#Musonius Rufus

[raffaellopalandri]

The True Wealth: Wisdom, Virtue, and Inner Tranquility Over Material Riches

Unfortunately, we live in a world where the accumulation of wealth is often equated with success and happiness. Photo by Eternal Happiness on Pexels.com The capitalist system relentlessly promotes the idea that financial prosperity leads to fulfilment, yet the wealthiest individuals are frequently among the most restless, anxious, and dissatisfied. True wealth, as understood by wisdom…

[conscious-pisces]

“The lamp of wisdom shines brightest when lit by the flame of self-awareness.”

—Musonius Rufus

[duxfemina]

"Women have received from the gods the same ability to reason that men have"

If a first century Roman dude named Rufus living in the very definition of a patriarchy can understand this then so can your sexist ass!

[stoicbreviary]

"I figured long ago that if the Good Lord made me poor, I'd be a good poor man, and if the Good Lord made me rich, I'd be a good rich man. Now I'm not sure which of those would be harder." . . .

[perception-1111]

[kntxt]

Musonius Rufus

A Stoic Resurrection: nostr, X, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok

[lumi-waxes-poetic]

“For mankind, evil is injustice and cruelty and indifference to a neighbour's trouble, while virtue is brotherly love and goodness and justice and beneficence and concern for the welfare of your neighbour.”

—Gaius Musonius Rufus

[trailofleaves]

“If you accomplish something good with hard work, the labor passes quickly, but the good endures; if you do something shameful in pursuit of pleasure, the pleasure passes quickly, but the shame endures.”

— Gaius Musonius Rufus

[dearelizaruth]

Won’t we, therefore, be willing to endure pain in order to gain complete happiness? – Musonius Rufus

[tmarshconnors]

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

Epictetus was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was born into slavery at Hierapolis, Phrygia and lived in Rome until his banishment, when he went to Nicopolis in northwestern Greece, where he spent the rest of his life. His teachings were written down and published by his pupil Arrian in his Discourses and Enchiridion.

Born: Hierapolis, Türkiye

Died: 135 AD, Nicopolis, Greece

Stoic Philosopher: Epictetus (circa 50-135 AD) was a prominent Stoic philosopher born in Hierapolis, Phrygia (present-day Pamukkale, Turkey). Stoicism is a school of philosophy that emphasizes virtue, rationality, and self-discipline as the path to a tranquil and fulfilling life.

Enslavement and Philosophical Teaching: Epictetus was enslaved during his early life and served as a slave to a wealthy freedman. Despite his circumstances, he gained his freedom and went on to study philosophy under the Stoic teacher Musonius Rufus. Epictetus himself became a renowned Stoic teacher, emphasizing practical philosophy for daily living.

Oral Tradition of Teaching: Unlike many philosophers who wrote extensive works, Epictetus did not write down his teachings. His philosophy was transmitted through the notes and writings of his student Arrian, particularly in the "Discourses" and the "Enchiridion" (a handbook summarizing his teachings).

Focus on Stoic Ethics: Epictetus' teachings primarily focused on ethics and the cultivation of virtue. He emphasized the importance of distinguishing between things within our control (our thoughts, actions, and attitudes) and those outside our control (external events). This idea is famously encapsulated in the Stoic dichotomy of control.

Influence on Later Philosophers: Epictetus' teachings had a significant impact on later philosophical thought, particularly during the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. His emphasis on personal responsibility, resilience in the face of adversity, and the pursuit of virtue resonated with thinkers such as René Descartes, John Locke, and other proponents of individualism and rationalism.

[americanredragger]

“What good are gilded rooms or precious stones - fitted on the floor, inlaid in the walls, carried from great distances at the greatest expense? These things are pointless and unnecessary - without them is it not possible to live healthy? Are they not the source of constant trouble? Do they not cost vast sums of money that, through public and private charity, may have benefited many?”

—Gaius Musonius Rufus

[conscious-pisces]

“You will earn the respect of all if you begin by earning the respect of yourself. Don't expect to encourage good deeds in people conscious of your own misdeeds.”

—Musonius Rufus

[brevthern]

"To regard the pains of virtue as pleasant, and the pleasures of vice as painful, is the mark of a man who has trained himself."

- Musonius Rufus

[stoicbreviary]

In the larger picture, the where, when, or how will make little difference at all. The good man can be good wherever, whenever, or however he lives. Exile will not change it. . . .

[aestheticvoyage2024]

Day 323: Monday November 18, 2024 - "The Worst Kind of News"

Accept only what is true.

Work for the common good.

Match our needsa and wants with what is in our control.

Embrace what nature has in store for us.

Song: Chance Peña - The Mountain Is You

Quote: “All told, probably more women have lost a child from this world than haven't. Most don't mention it, and they go on from day to day as if it hadn't happened, so people imagine a woman in this situation never really knew or loved what she had. But ask her sometime: how old would your child be now? And she'll know.” — Barbara Kingsolver

The Daily Stoic:

There’s no real way around it: Life is hard and filled with sorrow. Marcus Aurelius’ life was defined by loss—starting with his father at age 3, followed by half his children, his wife, and the Antonine Plague. Seneca saw Rome recede into the distance as he went into exile and Musonius Rufus experienced that four times (we tell his story in Lives of the Stoics). Epictetus woke up each day for the first three decades of his life as a slave.

This was not fun. It was not fair.

Stoic philosophy didn’t magically transform these events. It would be glib and preposterous to claim that it could. No, what Stoic philosophy did for them, and what it can do for us is make these events bearable. It can give us perspective. It can give us courage. It can give us toughness and resilience—virtue in the face of adversity.

Can it take the sorrow away? No, no it can’t. Pain and suffering and loss are a part of life. It was a part of life two thousand years ago and it’s a part of life today. It was a part of life for the rich and powerful Stoics like Marcus and Seneca, it was a part of life for the powerless like Epictetus.

We don’t control events but we control how we respond to events. We will experience things that make us sad, but we decide whether we give up, whether this breaks us, whether it makes us better or worse. That’s what Stoicism did for them…and what it can do for us.

[tenebrobscuro]

“If you accomplish something good with hard work, the labor passes quickly, but the good endures; if you do something shameful in pursuit of pleasure, the pleasure passes quickly, but the shame endures”

― Musonius Rufus

O meu labor dedicado a mim e aos outros, "NÃO VI NADA" de benévelo, se outros por sua natureza já são desavergonhados no seu prazer em prejudicar, o cinismo desinibido e debochado de vocês....? - LHES TROUXE O ANIQUILAMENTO !