The Stoic Manual

The Stoic Manual

the art of seeing things as they really are

on clarity

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Stoic Philosophy
Jan 10, 2026
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Vincent Van Gogh, The Bedroom

“All you need are these: certainty of judgment in the present moment; action for the common good in the present moment; and an attitude of gratitude in the present moment for anything that comes your way.” - Marcus Aurelius

We have to admit that the lies we tell ourselves are often warmer than the truth; like a heavy duvet on a freezing morning, ignorance protects us from the shivering vulnerability of the work required to change. It’s profoundly difficult to look at the stark reality of 4 a.m. darkness and accept it simply as a time of day, rather than…


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