Feel like life’s just tossing curveballs your way,
You’re not alone. I’ve been there, too, and I know it’s tough.
But ever since I stumbled upon Stoicism way back when, I’ve found a powerful ally in dealing with life’s ups and downs. This ancient philosophy isn’t just about enduring pain or suppressing emotions; it’s about finding a way to flourish when the going gets rough.
Today, I want to share some of my favorite Stoic quotes with you. These aren’t just wise sayings—they’ve been lifelines for me during tough times.
Whether you’re dealing with personal struggles, professional challenges, or just the daily grind, these quotes are here to offer some clarity and strength. They’ve been a game-changer for me, and I hope they can be for you too.
Let’s dive in.
Stoic quotes to deal with adversity
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” — Marcus Aurelius
“The soul becomes dyed with the colour of its thoughts.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Our life is what our thoughts make it.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Choose not to be harmed—and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed—and you haven’t been.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Be like the cliff against which the waves continually break; but it stands firm and tames the fury of the water around it.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions — not outside.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Do not be ashamed of help.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Soon, you will have forgotten everything. Soon, everybody will have forgotten you.” — Marcus Aurelius
“To be like the rock that the waves keep crashing over. It stands unmoved and the raging of the sea falls still around it.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Man is not worried by real problems so much as by his imagined anxieties about real problems.” — Epictetus
“It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” — Epictetus
“Circumstances don’t make the man, they only reveal him to himself.” — Epictetus
“The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.” — Epictetus
“Don’t seek to have events happen as you wish, but wish them to happen as they do happen, and all will be well with you.” — Epictetus
“We are not disturbed by what happens to us, but by our thoughts about what happens to us.” — Epictetus
“It is not so much what happens to you as how you think about what happens.” — Epictetus
“Difficulty shows what men are.” — Epictetus
“Sickness is a problem for the body, not the mind — unless the mind decides that it is a problem. Lameness, too, is the body’s problem, not the mind’s. Say this to yourself whatever the circumstance and you will find without fail that the problem pertains to something else, not to you.” — Epictetus
“Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.” — Seneca
“We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” — Seneca
“Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.” — Seneca
“He suffers more than necessary, who suffers before it is necessary.” — Seneca
“Only time can heal what reason cannot.” — Seneca
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” — Seneca
“Fire tests gold, suffering tests brave men.” — Seneca
“It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness.” — Seneca
“No man is more unhappy than he who never faces adversity. For he is not permitted to prove himself.” — Seneca
“No man is crushed by misfortune unless he has first been deceived by prosperity.” — Seneca
“To be always fortunate, and to pass through life with a soul that has never known sorrow, is to be ignorant of one half of nature.” — Seneca
“What is harder than rock? What is softer than water? Yet hard rocks are hollowed out by soft water?” — Seneca
“Brave men rejoice in adversity, just as brave soldiers triumph in war.” — Seneca
“Fire tests gold and adversity tests the brave.” — Seneca
My Key Takeaways from Stoicism on How to Deal with Adversity
Throughout my journey with Stoicism since 2015, I’ve leaned on its principles not just as philosophical concepts but as practical tools that have reshaped my daily life. Here are my top takeaways on how to effectively handle adversity using Stoic wisdom:
1. Perception Shapes Reality
One of my favorite quotes by Marcus Aurelius is, “Our life is what our thoughts make it.”
This simple yet profound idea has been a cornerstone of my approach to adversity. I’ve learned that challenges aren’t inherently disastrous; it’s my perception that makes them seem so.
By changing how I view problems, I can change my entire experience of them. For instance, when my startup faced unexpected setbacks, instead of viewing them as failures, I saw them as opportunities to learn and improve, which drastically reduced my stress and helped me navigate through them more effectively.
2. Control Is Internal
Epictetus famously said, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
This reminder has helped me focus on my internal response rather than external circumstances.
When I lost a significant business deal, rather than spiraling into frustration, I remembered that my reaction was within my control. This shift in focus from external to internal allowed me to maintain composure and strategize my next steps without panic.
3. Embrace What Cannot Be Changed
Another powerful takeaway comes from Marcus Aurelius: “Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.”
This quote reminds me to embrace the uncontrollable aspects of life and find peace in them.
For example, when personal relationships have been strained due to external pressures, accepting that some things are beyond my control has helped me invest more genuinely in those relationships, improving them profoundly.
4. Resilience Through Adversity
Seneca’s words, “Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body,” have inspired me to view adversity as a necessary element of personal growth. Just as a muscle grows stronger through the stress of exercise, so does our character through the challenges we face.
This perspective encouraged me during the early and uncertain days of my startup, helping me push through the fear of the unknown and emerge more resilient.
5. The Power of Temporary Perspective
Finally, Marcus Aurelius offers a sobering reminder in his quote, “Soon, you will have forgotten everything. Soon, everybody will have forgotten you.”
This perspective on the temporary nature of life and its troubles has been incredibly liberating. It reminds me that many of today’s anxieties will be irrelevant in the long run, which helps me not to overvalue them and reduces their impact on my peace of mind.
Wrapping Up
I hope this post has offered you some valuable insights into how Stoicism can provide practical and profound guidance for dealing with life’s adversities. These quotes and the principles behind them have been a significant source of strength and wisdom in my own life, and I’m eager to hear how they resonate with you.
Which of these Stoic quotes spoke to you the most? Are there any that you’ll carry with you into your daily challenges? I’d love to see your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
If you’re interested in delving deeper into Stoic wisdom, consider joining my Stoic email newsletter below. Basically, I’ll send you inspiring quotes, thoughtful articles, and practical tips to help you embrace the Stoic mindset in your everyday life.
Until next time, stay Stoic.
What would Marcus Aurelius say?
Unsure what to do next in your career? Struggling to move on from a failed relationship? Searching for more meaning in life?
Marcus Aurelius can tell you how to face your challenges in a more Stoic way.
Simply ask your question, and Marcus Aurelius will answer.
