On Freedom

Only the wise man is free, and every fool is a slave.

— Chrysippus

Fragment, in Diogenes Laertius 7.121

Man conquers the world by conquering himself.

— Zeno of Citium

Fragment, in Diogenes Laertius 7.25

The virtuous are free; the wicked are slaves.

— Zeno of Citium

Fragment, in Diogenes Laertius 7.121

Now I am my own master.

— Cato the Younger

via Plutarch, Life of Cato the Younger 70

The happiness of those who want to be popular depends on others; the happiness of those who seek pleasure fluctuates with moods outside their control; but the happiness of the wise grows out of free acts.

— Marcus Aurelius

Meditations (attrib.)

It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.

— Marcus Aurelius

Meditations 12.4

Seek not the good in external things; seek it in yourselves.

— Epictetus

Discourses 3.22

Never depend on the admiration of others. There is no strength in it.

— Epictetus

Discourses 3.24

Exile cannot deprive a man of his true good, for virtue is carried inside him.

— Musonius Rufus

Lectures 9

Remember this, that very little is needed to make a happy life.

— Marcus Aurelius

Meditations 7.67