The Inner Citadel
From Epictetus to Seneca and Marcus Aurelius: what depends on you and what does not, and what happens when that distinction is taken seriously — with imagination, with death, with other people.
Day 1 of 7
“There are things which are within our power, and there are things which are beyond our power.”
— Epictetus, The Enchiridion
Day 2 of 7
“Men are disturbed not by the things which happen, but by the opinions about the things.”
— Epictetus, A Selection from the Discourses of Epictetus with the Encheiridion
Day 3 of 7
“We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.”
— Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Moral Letters to Lucilius (Epistulae Morales)
Day 4 of 7
“Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life.”
— Epictetus, A Selection from the Discourses of Epictetus with the Encheiridion
Day 5 of 7
“He who fears death will never act as becomes a living man.”
— Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Of Peace of Mind
Day 6 of 7
“That which is not good for the swarm, neither is it good for the bee.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
Day 7 of 7
“Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life.”
— Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Moral Letters to Lucilius (Epistulae Morales)