Loading summary

Transcript8 lines

[00:02]
A
Welcome to the daily Stoic Podcast, designed to help bring those four key Stoic virtues, courage, discipline, justice, and wisdom into the real world. If you want to be a better person, if you want to be a happier person, if you want to be a more productive person, here are all the things the Stoics want you to stop doing right now. Number one, stop focusing on things that are outside your control. This is our main task in life. Epictetus, is to know what's up to us and what's not up to us. Number two, stop doing the inessential things. Mark Sweetheart says, when we say no to what we shouldn't be doing, we get the double benefit of doing the essential things better. Number three, from Seneca, stop being distracted by what other people are doing. He said, you want to have a sense of the path that you're on. And he says not to be led off course by the people who are hopelessly lost. Number four, from Zeno. Let's talk more than we listen. He said, we have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Number five, Stop complaining. Marcus Aurelius admonished himself not only not to complain, but not even to complain silently to himself. Number six, stop putting things off. Seneca said, this is the one thing all fools have in common. They're always getting ready to start. Don't be a fool. If it's worth doing, do it now. Which leads us to the seventh. Stop acting as if you're gonna live forever. Right? Marcus Rua says, we could be good today. Instead, we choose tomorrow. This is arrogant. This is foolish. Memento mori. Life is short. We could go at any moment. Stop putting it off. It's worth doing. Do it now, because today is the only thing you have for certain. Eight, Stop getting offended. Epictetus talks about how whenever we find ourselves getting upset, whenever we're offended, we have to say to ourselves, I am complicit in taking offense. They said the thing. They did the thing. Then we told ourselves a story about it. We told ourselves that our feelings were hurt. We told ourselves that we were humiliated. We told ourselves that we were degraded. No. They said some words. They uttered some sounds. Then we decide what that means. That part of it is in our control. Number nine, stop letting your ego make you stupid. Epictetus talked about how we can't learn that which we think we already know. When you're in Know it all, that's a problem, because you're right. You can't know anything else. The better the ratio of listening to talking, right? The more you're going to learn, the better you're going to get. 10. And this is the most important. Stop acting as if you're going to live forever. Life is short. You could go at any moment. This is the Stoic idea of memento mori, right? You could leave life right now. Marx really says in Meditations, let that determine what you do and say and think. Stop putting things off. Stop taking things personally. Stop doing the things that you know you shouldn't be doing. Get after it. This is your one life. Go live it. 11th. Stop doing things out of anger. Stop letting anger rule your life. I'm not saying you have an anger problem. I'm just saying that anger is a problem for all of us. The Stoics talk about how often what we do because we are angry is so much worse than the thing that made us angry in the first place. Seneca talked about the silliness of returning a kick to a mule or a bite to a dog. Marx Ruis even talked about how unmanly it is to be overcome by your emotions. To punch a wall or to scream at someone or hurt someone.
[04:01]
B
Right?
[04:02]
A
It's okay to be angry. The Stoics knew we would have these impulses, these feelings, but they wanted to make sure we didn't do things out of anger. Stoicism is about that pause. One of the pieces of advice that Athenodorus, the Stoic teacher, gives the Emperor Augustus was to count all the letters of the Alphabet before he made a decision while he was angry. Right? The pause and the reflect let me think about this for a second.
[04:35]
C
When it's time to scale your business, it's time for Shopify. Get everything you need to grow the way you want. Like all the way. Stack more sales with the best converting checkout on the planet. Track your cha chings from every channel right in one spot and turn real time reporting into into big time opportunities. Take your business to a whole new level. Switch to Shopify. Start your free trial today
[05:04]
B
Moms. Between school, sports and screens, your kid's day is non stop. If they're thinking about contacts, you want something simple and comfortable all day long. That's why Alcon Back to School makes it Easy to try Precision One or Precision Seven contact lenses with a free trial. Just go to myalcon.combacktoschool to find an eye doctor near you to get started. Myalcon.com back to school because good things happen in precision contact lenses. For important safety information information please see our website at myalcon.
[05:28]
A
Com free trial available with a contact lens exam. Professional fees apply. Free trial availability is at the discretion
[05:32]
B
of the eye care professional. Precision 1.
[05:33]
A
Contact lenses provide comfort even at 16 hours of wear.

Summary4 min read

The Daily Stoic Podcast

Episode: BONUS | 11 Things Stoics Never Do
Host: Ryan Holiday
Date: August 17, 2026

Episode Overview

In this bonus episode, Ryan Holiday breaks down the core elements of Stoic wisdom by outlining 11 distinct behaviors and mindsets that Stoics actively avoid. Drawing from ancient philosophers such as Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, Epictetus, and Zeno, Ryan explains how these stoic precepts are key to living a happier, more virtuous, and purposeful life. This episode serves as both a practical checklist and an inspirational pep talk for anyone wishing to deepen their engagement with Stoic practice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Let Go of What You Can’t Control

(00:25) Epictetus teaches that the “main task in life is to know what’s up to us and what’s not up to us.”
Letting go of the uncontrollable is foundational to peace of mind.

2. Stop Doing the Inessential

(00:38) Drawing from Marcus Aurelius: “When we say no to what we shouldn’t be doing, we get the double benefit of doing the essential things better.”
The importance of focus and selectivity in our actions.

3. Avoid Distraction by Others’ Paths

(00:52) Seneca warns: Avoid being led off course by focusing on other people’s activities or opinions.
“Have a sense of the path that you’re on.”

4. Talk Less, Listen More

(01:05) From Zeno: “We have two ears and one mouth for a reason.”
Emphasizes the wisdom in listening more to grow and learn.

5. Stop Complaining

(01:17) Marcus Aurelius admonished himself to not just avoid complaining openly, but “not even to complain silently to himself.”
Develops emotional resilience and personal responsibility.

6. Don’t Procrastinate

(01:25) Seneca highlights that “all fools have in common—they’re always getting ready to start.”
Ryan: “If it’s worth doing, do it now.”

7. Don’t Assume You’ll Live Forever

(01:40) Marcus Aurelius: “We could be good today—Instead, we choose tomorrow. This is arrogant. This is foolish. Memento mori.”
The necessity to act now, embracing the ephemeral nature of life.

8. Don’t Take Offense Easily

(02:01) Epictetus: “Whenever we’re offended, we are complicit in taking offense.”
Emphasizes the power of narrative and self-control over reactions.

“They said the thing. They did the thing. Then we told ourselves a story about it... That part of it is in our control.” (02:17)

9. Don’t Let Ego Blind You

(02:34) Epictetus: “We can’t learn that which we think we already know.”
Value humility and continual learning.

“When you’re a know-it-all, that’s a problem... The better the ratio of listening to talking, the more you’re going to learn.” (02:41)

10. Stop Acting as if Life Is Unlimited

(02:50) Reinforces memento mori—“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.”
Don’t delay important actions or take life for granted.

11. Don’t Act Out of Anger

(03:10) Seneca teaches it’s “silly to return a kick to a mule or a bite to a dog.”
Marcus Aurelius associates being overcome by emotion with a lack of maturity.

“Anger is a problem for all of us... Often what we do because we are angry is so much worse than the thing that made us angry in the first place.” (03:29)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“Stop focusing on things that are outside your control.” — Ryan Holiday (00:25)
“We have two ears and one mouth for a reason.” — Quoting Zeno (01:05)
“Not only not to complain, but not even to complain silently to himself.” — On Marcus Aurelius (01:17)
“Don’t be a fool. If it’s worth doing, do it now.” — Ryan Holiday, echoing Seneca (01:25)
“Stop acting as if you’re going to live forever. Life is short. You could go at any moment.” — Ryan Holiday, referencing Marcus Aurelius (02:50)
“Anger is a problem for all of us... Often what we do because we are angry is so much worse than the thing that made us angry in the first place.” — Ryan Holiday (03:29)
Advice from the Stoic teacher Athenodorus to Augustus: “Count all the letters of the alphabet before making a decision while angry. The pause and the reflect—let me think about this for a second.” (04:12)

Timestamps for Key Segments

00:01–00:25 — Introduction and virtues overview
00:25–03:10 — Breakdown of the 11 Stoic “Don’ts”
03:10–04:12 — The importance and practice of pausing before acting on anger

Final Reflection

Ryan Holiday delivers a powerful distillation of practical Stoic wisdom: living well is not just about what we choose to do, but also about what we resolutely refuse to do. Listeners are encouraged to use these 11 “never-dos” as a personal audit, challenging themselves to adopt the discipline, humility, and awareness that define Stoic living. As Ryan urges, “This is your one life. Go live it.”

Loading summary

Transcript8 lines

[00:02]
A
Welcome to the daily Stoic Podcast, designed to help bring those four key Stoic virtues, courage, discipline, justice, and wisdom into the real world. If you want to be a better person, if you want to be a happier person, if you want to be a more productive person, here are all the things the Stoics want you to stop doing right now. Number one, stop focusing on things that are outside your control. This is our main task in life. Epictetus, is to know what's up to us and what's not up to us. Number two, stop doing the inessential things. Mark Sweetheart says, when we say no to what we shouldn't be doing, we get the double benefit of doing the essential things better. Number three, from Seneca, stop being distracted by what other people are doing. He said, you want to have a sense of the path that you're on. And he says not to be led off course by the people who are hopelessly lost. Number four, from Zeno. Let's talk more than we listen. He said, we have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Number five, Stop complaining. Marcus Aurelius admonished himself not only not to complain, but not even to complain silently to himself. Number six, stop putting things off. Seneca said, this is the one thing all fools have in common. They're always getting ready to start. Don't be a fool. If it's worth doing, do it now. Which leads us to the seventh. Stop acting as if you're gonna live forever. Right? Marcus Rua says, we could be good today. Instead, we choose tomorrow. This is arrogant. This is foolish. Memento mori. Life is short. We could go at any moment. Stop putting it off. It's worth doing. Do it now, because today is the only thing you have for certain. Eight, Stop getting offended. Epictetus talks about how whenever we find ourselves getting upset, whenever we're offended, we have to say to ourselves, I am complicit in taking offense. They said the thing. They did the thing. Then we told ourselves a story about it. We told ourselves that our feelings were hurt. We told ourselves that we were humiliated. We told ourselves that we were degraded. No. They said some words. They uttered some sounds. Then we decide what that means. That part of it is in our control. Number nine, stop letting your ego make you stupid. Epictetus talked about how we can't learn that which we think we already know. When you're in Know it all, that's a problem, because you're right. You can't know anything else. The better the ratio of listening to talking, right? The more you're going to learn, the better you're going to get. 10. And this is the most important. Stop acting as if you're going to live forever. Life is short. You could go at any moment. This is the Stoic idea of memento mori, right? You could leave life right now. Marx really says in Meditations, let that determine what you do and say and think. Stop putting things off. Stop taking things personally. Stop doing the things that you know you shouldn't be doing. Get after it. This is your one life. Go live it. 11th. Stop doing things out of anger. Stop letting anger rule your life. I'm not saying you have an anger problem. I'm just saying that anger is a problem for all of us. The Stoics talk about how often what we do because we are angry is so much worse than the thing that made us angry in the first place. Seneca talked about the silliness of returning a kick to a mule or a bite to a dog. Marx Ruis even talked about how unmanly it is to be overcome by your emotions. To punch a wall or to scream at someone or hurt someone.
[04:01]
B
Right?
[04:02]
A
It's okay to be angry. The Stoics knew we would have these impulses, these feelings, but they wanted to make sure we didn't do things out of anger. Stoicism is about that pause. One of the pieces of advice that Athenodorus, the Stoic teacher, gives the Emperor Augustus was to count all the letters of the Alphabet before he made a decision while he was angry. Right? The pause and the reflect let me think about this for a second.
[04:35]
C
When it's time to scale your business, it's time for Shopify. Get everything you need to grow the way you want. Like all the way. Stack more sales with the best converting checkout on the planet. Track your cha chings from every channel right in one spot and turn real time reporting into into big time opportunities. Take your business to a whole new level. Switch to Shopify. Start your free trial today
[05:04]
B
Moms. Between school, sports and screens, your kid's day is non stop. If they're thinking about contacts, you want something simple and comfortable all day long. That's why Alcon Back to School makes it Easy to try Precision One or Precision Seven contact lenses with a free trial. Just go to myalcon.combacktoschool to find an eye doctor near you to get started. Myalcon.com back to school because good things happen in precision contact lenses. For important safety information information please see our website at myalcon.
[05:28]
A
Com free trial available with a contact lens exam. Professional fees apply. Free trial availability is at the discretion
[05:32]
B
of the eye care professional. Precision 1.
[05:33]
A
Contact lenses provide comfort even at 16 hours of wear.