ride on a single anchor, nor life on a single hope” ― Epictetus
- “The universe itself is God and the universal outpouring of its soul.” ― Chrysippus
- “It is not possible to live well today unless you treat it as your last day.” — Musonius Rufus
- “I begin to speak only when I’m certain what I’ll say isn’t better left unsaid.” – Cato The Younger
- “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” ― Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius Stoic Quotes
- “Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.” — Marcus Aurelius
- “The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.” — Marcus Aurelius
- “Receive without pride, let go without attachment.” — Marcus Aurelius
- “You have power over your mind—not outside events.” — Marcus Aurelius
- “The soul becomes dyed with the colour of its thoughts.” ― Marcus Aurelius
- “If it is not right, do not do it, if it is not true, do not say it.” — Marcus Aurelius
- “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be One.” — Marcus Aurelius
- “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.” — Marcus Aurelius
- “External things are not the problem. It’s your assessment of them. Which you can erase right now.” — Marcus Aurelius
- “Choose not to be harmed — and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed — and you haven’t been.” — Marcus Aurelius
- “Because a thing seems difficult for you, do not think it impossible for anyone to accomplish.” — Marcus Aurelius
Greatest Seneca Stoic Quotes
- “To be everywhere is to be nowhere.”— Seneca
- “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” — Seneca
- “It is the quality rather than the quantity that matters.” — Seneca
- “Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body. ” — Seneca
- “The mind that is anxious about future events is miserable.” — Seneca
- “If a man knows not which port he sails, no wind is favorable.” — Seneca
- “How does it help…to make troubles heavier by bemoaning them?” — Seneca
- “A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man without trials.” — Seneca
- “He who fears death will never do anything worth of a man who is alive.” — Seneca
- “Life is very short and anxious for those who forget the past, neglect the present, and fear the future.”— Seneca
Powerful Epictetus Stoic Quotes
- “Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it.” — Epictetus
- “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” — Epictetus
- “Anything or anyone capable of angering you becomes your master.” — Epictetus
- “Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” — Epictetus
- “How long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself?” — Epictetus
- “First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” — Epictetus
- “We should always be asking ourselves: “Is this something that is, or is not, in my control?” — Epictetus
- “Just keep in mind: the more we value things outside our control, the less control we have.”— Epictetus
- “Curb your desire—don’t set your heart on so many things and you will get what you need.”— Epictetus
- “Don’t just say you have read books. Show that through them you have learned to think better, to be a more discriminating and reflective person.” — Epictetus
Looking For More Deep Words Of Wisdom
Conclusion
- “Things stand outside of us, themselves by themselves, neither knowing anything of themselves nor expressing any judgment.” — Marcus Aurelius
While these quotations are just a snippet of the wealth of wisdom from Stoic philosophers, they encapsulate some of the core teachings and perspectives that Stoicism offers on life, adversity, and personal growth.
Stoicism teaches us to focus on what we can control, remain calm in adversity, and act with integrity. These lines are timeless guides for clarity, inner strength, and purpose—perfect for anyone seeking perspective in daily life.
Which of the above Stoic quotes inspired you the most? Let us know in the comments section below. Feel free to share these stoic quotes with friends and family to motivate them on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and more.