Stoicism

Stoicism is a philosophy that teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions; the philosophy holds that becoming a clear and unbiased thinker allows one to understand the universal reason also known as logos.

Stoicism's primary aspect involves improving the individual's ethical and moral well-being. This principle also applies to the realm of interpersonal relationships; to be free from anger, envy, and jealousy, and to accept others as equals of other men, because all men alike are products of nature.

Many Stoics—such as Seneca and Epictetus—emphasized that because virtue is sufficient for happiness, a sage would be emotionally resilient to misfortune.

The Stoics are especially known for teaching that virtue is the only good for human beings, and those external things—such as health, wealth, and pleasure—are not good nor bad in themselves but have value as material for virtue to act upon.

The Stoics held the belief that certain destructive emotions resulted from errors of judgment, and they believed people should aim to maintain a will that is in accordance with nature. Because of this, the Stoics thought the best indication of an individual's philosophy was not what a person said but how a person behaved.