10-Minute Philosophy: From Buddhism to Stoicism, Confucius and Aristotle – Bite-Sized Wisdom From Some of History’s Greatest Thinkers

When you spend time deliberately realizing that everything you love and cherish could be taken from you tomorrow by some sick twist of fate, you feel humbled.

Stoics were not masochist or anti-pleasure. They still enjoyed the fruits of life, but they recognized that proper perspective is needed to be non-reactive and also appreciate the good things.

“If you are pained by any external thing, it is not this thing that disturbs you, but your own judgment about it. And it is in your power to wipe out this judgment now.”
– Marcus Aurelius

If someone is angry, we do not need to react in kind with anger or feel offended. We can choose to accept their anger, let it not impact us, and be reminded that it is meant to be instructive to our own happiness.

The cause of suffering is craving, attachment, and desiring. We suffer because of the narrow and large gaps between what we want and what we receive.

golessness is the concept that there is no you; you is simply the product of your perceptions, thoughts, surroundings, and consciousness. Each of these ingredients changes every moment, which means that your identity does not exist in the traditional sense.

Philosophy imparts self-understanding, one of the rarest qualities in the world. You understand what appeals to you and what you simply couldn’t care less about. From self-understanding, you can build the life you want

Everything that happens is either endurable or not. If it’s endurable, then endure it. Stop complaining. If it’s unendurable… then stop complaining. Your destruction will mean its end as well

Humans are still perpetually in search of happiness and fulfillment.

Learn about yourself, discover what is important, take responsibility for your own fulfillment, and directly pursue your own definition of happiness.