from the Daily Stoic (a cool site I just discovered that offers simple wisdom)

Be Tough on Yourself and Understanding With Others

Remember that Stoicism isn’t about judging other people. It’s not a moral philosophy you’re supposed to project and enforce onto the world. No, it’s a personal philosophy that’s designed to direct your behavior.

This is what Marcus Aurelius meant when he said: “Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.”

Be open to the idea that people are going to be fools or jerks or unreliable or anything else. Let them be. That’s their business. That’s not inside your control.

But you have to be disciplined with yourself, and your reactions. If someone acts ridiculous, let them. If you’re acting ridiculous, catch the problem, stop it and work on preventing it from happening in the future. What you do is in your control. That is your business. Be strict about it.

Leave other people to themselves. You have enough to worry about.


(Mariah speaking) I was reading Marcus Aurelius when I was 13 - from a book of my mother's I had found. Instead of doing my ninth grade homework. What was said today has made sense to me for a long, long time. I'm so grateful that, though I lost her before I was nine, my mother has taught me all my life, with her books, her journals.... Life is good.