> ![INFO] Book Application > [[My Outputs/My Book Applications/Stoic Serenity - A Practical Course on Finding Inner Peace Application]] ## Summary Stoic philosophy teaches that true happiness comes from living virtuously and caring for others, rather than pursuing material wealth or fame. It emphasizes that our well-being is tied to our moral character and the choices we make, focusing on what is within our control. By aligning our actions with nature and virtue, we can achieve inner peace and fulfillment. ## Highlights On this course you will be asked to read selections from two ancient Stoic writers. These are: ***Seneca: Letters from a Stoic*** [= ‘ *Moral Letters*’], translated by Robin Campbell, Penguin Books. ***Marcus Aurelius: Meditations***, translated by Robin Hard, Wordsworth Editions. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jgradexk9086vtn878wc9bkj))  **IN YOUR JOURNAL. Explain why, according** **to Socrates, merely having possession of good** **things is not sufficient to confer happiness.** ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jgts523v09s44kyts5w2770w)) - Tags: #exercise - 💭 It's not sufficient because a large part of what gives something meaning and impact is the way it is used, in a sense it's quite identification, because the way you use it and apply it through wisdom or rationality is how you can make the most out of it and if you're looking at happiness as something that is beyond hedonism if you look at it something that's really to joy then to experience joy I think we need some level of virtue that guides are usage of goods under the guidance of wisdom and virtue, they are greater goods: but in themselves are nothing? ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jgtsgmznppb9kgzw3z183zs1)) The Stoics maintain that merely in doing this, if we can do this, we will live well, we will be happy. Nothing else is required for us to flourish fully. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jgtsqs0jbp4zwe0nd433x8pg)) - 💭 living with virtues of courage, justice, temperance, and wisdom. we are the ones who provide meaning to goods through virtues. it is up to us to bring virtue into the world through our actions and interactions. this is why inner character work, developing the being mode and your identity, is more important than any form of wealth and material accumulation **Read Marcus Aurelius, *Meditations*****, sections** **4.49 on dealing with misfortunes; 5.36 on how** **to aid those who have suffered a loss; 8.1 on** **what is truly good; and 11.16 about indifferent** **things.** ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jgtv8afrspz8nezr9gv67m5p)) - Tags: #exercise - 💭 feels like different ways to acknowledge the separation between things and the way they affect you, and having that control over how things affect you, to the point where you might not even want to sympathize with people because in reality you know they are just things try to be aware of the distinction between *what* you are doing from the *way* you do it. Pay attention in particular to the way you handle setbacks or frustrations. If anything goes badly, try to be aware that you have not in yourself been harmed, though possibly your *project* has. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01jgtv63z8yjfpb445qp7tfsg4)) - Tags: #exercise - 💭 I pretty much do everything else the exercise suggests already