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Stoicism Facts & Worksheets

Stoicism is a school of philosophy that originated in ancient Greece and Rome in the early third century BCE. Stoics believe that individuals can achieve inner peace and happiness by practising self-discipline and living in accordance with reason.

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Stoicism is a school of philosophy that originated in ancient Greece and Rome in the early third century BCE. It is a life philosophy that maximizes positive emotions, reduces negative emotions, and assists individuals in honing their character virtues. Stoics believe that individuals can achieve inner peace and happiness by practising self-discipline and living in accordance with reason.

See the fact file below for more information on Stoicism, or you can download our 22-page Stoicism worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

DEFINITION

  • Stoicism, often known as the Stoic philosophy, is a personal ethics theory and a technique for pursuing life’s practical wisdom. 
  • The fundamental idea of the ancient Stoics was that individuals don’t respond to circumstances; rather, they react to the judgments that are made about them, which are entirely up to whoever makes them. 
  • Also, they urged people to stop worrying about things beyond their control because everything in life can be categorized into two categories: things people can control and things people cannot.
  • While others may let their behavior be dictated by emotional reactions, especially when confronted with negative emotions, the main goal of Stoicism is to gain self-control. 
  • Stoics aspired to evolve into moral and ethical humans who coexisted peacefully with nature. The Stoics held that as all men were created equal, they should also be treated equally.

HISTORY OF STOICISM

  • Zeno of Citium established the Hellenistic philosophy of Stoicism in Athens in the fifth century BCE. It was influenced by Socrates and the Cynics and had spirited discussions with the Academics, Skeptics, and Epicureans in 300 BCE. 
  • The Stoics originally met and imparted their philosophy at the Stoa Poikile, or painted porch, an open market in Athens.
  • Stoicism was brought to Rome, where it thrived during the Roman Empire, being openly accepted by Emperors who tried to live by it or openly condemned by Emperors who didn’t. 
  • Stoicism was widely practiced throughout Greece and the Roman Empire from its foundation until 529 CE, when all philosophy schools were shut down by the Roman Emperor Justinian I in an effort to spread Christianity throughout the world.
  • The origins of Stoic philosophy are evident in the adjective that is used to describe it today. A person who doesn’t show their emotions when suffering hardship or pain is said to be stoic.

WHO WERE THE STOICS?

  • Marcus Aurelius – The most well-known Stoic leader in history is probably the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who was born around two thousand years ago. In the direction of virtue and knowledge, Marcus differs from most previous and current world leaders because of this. 
  • The Meditations, a compilation of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius’s private writings, contain his philosophy. These exhibit the influence of Stoicism, especially the Stoic philosopher Epictetus.
  • Cato the Younger – A well-known orator and adherent of Stoicism, Cato the Younger had a sizable political following that he mobilized against the powerful generals of his day, including Julius Caesar and Pompey, thanks to his stern honesty and professed reverence for tradition. Cato had several political positions before Caesar’s civil war.
  • Cato learned from the Stoics that there are no gray areas. Humans can possess all the virtues or all vices, but they cannot display half-virtues and half-vices.
  • “You were drowning whether you were a foot or a fathom under the surface.” All virtues were the same, and all vices were the same.
  • Epictetus – One of Epictetus’ most important ideas about the Stoic theory is that evil was not innate to humans. Only ignorance and irrational behavior can give rise to evil. 
  • Epictetus felt that the human desire to lead a moral life should extend to their family and countrymen. 
  • Epictetus advocated that they should be willing to help their fellow humans, and he demonstrated this idea in action. When Epictetus was elderly, he voluntarily took in a friend’s abandoned child and raised him as his own. 
  • Epictetus was a prime example of a Stoic, and one of history’s most well-known philosophers was influenced by his ideas.
  • Panaetius of Rhodes – Greek Stoic philosopher Panaetius of Rhodes lived in ancient Greece. He was a bit of a rebel within the Stoic movement, rejecting many accepted notions and coming up with his own views. He simplified Stoic metaphysics, overhauling it. 
  • Prior to Panaetius, most Stoics held that pneuma, or divine fire, was the fundamental element of the cosmos. 
  • They asserted that the universe would experience a cyclical process of annihilation and rebirth known as the conflagration, during which time everything would be destroyed, and the universe would begin anew from scratch. This fatalistic viewpoint was rejected by Panaetius, who stopped preaching it.
  • Cleanthes – Cleanthes succeeded Zeno as the head of the Stoic school after his death in 262 BCE. Cleanthes intended to advance Stoicism by fusing its concepts of logic, metaphysics, and ethics into one philosophy. 
  • He accepted the soul’s existence and incorporated it into the Stoic philosophy of life. 
  • Cleanthes proposed that the Sun was created from the divine fire, or pneuma, that formed the universe. Building on Zeno’s concept of the divine logos, the Sun must be an extension of the divine logos, he reasoned, since it provided life to everything on Earth.

SOME PRINCIPLES OF STOICISM

I judge you as unfortunate because you have never lived through misfortune. You have passed through life without an opponent—no one can ever know what you are capable of, not even you.” – Seneca

  • Compared to most people, the Stoics have radically different perspectives on misfortune. They prepare for setbacks and make use of them to improve their values. That is not to imply that they enjoy having problems, but they make an effort to avoid moaning about them pointlessly and actively look for ways to benefit wherever possible.

“External things are not the problem. It’s your assessment of them. Which you can erase right now.” – Marcus Aurelius

  • Stoic philosophy has influenced contemporary psychology. The foundation of cognitive behavioral therapy is the notion that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors all interact with one another. One’s thoughts greatly influence how one perceives reality. When two people experience the same adversity, their varying interpretations of it can lead to very different feelings and actions. 

“Keep death and exile before your eyes each day, along with everything that seems terrible— by doing so, you’ll never have a base thought nor will you have excessive desire.” – Epictetus

  • The idea of “memento mori” has been central to numerous schools of thought, from the Stoics to the Existentialists. It literally means, “Remember that you will die.”
  • This activity teaches the Stoic to be content with what they have rather than constantly seeking more. Or, to put it another way, the Stoic philosophy can teach you to appreciate the wonderful things you still have, including health and well-being.

“The good or ill of a man lies within his own will.” – Epictetus

  • It should be reiterated at least once more: For the practicing Stoic, virtue comes first. The highest good is the greatness of character, which is more important than wealth or even health. Whether or not one encounters an endless string of ill luck or rude people, as long as the Stoic reacts in virtue, they can rest in the knowledge that they are leading a decent life.

Stoicism Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Stoicism across 22 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Stoicism. Stoicism is a school of philosophy that originated in ancient Greece and Rome in the early third century BCE. It is a life philosophy that maximizes positive emotions, reduces negative emotions, and assists individuals in honing their character virtues.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Stoicism Facts
  2. What Folks Say…
  3. Stoic Illustration
  4. Marcus Agrees
  5. Epic-tetus Words
  6. What Would You Do?
  7. Stoic Poem
  8. Cynicism vs Stoicism
  9. Staying Positive
  10. Stoic Advice
  11. Stoic Thought

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Stoicism?

Stoicism is a philosophy that originated in ancient Greece and was further developed by Roman philosophers such as Epictetus, Seneca, and the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. It teaches that the key to a virtuous and fulfilling life is to cultivate inner strength, self-control, and resilience in the face of external circumstances.

What are the core principles of Stoicism?

The core principles of Stoicism include:

  1. Virtue as the highest good: Stoics believe that the pursuit of virtue, or moral excellence, is the ultimate goal in life.
  2. Acceptance of the natural order: Stoics emphasize accepting the things we cannot control and focusing only on what is within our control, which is our own thoughts and actions.
  3. Emphasis on self-control: Stoics advocate for self-control over our desires, emotions, and reactions to external events.
  4. Understanding impermanence: Stoics recognize that all things in life are impermanent, and that change and loss are inevitable. Thus, they emphasize developing an attitude of detachment and not becoming overly attached to external things.
  5. Practicing mindfulness: Stoics promote being present in the moment and fully aware of our thoughts, actions, and emotions to cultivate self-awareness and self-improvement.

Who were some famous Stoic philosophers?

Some famous Stoic philosophers include:

  1. Epictetus (55-135 CE): An enslaved Greek philosopher who taught that we have control over our thoughts and beliefs, but not over external events, and that we should focus on cultivating inner strength and resilience.
  2. Seneca (4 BCE-65 CE): A Roman philosopher and statesman who emphasized the importance of self-control, mindfulness, and understanding the impermanence of life.
  3. Marcus Aurelius (121-180 CE): A Roman Emperor and philosopher who wrote the famous work “Meditations,” where he reflected on Stoic principles and how to live a virtuous life.

How can Stoicism be applied in daily life?

Stoicism can be applied in daily life through practices such as:

  1. Practicing mindfulness and self-awareness to be present in the moment and understand our thoughts and emotions.
  2. Cultivating self-control and resilience by learning to manage our desires, emotions, and reactions to external events.
  3. Accepting things that are beyond our control and focusing on what is within our control, which is our own thoughts, beliefs, and actions.
  4. Reflecting on the impermanence of life and developing an attitude of detachment towards external things.
  5. Striving to live a virtuous life by embodying qualities such as wisdom, justice, courage, and self-discipline in our thoughts and actions.

What are some practical Stoic exercises?

Stoicism advocates for various practical exercises, including:

  1. Journaling: Reflecting on our thoughts, emotions, and actions through journaling can help cultivate self-awareness and mindfulness.
  2. Premeditatio Malorum: Visualizing potential challenges and setbacks in advance, and mentally preparing ourselves to respond to them with equanimity and resilience.
  3. Negative visualization: Reflecting on the impermanence of life and imagining the loss of things or people we value, to cultivate gratitude, resilience, and detachment.
  4. Contemplating virtues: Reflecting on virtues such as wisdom, justice, courage, and self-discipline, and striving to embody them in our daily lives.
  5. Self-denial: Practicing self-control by voluntarily denying.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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