Comments (2)

• Ohhh Henry

  P. G. Wodehouse's classic take on the Stoics:

  JEEVES: Your position is in many respects somewhat difficult, sir. But I wonder if I might call your attention to an observation of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. He said: "Does aught befall you? It is good. It is part of the destiny of the Universe ordained for you from the beginning. All that befalls you is part of the great web."

  WOOSTER: He said that, did he?

  JEEVES: Yes, sir.

  WOOSTER: Well, you can tell him from me he's an ass.

  Published: October 1, 2008 10:49 PM

• Curt Howland

  The part of the stoic philosophy that makes sense is, "Deal with it." Don't panic, don't freak out, just take what comes and succeed or fail. Sometimes the falling rock is just going to be too big to survive. Deal with it.

  I don't know who said this first, but I love it:

  "I take great comfort in the arbitrary nature of the universe. If I believed in some all powerful, omniscient force for good, then I would have to conclude that people deserved the crap that happens to them. And no one deserves that!"

  Published: October 2, 2008 7:41 AM