"All other knowledge is hurtful to him who has not the science of honesty and goodness." Montaigne

Demand the best of yourself. The Stoics come down hard on procrastinating. "Putting things off and always deferring the day after which you will attend to yourself," Epictetus said, "you will live and die as someone quite ordinary." Stop deferring. Demand the best of yourself.

Cut out the inessential. It was Marcus Aurelius’ simple recipe for productivity and for happiness. “If you seek tranquility,” he said, “do less.” And then he clarifies. Not nothing, less. Do only what’s essential. “Which brings a double satisfaction: to do less, better.”

Musonius Rufus was exiled at least 3 times. His response? - “Exile strengthens those unhealthy because of soft living and luxury.” - “If I have been deprived of my country, I have not been deprived of my ability to endure exile."" - “Do not be irked by difficult circumstances…”

Win or lose, what matters, the Stoics believed, was that we tried. That we did our best. That we dove for the ball, that we risked it all but played fair. That we held our head up high, that we didn’t get intimidated or make excuses.

Think About Death. Science Says You’ll Be Happier. | @lauriesantos and @ryanholiday on the Daily Stoic Podcast

"One may keep holiday without extravagance." – Seneca