Daily #32

Required Daily: Read Tacitus' description of the Death of Seneca and Book One of M. Aurelius' Meditations. Find quotes within those two texts that help explain what Stoicism is all about.


To be stoic means, "Adjective: Of or belonging to the Stoics or their school of philosophy.
Noun: A person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining."

Death of Seneca
"Seneca, quite unmoved, asked for tablets on which to inscribe his will,"  This quote says a lot because, even in the face of death, he just casually asked for something to write his will on.

"Who knew not Nero's cruelty? After a mother's and a brother's murder, nothing remains but to add the destruction of a guardian and a tutor."  This quote just shows how he knew what was coming, and he accepted it.

 "I have shown you ways of smoothing life; you prefer the glory of dying. I will not grudge you such a noble example. Let the fortitude of so courageous an end be alike in both of us, but let there be more in your decease to win fame."  He just says that if his wife wants to die with him she can.  It's her choice.  I find this a little bit crazy that he would just let his wife die, but he stayed emotionless.

"Worn out by cruel anguish, afraid too that his sufferings might break his wife's spirit, and that, as he looked on her tortures, he might himself sink into irresolution, he persuaded her to retire into another chamber. Even at the last moment his eloquence failed him not."  He showed that his wife meant a lot to him and that even when he was dying, he didn't want her there to see it.

Book One
"From Rusticus I received the impression that my character required improvement and discipline"

"From Sextus, a benevolent disposition, and the example of a family governed in a fatherly manner, and the idea of living conformably to nature; and gravity without affectation, and to look carefully after the interests of friends, and to tolerate ignorant persons, and those who form opinions without consideration"

"From Maximus I learned self-government, and not to be led aside by anything; and cheerfulness in all circumstances, as well as in illness; and a just admixture in the moral character of sweetness and dignity, and to do what was set before me without complaining."

"In my father I observed mildness of temper, and unchangeable resolution in the things which he had determined after due deliberation; and no vainglory in those things which men call honours; and a love of labour and perseverance; and a readiness to listen to those who had anything to propose for the common weal; and undeviating firmness in giving to every man according to his deserts; and a knowledge derived from experience of the occasions for vigorous action and for remission."


Sources:
http://www.google.com/dictionary?
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/marcuaurelius1.html#BOOK ONE
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/tacitus-ann15a.html