25 Essential Rules For Life (From The Stoics)

It's pretty straight forward: Define your rules. Live by them.
“When the standards have been set,” Epictetus said, “the work of philosophy is just this, to examine and uphold the standards, but the work of a truly good person is in using those standards when they know them.”
But of course, the Stoics were not quite so direct in practice. One Stoic, Chrysippus-supposedly wrote 500 lines a day…the vast majority of which are lost. The Stoics spoke, wrote, debated, but nowhere did they put their “commandments” down in one place. Not at least in any form that survived.
Here are 25 rules from the Stoics, gathered from their immense body of work across two thousand years. These rules functioned, then, as now, as guides to what the ancients called “the good life.” Hopefully some of them will illuminate your own path.
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00:00 Intro
00:52 1. Grab the smooth handle
01:23 2. Every person is an opportunity for kindness
01:45 3. Focus on what you can control
02:09 4. You control how you respond to things
02:41 5. Ask yourself, “Is this essential?”
03:12 6. Meditate on your mortality every day
03:30 7. Say no (a lot)
04:05 8. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
04:48 9. Find one thing that makes you wiser every day
05:26 10. What’s bad for the hive is bad for the bee (Marcus Aurelius)
05:57 11. Don’t judge other people
06:27 12. Study the lives of the greats
07:02 13. Forgive, forgive, forgive.
07:32 14. Value time more than money/possessions
07:57 15. You are the product of your habits
08:12 16. Remember you have the power to have no opinion
08:43 17. Own the morning
09:12 18. Put yourself up for review (interrogate yourself)
09:31 19. Don’t suffer imagined troubles
10:03 20. Try to see the good in people
10:26 21. Never be overheard complaining… even to yourself
10:46 22. Two ears, one mouth… for a reason (Zeno)
10:58 23. There is always something you can do
11:19 24. Don’t compare yourself to others
11:51 25. Learn something from everyone
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[@Three2Juan]

Ryan, you were recommended to me by my lawyer when I thought my life felt like a shipwreck situation. I felt like Zeno, coming across stoicism via a shipwreck “bad thing”’ but it was actually a learning point. I hope one day I can have a conversation with you! I’m 75% done with all of your books. Courage is calling is amazing.

[@DS-cf1zc]

We all find stoicism via a personal shipwreck - and if we are honest about it, some of it is of our own doing. I bumped into Ryan and the Daily Stoic by accident, and I now feel on reflection that fate brought me to it. My life, career, prospects and decision making have become 120% better than they ever were, and my resilience is far higher than it has ever been. Much of this is thanks to Ryans monumental achievement of introducing us all to the stoics world.

[@user-pb4hc9wr2s]

What a lawyer!

[@ashariahbadarudin4975]

I hope your life now is much much better

[@madisonimogen1028]

No matter what we do..we will die. The external world with its habitats kills you so just ignore it and dig your grave to rest ...till the death does us apart.

[@XB10001]

@DS 1969 I feel the same way.

[@victorh.bermudez-motta9843]

1. Grab the smooth handle 2. Every person is an opportunity for kindness 3. Focus on what you can control 4. You control how you respond to things 5. Ask yourself “is this essential?” 6. Meditate on your mortality every day 7. say no (a lot) 8. Don’t be afraid to ask for help 9. Find one thing that makes you wiser everyday 10. What’s bad for the hive is bad for the bee 11. Don’t judge other people 12. Study the lives of the greats. 13. Forgive, forgive, forgive 14. Value time more than money/possessions 15. You are the product of your habits 16. Remember you have the habit to have no opinion 17. Own the morning 18. Put the day up to review (evaluate you’d day ) 19. Don’t suffer imagine troubles 20. Try to see the good in people 21. Never be overheard complaining, even to yourself 22. Two ears one mouth for a reason… for a reason 23. There is always something you can do 24. Don’t compare yourself to others 25. Learn something from everyone

[@ashariahbadarudin4975]

Thank you for this

[@MommaUnicorn222]

Thank you so much :) I want these up in my house and now you've just saved me a lot of work!!! I appreciate your time investment for the good of us all!!

[@KillAllCommies2]

Thanks!

[@roverSpirit]

Thank you!!

[@mojo6691]

Thank you victor.

[@MissyQ12345]

I am 71 years old and have fallen in love with you, Ryan. You make my days better by teaching me -- hammering home the things I know to be true. Now all I have to do is follow your advice. I start each day now by reading your email. You are a kind and gracious teacher. Thank you.

[@AhmetKaan]

Don't compare your 2. chapter to someone elses 20. You might think your story is not good enough but it is not over yet. *Keep dreaming and putting in the work. I believe in you...*

[@Yourhighnessnona]

I love how the Stoic philosophy really embodies kindness and mending your own garden; focussing on and bettering yourself so that what you give to the world and the Universe, is your unique, individual contribution, your own kind of beautiful and your own kind of greatness 🤍! It reminds me a lot of Eastern philosophy.

[@moostkage4653]

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERY ONE WE ALL DESERVE A BETTER LIFE, LETS MAKE A CHANGE, WE ALL ARE HUNGRY FOR IT

[@albert3274]

How Powerful line you said, It will stick to me forever - "everything you say yes to means you're saying no to something else and whatever you say no so something gives you more room more time to say yes to what matters in their case being great at what they do"

[@Gm__MUA]

“You can just think nothing about something”. Love it!

[@OldGuitarMan]

12 hour shift work, 5PM to 5AM and 5AM to 5PM that changes multiple times a week, always on call, never a day off that’s safe, a work schedule that changes constantly - no sleep patterns, no ability to maintain any type of schedule, always in a fog. I’ve been doing this for 25 years. I remain trapped in this job by circumstance. There are no solutions, only the eventual release into darkness. But it takes so long to get there. Life is far too long. We go on and on, way past the point when any of it mattered, when there was any degree of happiness or fulfillment. I used to hope self-improvement ideas like this found on this channel could push things into some type of light, but I realize now that when every day you don’t know if you’re sleeping all day or sleeping all night, when all your feel is a head full of bricks, but you can’t leave because you’re the great provider and aren’t qualified for anything different - I realize there’s no life philosophy that can alter this. I just need it to end. Things end every minute of every day. The time has to be close.

[@AhmetKaan]

❗ *6 GUIDELINES FOR LIFE:* *1) When you are alone, mind your thoughts.* *2) When you are with your friends, mind your tongue.* *3) When you are angry, mind your temper.* *4) When you are with a group, mind your behaviour.* *5) When you are in trouble, mind your emotions.* *6) When God starts blessing you, mind your ego.*

[@doctork1708]

6) Mind your ego.

[@paulhegarty8380]

I’ve ordered your Daily Stoic book Ryan, I think Stoicism is the way forward for the rest of my life. Thank you.

[@DS-cf1zc]

I am in my second full year of doing the Daily Stoic - and keeping my journal inline with the Daily teachings, supplemented by the videos and emails. It has helped me improve my life, and I do hope it helps you find inner peace and success.

[@SportsMatt13]

Thanks for fixing the music and re-uploading. We appreciate the effort

[@jimbabbington]

This is probably going to be one of your best videos. Nice cadence, direct, and a sincere tone - well done.

[@santomkd]

I’ll try to watch this video every few days

[@happyhoundtrading]

It doesn't matter that this video is now a year old...it continues to contain and add value, thank you for such a concise list of ideas and principals to live by. One of my favorites is "22. Two ears one mouth for a reason." - it goes hand in hand with a belief I have that the quietest person in the room is often the smartest.

[@TheeSeniorJr]

Thank you for all you do and all you offer the world!

[@SuzieQGirl]

Thank you so much for reminding me of these essential tips!!! ❤❤❤

[@thedeadinn9959]

I can't tell you how much I needed to hear all of this at this very moment. Thank you. 🖤

[@Taurotor19]

Im taking the time to write down these rules in my journal to constantly remind myself of them. This video is perfect because it goes straight to the point. I also subscribed to the daily mail. Thank you and Feliz día de Reyes!

[@jamesrobbins3582]

Ryan, I just wanted to say thank you. You're passion, had enrich myself, and the lives of others. The pen is certainly mighty than the sword.

[@romlyn99]

OK - I loved that statement - us watching this video - we are purchasing this with our life. Yes, every moment I breathe a cell in my body is born and a cell dies. We are constantly living and dying at every moment... and the true commodity and wealth is time spent... so spend your time wisely.

[@eisenj21188]

Loved it. Every time I encounter a video of yours with a similar title, I know I’m going to pay good attention. Some things you repeat from time to time, some you don’t which for me is just practice! Thanks a lot!

[@charlesparis2526]

Happy New Year to you and your family Ryan thank you for most excellent teachings of the stoics keep up the good work my friend

[@sealfan1000]

Such a Blessing. Thank you!

[@adrianopilati1403]

Thank you Ryan for these great videos. I just bought Lives of the Stoics and have been reading Meditations from Marcus A. I am finding this life changing and am more at peace with myself. Keep up your great work Ciao from Australia 🇦🇺 While I remember I was given a Marcus Aurelius denarius coin for my 50th birthday so I have had it made as a pendant for my necklace......a daily reminder of stoicism......love it

[@XB10001]

Your email list and your channel are a great inspiration. Thank you so much for the wisdom you share.

[@treva31]

Pure gold, thank you.

[@lee.m.506]

Uplifting and inspiring. Much appreciated...

[@lackshubalasubramaniam7311]

Thanks for this. A good starter for 2022.

[@rogerwilliams5366]

Outstanding video. Total substance and wisdom. Ryan gets right to the point with the substance, unlike 98% of internet videos. I signed up for the email and I’m glad I did.

[@joe_fabricator]

I've seen you on many interviews, watched some video.....but for some reason in the last few days, something said hit me. Now I'm REALLY Listening. Really enjoying your content Ryan, thank you.

[@obietravels652]

So glad I stumbled upon the daily stoic.

[@BlueVJones]

Love this, thanks Daily stoic so much

[@guillermoandreslamusnaranj3861]

Excelente, muchas gracias por tu canal!! Bendiciones!

[@richardsmith8310]

Thank You Ryan. This one hit me especially hard.

[@JackBQuick79]

Somehow a trip through my news feed led me to the daily stoic, and timing could not have been any better. On a broad spectrum i naturally think stoically i guess. Having asses to these wisdoms will definitely help me fine tune my perceptions. I cant believe this information is out here floating around for free because in my opinion it is all priceless. I will be indulging and consuming as much of Ryan Holiday as my brain will allow. Im so grateful to be apart of this.

[@Tik075]

Ryan, how are you so young and so wise? I am truly grateful for your insight and readings. I've purchased the obstacle is the way and it's amazing 👏 🙌

[@neoavatar639]

Your Content is becoming an important part of my healthy morning routine. Thank you for making my days better. Love from India.

[@NeoSoulquarian]

Love the daily stoic content. Been following for a while now. Ryan Holiday's books are must reads as well. ❤🔥🤙🏻

[@Murphy-xm1yp]

I needed this today.

[@majortree]

I am an old man yet I believe I will watch this video every morning to start my day...

[@jamescampbell9236]

Great video Ryan Thanks

[@hiteshi8730]

Thank you Ryan

[@williamsummers6438]

To alleviate suffering is worthy. To prevent it is divine, but thankless.

[@gustavgustavgustav]

Cheers Ryan.

[@cornelbacauanu1544]

Each and every rule, and all together will help us move forward in life. Follow them.

[@CasualPreppersPodcast]

Love these!

[@FoundationsofFreedom]

My relationship ended a little over a month ago and it’s been a disaster. I was living with this girl, I was making her my family, and I was planning on spending the rest of my life with her. Then she showed me her true colors though and stabbed me in the back repeatedly. Now I have my own place and I’m working on getting my life back on track. Stoicism is helping me immensely in the process. Thanks for your help, Ryan.

[@RhinoTown]

Love this guy!

[@debcash4006]

Thanks, Cash Peters recommended your KZbin site. I just subscribed and looking forward to more uplifting videos!

[@natnaelfasil9174]

It’s like daily pill for average and lazy mind hard to swallow but good for the body and the mind.Thank you for making this video!!!!

[@LisaLovesFugglers]

Stoicism is such a beautiful way of life, and one I am trying to live to my highest potential. Yet it's not without it's struggles. Various points in the rules you set out made me cry because I've gone through such a turbulent time dealing with a lot of things. Yet I'm not going to give up. I am here to stay. To improve my life. P. S - Referring to your point on complaints - a complaint is well founded I believe when it addresses/highlights/deals with a significant issue. Otherwise, complaining without taking appropriate action is detrimental to our Mental Health.

[@mdabdurrazzaks4242]

Thank you for Your great video.

[@dodecaheathenblue8132]

Thank you..so much..

[@dicta2974]

Thanks to you I have just dusted off my "teenage survival book" by Lucii Annaei Senecae: Sententiae Selectae. I love your passionate videos about Marcus Aurelius. I am looking forward to reading your books. Thanks so much for being there!

[@danjones3009]

Ryan, I think rule #26 should be, "Smile" anywhere! Give it a try, Ryan. I'm sure it would look good on you. 🤗

[@romlyn99]

Forgiveness - I like to explain grudges and hate as a burden we need to carry. To hold a grudge or hate towards another person means two things; 1. That person lives in your thoughts, so you are spending time and energy to make space for that person to live rent free in your thoughts/mind; 2. It take effort to hold a grudge, as grudges are heavy emotional things to maintain. By forgiving someone, you are not saying that person was correct in their actions and you were wrong in hating them or wrong to hold a grudge. By forgiving a person you are evicting that person from your thoughts and mind - and you make space for better things to live in your thoughts. Lastly, you lighten your load. By forgiving you take a load off your shoulders. So evict them and refuse to carry the burden of a grudge and hate. Forgiveness is truly a gift to yourself.

[@DannyBeaupre77]

This is such a good channel.

[@Serendipity-gj2me]

I am a new subscriber to your channel and love all your videos. Thank you!

[@daisygupta7571]

Excellent

[@aaronwimberleymbamsf5776]

Great meditation for the day=]

[@patriksvensson2360]

Number 14 hit me like a truck. Don't get me wrong, I very much found all of these profound and meaningful, but that one just woke me up like a surprise slap to the face.

[@carlcandiano1517]

Great video

[@sheakone]

Just subscribed! It’s my birthday on Friday and I need to make some changes! Thanks Ryan!

[@marykebester5459]

I love your videos Ryan, but the always end so suddenly😂 I would love to hear just a small summary or outro at the end

[@cliffordkrauel5290]

I'll say this and keep saying this and I tell other men about this. Ryan Holiday and the stoics and saved my life. I can't explain how much so. If there anything that this world needs more of is people practicing and using stoicsem in everyday life. 🙏😰😊🖤🖤🍁🍂🤘✌️👊

[@romlyn99]

When people hear the word habit - I think most people think of something negative. But habit is just something you do, often enough that it creates a pattern of behavior. And we often do things each day, that are negative. But we can do something each day that is positive. So have habits... just make the habits we have create positive effects. Create good habits to replace the bad habits.

[@zzdogger]

Man, I feel like I'm ready to try living up to stoic ideals. I found myself pulling away from stoicism, toward the other (easier?) philosophies of absurdism, existentialism, and the most powerful/unfortunate, nihilism. I recently started getting up early by choice for the first time in my life and one of my first early mornings I was, for lack of a better term, wracked with existential grief. I had the thought that, if I continue down this line of thinking, becoming the perfect nihilist is paramount to becoming exactly like Nietzsche, that I become so unstable and broken that simply witnessing an evil act in person might push me over the edge like Nietzsche when he saw a horse being beaten. I cried for most of that day thinking about how such deep thought, in my case, coming from my 28-year-old brain, might essentially drive me to insanity even if I'm 'brave enough' to avoid suicide. This thinking feels so important but at the same time I see the end result of me, one way or another, being remembered by most as just some crazy person who wound up dead or institutionalized. Since then I've found a way better way to draw inspiration from Nietzsche. Nietzsche's idea of the Übermensch as the perfect overman every person to strive to be, is hard to exemplify within the mindset that nihilism typically appeals to. I found myself circling back to stoicism and made a connection that the Übermensch Nietzsche describes is not at all dissimilar to the perfect stoic. This connection is allowing me to take stoic ideals a lot more seriously. It's like the perfect stoic is what the perfect nihilist failed to become.

[@brianhill5943]

Fascinating 😝😝😝 🙏🏼🖤

[@miniharez]

Keep up the videos! I watch every single one of them, and I have your book courage is Calling! Thank you so much for everything that you do🤘

[@emmalevigaor4740]

I love love love these videos, I just wish the numbered note was said out loud. You can’t listen to this while driving, running, resting, or while doing anything because you Have to be watching it to read the number or you get alittle lost. What about those who can’t see/read.. it’s just an unfortunate oversight.

[@jeremygleason803]

The power is in your first word's that you don't in hope need time, you need love. So make love your most promising value. Mean what you say and accept the morning. Power comes from example. Modesty come's by exchange, perfection challenges me to look deeper into the path and product evokes mistakes. Timid is the way, weakness is your's, walk the forbidden path and love you.

[@tonygombas491]

In your opening to your video we’re the the words choice that resonated like a lightning bolt choice can make or break your life

[@Gm__MUA]

I asked God to send me teachers who can inspire me, who can speak to my soul, who can show me the way to everlasting change and here you are.

[@StoicEvolution1]

Marcus Aurelius: "Everything that happens happens as it should, and if you observe carefully, you will find this to be so."

[@tonygombas491]

I’m so happy I’m learning about Stoicism to bad it came late in my life had I known earlier in life things would have been so much easier

[@bettermanchannel770]

Damn!! 25!! Let me spin a couple plates at a time!! Stay strong guys

[@unknownone4774]

An interesting channel. What would you recommend for a first book?

[@Personal-Mastership]

Greets from Germany

[@Gleyi07]

Ryan! When are you having a seminar in NYC??

[@TheSharpc]

Ryan, where should I start my reading list?

[@friederikesoldo761]

Why don’t you smile … just you don’t… that’s a pity… you have really good messages… mmh? Lots of love!

[@alecstuart5266]

There's only one universal rule. Live to one's concious . Everything else is bound to fall in line.

[@rigbi889]

Regarding rule #25 ”三人行，必有我师焉” 孔子 Confucius says : Three people walk, one of them must be a teacher to me” Can learn from anyone. Always.

[@lover-of-fate]

Daily Stoic is not allowing me to sign up. It allows me to put down my Email, but then it will not go through. It keeps cycling without connecting to anything. Is it region locked?

[@sinokomp]

Hey Ryan and stoic community, a quick thought and question about one of in these rules. "Don't even overhear yourself complaining". I'm guilty of it. Every time I overhear myself I wonder, where does constructive feedback begin and where does complaining start? If I stop any kind of critique to occure, am I not missing a chance to improve what I am complaining about? Thanks.

[@scottsdaledavidson4336]

The greatest rule: Love God with ALL your heart ❤️, soul and mind 🌏🌎🌍

[@Spagaggum]

Dude, make coffee pods with these quotes on them, so we can focus on them first thing in the morning.

[@shanewyatt9939]

F on what I've heard of stoics so far I would some it all up as "humility"

[@markalain3427]

Bon Iver!

[@annamaria1929]

i do not get the email every day? just sometimes. very sparadick!

[@queensenglish123]

I was searching for a skull or a glass hour to use it as wallpaper for my phone. I was wondering, though, is the memento mori reminder just for successful people? I read that that reminder is for those who are experiencing great success and that´s a way to remind them that they will die and not believe that what they have is eternal and be humble. I, on the other hand, am just as ESL school teacher who owns nothing, just living from paycheck to paycheck.

[@MCRotrix]

7 highly effective habbits, 12 rules for life. Now 25 essential rules. Wow, so many numbers for my one shitty life

[@redsreda]

Breath as a rule

I agree with almost everything on the list but I have a little problem with "21. Never be overheard complaining, even to yourself", isn't complaining sometimes useful to get something of your mind, share a problem, get input, make a change?

[@dpcuellar5853]

Less commercials would be great

[@azme]

this video is for my Rule No. 9.

[@joepep5434]

Hi What kind of cats do you have. Love cats ,I have 4

[@mso008]

I struggle with forgiveness

[@GooglePhD]

Rules to live by, stop wasting your time/life!!!!!!!

[@jeffaguilar5830]

In my opinion, every rule is critical. But you can really throw out 13 and 20.