The Daily Stoic Podcast

Episode Title: This is How You Win the Day | Circumstances Have No Care For Our Feelings
Host: Ryan Holiday
Date: February 23, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the Stoic approach to daily discipline and emotional resilience, exploring how great individuals—both historical and contemporary—win the day by taking action and how external circumstances remain indifferent to our feelings. Ryan Holiday weaves together a historical anecdote, personal reflection, and a meditation on a quotation from Marcus Aurelius (inspired by the Greek playwright Euripides) to highlight the importance of focusing on what we can control and letting go of frustrations about what we cannot.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Winning the Day Through Action and Discipline

• Historical Example: Civil Rights Sit-Ins (00:00–02:25)
  • Ryan shares the story of Richard Whelan’s attempt to interview Diane Nash and the student activists during the 1960s sit-ins.
  • The students’ commitment—only agreeing to meet at 6am before starting their day's strategy—serves as an example of discipline and focus.
  • Quote: “6am, the only time they can meet with me is 6am—they’re going to win, aren’t they? Winners attack the day like that.” (Ryan Holiday, 01:26)
  • The parallel is drawn to Marcus Aurelius’s meditations on rising when it’s difficult—that we have a duty to act regardless of comfort.

Stoic Wisdom: Indifference of Circumstances

• Main Meditation: “Circumstances Have No Care For Our Feelings” (05:51–07:22)

  • Ryan reads and discusses the February 23rd entry in his Daily Stoic 366 Meditations, focusing on a line from Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations 7.38.
  • Quote: “You shouldn’t give circumstances the power to rouse anger, for they don’t care at all.” (07:02)
  • He also references a favorite translation: “And why should we feel anger at the world? As if the world would notice.”
  • Marcus Aurelius wasn't writing for originality, but to remind himself (and us) of important lessons, including fragments from much older works.

• Literary Preservation & The Power of Quotes (07:22–09:07)

  • The quote Marcus preserved actually originated from Euripides—a playwright who lived 500–600 years prior.
  • Ryan marvels at how ideas and texts survive the centuries, likening Marcus’s awe of Euripides to our own reverence for Shakespeare.
  • Quote: “Euripides was further from Marcus Aurelius than Shakespeare is from us…even in the ancient world, they had ancient texts and history, and they marveled at great lines and quotes.” (Ryan Holiday, 08:12)
  • Reflects on the impact of writing things down, as wisdom can outlast generations and continue to provide value.

Accepting Indifference—And Choosing Our Response

• The Wisdom of Emotional Detachment (09:07–10:38)

  • The heart of the reflection: most circumstances, natural disasters, disease, and other hardships are not personal, and cannot be changed through emotional reaction.
  • Quote: “The pandemic was awful and frustrating, but it didn’t care about us. The virus was indifferent to us. It didn’t give a shit about us...because it’s not capable of doing that.” (Ryan Holiday, 09:40)
  • Emphasizes that getting angry at these impersonal forces is futile.

• Maintaining Humanity Amid Indifference (10:38–11:23)

  • Marcus Aurelius, later in the Meditations, advises not to let the world’s indifference transform us into indifferent or callous people.
  • Our task is to avoid mirroring the inhumanity or cruelty of objective events.
  • Quote: “Not letting the impersonal, awful, cruelty, overwhelmingness of the world make you into that kind of person.” (Ryan Holiday, 10:50)

The Enduring Value of Wisdom

• Closing Reflections (11:23–11:49)
  • The survival of this ancient wisdom is a testament to the power of recording and revisiting important truths.
  • Quote: “That’s the power of a great quote. That’s the power of writing things down. It’s beautiful.” (Ryan Holiday, 11:41)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Winners attack the day like that.” (01:26)
• “You shouldn’t give circumstances the power to rouse anger, for they don’t care at all.” (07:02)
• “As if the world would notice.” (07:09)
• “Euripides was further from Marcus Aurelius than Shakespeare is from us.” (08:12)
• “The pandemic was awful and frustrating, but it didn’t care about us.” (09:39)
• “Not letting the impersonal, awful, cruelty, overwhelmingness of the world make you into that kind of person.” (10:50)
• “That’s the power of a great quote. That’s the power of writing things down. It’s beautiful.” (11:41)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–02:25: Story of Richard Whelan, Diane Nash, and disciplined action
• 05:51–07:22: Main Stoic meditation and Marcus Aurelius quote
• 07:22–09:07: Literary preservation and significance of the Euripides quote
• 09:07–10:38: Circumstances as indifferent; futility of emotional response to impersonal events
• 10:38–11:23: Retaining humanity despite the world’s indifference
• 11:23–11:49: Conclusion—writing wisdom down for future generations

Takeaways

• Greatness begins by attacking the day with purpose and discipline.
• Circumstances—especially those beyond our control—are inherently indifferent; our emotional response is futile if it seeks to influence or change them.
• The wisdom and insights of the past may endure for millennia if we record and revisit them.
• It’s important to maintain our humanity and sense of justice, even when faced by an uncaring world.

In classic Daily Stoic style, Ryan Holiday blends ancient wisdom and contemporary reflection, offering listeners not just philosophical insight, but actionable reminders for living with integrity in an indifferent world.