What Freedom Meant To Epictetus

Wednesday Wisdom #172

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Last newsletter, we wrote about Cultivating Indifference: How Cato Dealt With Humiliation.

This week: What Freedom Meant To Epictetus

But first,

---

On behalf of Stoic Reflections,

If you’re reading this, then welcome to our new platform for Wednesday Wisdom.

We simply want to thank you for your continued support. There are more exciting things coming, and we are just as excited as you for the future of Wednesday Wisdom.

Now, let's get to it 👇

---

Weekly Reflection

Freedom comes from doing what feels good and what fosters comfort and ease, right?

Epictetus, one of the three big Stoic philosophers, would strongly disagree with our modern definition of freedom. His idea of what it meant to be free was radically different. But how exactly? And what did it mean to truly be free?

The former slave turned philosopher, understood that true freedom goes beyond external circumstances; it resides within our own minds and choices. He believed that our thoughts and reactions, rather than external events, determine our sense of liberty. Here are a few thought-provoking quotes from Epictetus that shed light on his profound perspective on freedom:

• "Freedom is not procured by a full enjoyment of what is desired, but by controlling the desire."