Source Selections

DISCLAIMER: Do note that many of the selections here, particularly those from ancient authors, are often not fully self-explanatory and do require an understanding of Stoic theory to glean their authors' intended meanings. If you are just starting out with Stoic philosophy, you will likely find it more useful to begin by reading the primary source works themselves as well as the works of later authors and scholars discussing and engaging the ancient ideas. This can provide helpful theoretical and historical context, without which the content of some selections may seem strange or aversive. Use this resource with caution, then, as it is intended to be a tool for those already familiar with Stoicism to continually engage the material and in new ways. That being said, if you are a beginner, feel free to explore the selections, taking them with some grains of salt.

Take me to a random source selection

Welcome to the source selections section of the site! Here you will find a collection of selected passages from textual sources relating to Stoicism. Click this random selection link (also above) to be taken to a random passage in the collection.

This tool may be useful for those learning and practicing Stoic philosophy. One might use this tool to quickly access Stoic quotes to ponder throughout the day, to discuss with others, or to reflect upon in writing.

The bank of source selections is being perpetually added to. That being said, if there is a relevant Stoic passage you would like to see added, feel free to suggest passages here by editing that page. Please include the translation you are using (if applicable) and where you found the quote.

Another thing to note about the selections is that many come from translated works. Different translators often refer to the same original work by different names, a product of differing interpretations of work titles. For example, Seneca's Letters are also sometimes called his Epistles, and the Handbook of Epictetus is also known as the Manual, or Encheiridion. The choice of title by each work's translator(s) has been preserved in the citations used on this site, along with any added section markings contained next to or within quoted text.

The source selections on this site are derived from a variety of works, many of which have been translated. Each selection contains an abbreviated citation, which are listed below, along with the full citations for each source.

Seneca, L. (2015). Letters on ethics: To Lucilius (M. Graver & A. Long, Trans.). The University of Chicago Press.

Seneca. (1917). Seneca, epistles, volume I: epistles 1-65 (R. M. Gummere, Trans.). Harvard University Press.

Find a full-text copy of this source on Wikisource here.

Aurelius, M. (2003). Meditations: a new translation (G. Hays, Trans.). Random House Publishing Group.

Epictetus. (2018). How to be free: An ancient guide to the Stoic life (A. A. Long, Trans.). Princeton University Press.

Epictetus. (1877). The discourses of Epictetus; with the encheiridion and fragments (G. Long, Trans.). George Bell and Sons.

Find a full-text copy of this source on Wikisource here.

Epictetus. (2022). The complete works: handbook, discourses, and fragments (R. Waterfield, Trans.). The University of Chicago Press.