It’s Not Something You’ve Done. It’s Something You’re Doing. | 9 Stoic Keys To Building Character That Lasts

Xenophon's 'Memorabilia' is a collection of Socratic dialogues and anecdotes defending Socrates against charges of impiety and corrupting the youth. Structured as a series of conversations, it portrays Socrates as a moral guide who emphasized virtue, self-discipline, and practical wisdom. The work serves both as an apologia and a philosophical treatise, highlighting Socrates' method of inquiry and his influence on Athenian society.

This book compiles the complete surviving works of Epictetus, a prominent Stoic philosopher. It includes his Discourses, which were transcribed by his pupil Arrian, the Handbook (Enchiridion), a practical guide to moral self-improvement, and various Fragments. Epictetus's teachings focus on distinguishing between what is within our control and what is not, accepting nature's course, and living a virtuous life through rigorous self-discipline. Edited and translated by Robin Waterfield, this collection brings Epictetus's insights to modern readers on how to cope with various life challenges.

The Iliad is an epic poem set during the Trojan War, focusing on the wrath of Achilles and the final weeks of the siege of Troy. The Odyssey follows Odysseus as he travels home from the war, facing various challenges and encounters along the way. Both poems are central to Greek mythology and have been influential in Western literature, composed in Homeric Greek around the late 8th or early 7th century BC. They were likely part of a long oral tradition before being written down and are known for their use of dactylic hexameter and the literary device of starting in the middle of the story (in medias res)[1][2][5].

Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.

This book provides 366 meditations on Stoic wisdom, featuring new translations of passages from Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and other Stoic philosophers. Each day, readers are presented with a Stoic lesson explained in modern language, along with advice on how to apply these lessons in everyday life. The book is organized temporally and thematically across the twelve months of the year, making it a daily resource for practicing Stoicism[4][5][6].