logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2025
4m 54s

Defending Ourselves Against Our Enemies

Allan John (What Is Stoicism?)
About this episode

In this episode, we look at what Stoicism has to say about resisting the urge for revenge and reclaiming our inner freedom.


With help from Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Diogenes, we examine why retaliation degrades us and how self-mastery is a better path to strength. Instead of reacting impulsively to harm or misfortune, we can learn to respond with integrity, turning adversity into opportunities to build character.


👇 👇 👇


📻 FOR MORE STOIC AUDIO CONTENT


Check out one of my latest daily Micro Morning Meditations here on Substack:


☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: How To Always Get What You Desire

https://whatisstoicism.substack.com/p/micro-morning-meditation-how-to-always


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Aug 19
The Road to a Happy Life
This episode uses Seneca’s image of the road to ask whether we are moving with purpose or merely following the crowd. A clear destination helps us resist distraction, while Epictetus shows where our attention truly belongs: on our judgments, choices, desires, and actions. The Sto ... Show More
8m 8s
Aug 12
The Stoic Reset for a Complicated Mind
This episode uses animals as a reminder to return to the present moment. Hadot and Marcus Aurelius show that life is lived only in the now, where we can think clearly, act justly, and avoid adding needless disturbance to events. Animals offer a simple model of presence: they don' ... Show More
8m 40s
Aug 5
Kindness: The Most Powerful Drug in the World
This episode explores conversation and kindness as forms of care for the soul. Socrates saw dialogue as essential to self-knowledge, a way of bringing hidden thoughts into the open and examining them honestly. Phil Hammond’s story of kindness as “the most powerful drug” adds a pr ... Show More
7m 44s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
Daily Stoic Meditation for Wisdom
A guided version of the Stoic daily mindful review, the practice of looking back over your day with honest eyes. You move through your thoughts, emotions, speech and actions, not to beat yourself up, but to see clearly where you acted well and where you would do it differently.I ... Show More
13m 24s
Jan 2025
The Path to Victory through the Concepts of CHANGE 2025
In this episode, we explore the timeless wisdom of Stoic philosophy and its profound lessons on navigating change. Discover how ancient principles can help you adapt, persevere, and thrive in the face of adversity. We'll unpack key concepts of resilience, decision-making, and str ... Show More
12m 10s
Feb 2024
Conflict: 4 Stoic Solutions for Managing Difficult Conversations
<p>Why do we get angry? How can we challenge our immediate reactions? And what&apos;s the best way to articulate our feelings without passive aggression or a blow-up? </p><p>In this episode, you&apos;ll learn four Stoic tips to turn potential conflicts into opportunities for pers ... Show More
8m 7s
Feb 2024
Conflict: 4 Stoic Solutions for Managing Difficult Conversations
<p>Why do we get angry? How can we challenge our immediate reactions? And what&apos;s the best way to articulate our feelings without passive aggression or a blow-up? </p><p><br/></p><p>In this episode, you&apos;ll learn four Stoic tips to turn potential conflicts into opportunit ... Show More
8m 7s
Jun 2025
Mastering Challenges: Stoic Strategies for Success
Are you ready for the moment when someone challenges or confronts you? Ancient Stoicism provides a powerful framework to transform challenges into triumphs. Discover how to respond to challenges with wisdom and strength using proven Stoic techniques that have stood the test of ti ... Show More
24m 59s
Mar 2020
Rising to a Challenge
We always face problems and setbacks - but the coronavirus has dramatically upended many of our lives in a few short weeks. Allowing sadness, anger or fear to dominate us does little to help. We should instead learn from the Greek Stoics - philosophers who embraced challenges wit ... Show More
26m 16s