91 Of The Best Stoic Quotes (For A Better Life)

By Maxime Lagacé

Maxime is the founder of WisdomQuotes. He has been collecting quotes since 2004. His goal? To help you develop a calm and peaceful mind. Learn more about him on his about page.

stoic quotes better life wisdom

To be a Stoic is simple:

  • Stay calm
  • Do the right thing
  • Ignore what you don’t control

But most people are “being jerked like a puppet” as Marcus Aurelius once said.

That’s why I’ve collected 91 Of The Best Stoic Quotes (For A Better Life).

My goal is to help you:

  • Find peace of mind
  • Build your character
  • Build a new perspective on life

You’ll discover quotes by Seneca, Epictetus, Einstein, and more.

So, are you ready to transform your life with this 2000-year-old philosophy?

Enjoy!


stoic quotes man conquers world conquering himself zeno citium wisdom

Man conquers the world by conquering himself. Zeno of Citium (Founder of Stoicism)

To be calm is the highest achievement of the self. Zen proverb

Success is based off of your willingness to work your ass off no matter what obstacles are in your way. David Goggins

When someone is properly grounded in life, they shouldn’t have to look outside themselves for approval. Epictetus

Learn to be indifferent to what makes no difference. Marcus Aurelius

To bear trials with a calm mind robs misfortune of its strength and burden. Seneca

The ultimate power in life is to be completely self-reliant, completely yourself. Robert Greene

Too many people believe that everything must be pleasurable in life. Robert Greene

The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately. Seneca

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stoic quotes keep mind value things outside control less have epictetus wisdom

Just keep in mind: the more we value things outside our control, the less control we have. Epictetus

A rational person can find peace by cultivating indifference to things outside of their control. Naval Ravikant

Fate leads the willing, and drags along the reluctant. Seneca

The mind that is anxious about future events is miserable. Seneca

Relentlessly prune bullshit, don’t wait to do things that matter, and savor the time you have. Paul Graham

Be a master of the mind, not mastered by the mind. Zen proverb

The more you seek the uncomfortable, the more you will become comfortable. Conor McGregor

Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. Viktor Frankl

To make a goal of comfort or happiness has never appealed to me; a system of ethics built on this basis would be sufficient only for a herd of cattle. Albert Einstein

stoic quotes tranquility comes stop caring think marcus aurelius wisdom

The tranquility that comes when you stop caring what they say. Or think, or do. Only what you do. Marcus Aurelius

If you make happiness your goal, you’ll be disappointed. If you make presence your goal, you’ll be peaceful. Maxime Lagacé

If it’s endurable, then endure it. Stop complaining. Marcus Aurelius

Failure and deprivation are the best educators and purifiers. Albert Einstein

That one wants nothing to be different, not forward, not backwards, not in all eternity. Not merely bear what is necessary, still less conceal it… but love it. Friedrich Nietzsche

That’s what Stoicism is all about: learning to live a good life by developing peace of mind through confidence of one’s ability to overcome adversity. The Daily Stoic (Amazon book)

The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are. Marcus Aurelius

The great law of nature is that it never stops. There is no end. Ryan Holiday

Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it. Epictetus

RelatedWhat Is Stoicism? A Simple Definition & 10 Stoic Core Principles (njlifehack.com)

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stoic quotes does not matter bear how seneca wisdom

It does not matter what you bear, but how you bear it. Seneca

I love to go and see all the things I am happy without. Socrates (On going to the market)

The robbed that smiles steals something from the thief. Othello

Stoicism is about the domestication of emotions, not their elimination. Nassim Nicholas Taleb

A Stoic is someone who transforms fear into prudence, pain into transformation, mistakes into initiation, and desire into undertaking. Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Stoicism teaches how to keep a calm and rational mind no matter what happens to you and it helps you understand and focus on what you can control and not worry about and accept what you can’t control. Jonas Salzgeber

Stoicism, understood properly, is a cure for a disease. The disease in question is the anxiety, grief, fear, and various other negative emotions that plague humans and prevent them from experiencing a joyful existence. William B. Irvine

Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. Steve Jobs

The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred. Dalai Lama

Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be, be one. Marcus Aurelius

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stoic quotes gem cannot be polished perfected trials seneca wisdom

A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials. Seneca

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

What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. Don’t complain. Maya Angelou

You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength. Marcus Aurelius

Many men will meet me who are drunkards, lustful, ungrateful, greedy, and excited by the frenzy of ambition. Seneca

Set aside a certain number of days during which you shall be content with the scantiest and cheapest fare, with coarse and rough dress, saying to yourself the while, “Is this the condition that I feared?” Seneca

What is to give light must endure burning. Viktor Frankl

‎Life is a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats. Voltaire

What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do. Tim Ferriss

It is not daily increase but daily decrease, hack away the unessential. The closer to the source, the less wastage there is. Bruce Lee

stoic quotes has most content least diogenes wisdom

He has the most who is content with the least. Diogenes

The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is so we might listen more and talk less. Zeno of Citium

If you are irritated by every rub, how will your mirror be polished? Rumi

Nothing endures but change. Heraclitus

Why should we pay so much attention to what the majority thinks? Socrates

Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself. Marcus Aurelius

No human thing is of serious importance. Plato

Ensure you endure. Maxime Lagacé

You do not choose your problems. You choose how you react to them. Dan Go (Source)

stoic quotes self control strength right thought master james allen wisdom

Self-control is strength. Right thought is mastery. Calmness is power. James Allen

The obstacle is the way. Ryan Holiday

What we desire makes us vulnerable. Ryan Holiday (The Daily Stoic)

Move toward resistance and pain. Robert Greene

Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position. But certainty is an absurd one. Voltaire

Discomfort is the currency of success. Brooke Castillo

Show people, don’t tell people. David Goggins

Discomfort is a wise teacher. Caroline Myss

What is the secret of success? One word answer: “rational”. Charlie Munger


stoic quotes be evenminded greatest virtue wisdom

To be evenminded is the greatest virtue. Heraclitus

To complain is always nonacceptance of what is. Eckhart Tolle

If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you. Unknown

Be present above all else. Naval Ravikant

Don’t aim to be perfect. Aim to be antifragile. Nassim Nicholas Taleb

You will be attacked for doing the right thing. Do it anyway. @TheStoicEmperor

Keep your intention pure. Emotions will try to distract you. So keep going. That’s the cure. Maxime Lagacé

Related: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Amazon book)
stoic quotes just right thing keep going maxime lagace wisdom

Be stoic: Just do the right thing. Just keep going. Maxime Lagacé

Do what you will. Even if you tear yourself apart, most people will continue doing the same things. Marcus Aurelius

It can ruin your life only if it ruins your character. Otherwise it cannot harm you — inside or out. Marcus Aurelius

Every hour focus your mind attentively…on the performance of the task in hand, with dignity, human sympathy, benevolence and freedom, and leave aside all other thoughts. You will achieve this, if you perform each action as if it were your last. Marcus Aurelius

Control your perceptions. Direct your actions properly. Willingly accept what’s outside your control. Ryan Holiday (The Daily Stoic)

In life, it doesn’t matter what happens to you or where you came from. It matters what you do with what happens and what you’ve been given. Ryan Holiday

Never let people who choose the path of least resistance steer you away from your chosen path of most resistance. David Goggins (Related: The World’s Toughest Man! – David Goggins, YouTube video)

Short term thinking is everywhere. Noisy feuds over little prizes. The long term thinker will be king. Win the decade, not the day. @TheStoicEmperor

Give yourself fully to your endeavors. Decide to construct your character through excellent actions and determine to pay the price of a worthy goal. The trials you encounter will introduce you to your strengths. Epictetus

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stoic quotes emotionless remain unaffected emotions james pierce wisdom

To be stoic is not to be emotionless, but to remain unaffected by your emotions. James Pierce

Now is the time to get serious about living your ideals. How long can you afford to put off who you really want to be? Your nobler self cannot wait any longer. Put your principles into practice – now. Stop the excuses and the procrastination. This is your life! […] Decide to be extraordinary and do what you need to do – now. Epictetus

Make the mind tougher by exposing it to adversity. Robert Greene

Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking. Marcus Aurelius

As each day arises, welcome it as the very best day of all, and make it your own possession. We must seize what flees. Seneca

Inwardly, we ought to be different in every respect, but our outward dress should blend in with the crowd. Seneca

Be so busy building your own life that other people’s bullshit is of no concern. Ed Latimore (edlatimore.com)

We are quick to forget that just being alive is an extraordinary piece of good luck, a remote event, a chance occurrence of monstrous proportions. Nicholas Nassim Taleb

Difficulty is what wakes up the genius. Nassim Nicholas Taleb

stoic quotes just that right thing rest doesnt matter marcus aurelius wisdom

Just that you do the right thing. The rest doesn’t matter. Marcus Aurelius

Related: The Obstacle Is the Way (Amazon book)

Key Takeaways

  • Being stoic is the art of doing what must be done, calmly and courageously.
  • The benefits of being stoic?
    • More inner peace
    • More self-control
    • Unaffected by emotions
  • Life is chaotic and unpredictable. Accept it. Endure it.
  • Focus on one task: what’s in front of you.
  • The only thing you control in life? How you react to things.

Further Readings (For Wisdom And Life Lessons)

Hope you enjoyed these great stoic quotes and the perspective they gave you.

I’m sure you’re now better equipped to face the struggles of life.

Now, if you did enjoy the quotes, please share them with a friend today!

Did you know about stoicism? What’s your favorite stoic quote? And remember: words can transform your life, if you find the right ones.

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stoic quotes better life wisdom

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Author Bio

maxime lagace

Maxime Lagacé started collecting quotes in 2004 after he lost his girlfriend in a car accident.

In search of meaning, he dived in the self-improvement world, psychology and trail running.

Books, blogs, quotes and nature became his guide.

He started journaling, reflecting, writing his thoughts, feelings and quotes.

His goal was to understand his pain, his depression, his fears, his lack of motivation and inspiration.

He finished his software engineering degree in 2007 at the École de Technologie Supérieure de Montréal.

A few years later, he started his first website to share his love of quotes.

Maxime is a father of two, husband, and INFJ.

Other notable interests of Maxime are health (mental and physical), meditation, bananas, SEO, human potential, and education.

You can find him on X, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube.

Last update

April 17, 2023

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