The Feminine Stoic
Classical Stoicism for women and girls.
Inviting women and girls to Stoicism
Classical Stoicism is different from the modern ‘stoic’ connotation of being a strong silent man who doesn’t cry or feel emotions. The ancient Greek philosophy is a code of ethics and principles on how to live. It maintains that happiness stems from doing the right thing. Stoicism is as much for women as it is for men.
365 lessons from Stoic women that will simultaneously inspire and ground you.
Stoicism isn’t a parlor trick or made for show. It’s not concerned with words, but with facts. It’s not employed for some pleasure before the day is spent, or to relieve the uneasiness of our leisure. It shapes and builds up the soul, it gives order to life, guides action, shows what should and shouldn’t be done—it sits at the rudder steering our course as we vacillate in uncertainties. Without it, no one can live without fear or free from care. Countless things happen every hour that require advice, and such advice is to be sought out in philosophy.
SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 16.3
The 4 Core Principles of Stoicism
Wisdom
Waste no more time arguing about what a good woman should be. Be one. Let your actions always speak to your principles, and let your principles be guided by reason and nature. For it is nature that gives us the power to reason, and it is reason that shows us what is right.
MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS (Book 10.16) (mod. TFS)
Courage
Seek not for things to happen as you wish, but wish for things to happen as they do, and you will go on well. Lameness is an impediment to the leg, but not to your ability to choose. Consider this in everything that happens, for you will find that it is an impediment to something else, but not to yourself.
EPICTETUS, ENCHIRIDION, 8
Justice
Make sure you’re not made ‘Empress,’ avoid that imperial stain. It can happen to you, so keep yourself simple, good, pure, saintly, plain, a friend of justice, god-fearing, gracious, affectionate, and strong for your proper work. Fight to remain the person that philosophy wished to make you. Revere the gods, and look after each other. Life is short—the fruit of this life is a good character and acts for the common good.
MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 6.30 (mod. TFS)
Moderation
We should set aside our self-indulgence and cultivate self-control. For it is not the woman who has too little, but the woman who craves more, who is poor. Do you ask what is the proper limit to wealth? It is, first, to have what is necessary, and, second, to have what is enough.
SENECA, MORAL LETTERS TO LUCILIUS (mod. TFS)