- I learned from my grandpa Verus to be chill and humble, and to not be all drama and rage. From my dad’s legacy, I got both modesty and being a stand-up guy. My mom taught me to be spiritual, generous, and not just avoid doing bad things, but even thinking about them; to be okay with eating light, and stay away from crazy rich life. And my great-grandpa showed me to attend schools and lectures, and get dope teachers at home; and it’s cool to spend a lot on these things.
- Like, my dude who raised me taught me not to be like super obsessed with either of those like, big groups in the circus, ya know? And also not to like, pick favorites with any of the fighters in the arena, like the gladiators or fencers. And to be cool with working hard, not needing a ton of stuff, doing things on my own instead of relying on others, keeping my focus on just a few things, and not being quick to believe any gossip about me.
- Not stressing about useless things like Diognetus, and not believing everything that people claim to be true, especially when it comes to magic tricks, sorcery, and fake powers like charms or demons. Not wasting time on games like keeping quails or obsessing over trivial stuff. Not getting offended by others’ words and focusing on philosophy instead. Gotta show gratitude for learning from Bacchius, Tandasis, and Marcianus, writing dialogues in my youth, and embracing the simple lifestyle of philosophers with their little couches and skins as part of that Greek philosophy vibe.
- To Rusticus, I have to give props for helping me see the need for change in my life. I’m grateful that I didn’t get caught up in trying to impress others with fancy writings or speeches about common ideas or pushing people to be virtuous and philosophical. I also appreciate not showing off my athletic abilities just to flex. I stopped caring about fancy rhetoric, poetry, and showy language. I didn’t stroll around in a robe at home or do anything pretentious. He taught me to write simple, sincere letters like he did for my mom from Sinuessa. I learned to forgive easily and make amends with those who hurt me when they apologize. Also, he taught me to study diligently, not settle for surface-level knowledge, and not take things at face value. I’m super grateful I found Epictetus’ moral think pieces thanks to him.
- From Apollonius, being truly free and unwavering in your beliefs, not caring about anything unless it’s the right thing to do: always staying true to yourself, even in the toughest times like through pain, losing a loved one, or dealing with a long illness; showing that it is possible to be both passionate and relaxed at the same time. He didn’t let himself get upset by the shortcomings of his students in his teachings, and was humble about his ability to teach Stoic philosophy. He also taught me how to accept favors and kindness from friends without becoming dependent on them, while still standing firm in what I believe is right. And that it’s important to show gratitude and not take things for granted.
- Of Sextus, being chill and keeping it in the family with that father-like love; and having a vibe to live in sync with nature: to keep it real without being fake; to peep the different vibes of my friends; not getting triggered by dumb people, or randomly going after those who follow mainstream opinions, with the theories, and beliefs of philosophers: his talk being a prime example of how a dude can vibe with all sorts of people; so even though his company was better than any brownnosing flatterer, it was still respected and admired: who also had the mad skill to logically and systematically figure out and organize all the key decisions and instructions for life. A dude never showing even a hint of anger, or any other strong emotion; able to master that Stoic chill, while also being mad compassionate: always trusted; and yet hardly making any noise, or causing a commotion: very smart, and yet keeping it low-key.
- Alexander the Grammarian teaching us to be flawless ourselves, and not shame anyone for a mistake in their language or pronunciation, but instead subtly correct them or guide them in a polite and graceful manner without directly pointing out their error.
- Like, a tyrant king is so rife with jealousy, deceit, and fakeness, ya know? And those so-called “noble-born” peeps are kinda lacking in that real love vibe, y’know?
- Don’t constantly be like “I’m busy” when someone hits you up, and don’t keep avoiding your responsibilities to your friends by pretending to have important stuff going on. Just be real and keep it straight with them.
- Don’t diss Catulus, y’know, even if a friend calls you out unfairly – try to get ’em back to their chill self. Gotta hype up all my mentors, like Domitius and Athenodotus, and show love to my kids for real.
- From my bro Severus, to be mad chill and nice to all them of my squad and fam; by whom also I got to know Thrasea, Helvidius, Cato, Dio, and Brutus. He’s also the one who got me hyped about havin’ a society where justice and equality rule; and a kingdom where only the good and welfare of the peeps matter. He taught me to stay focused on philosophy, be generous AF, always stay positive, and trust my homies got my back. He was always upfront with his criticism and his friends knew exactly where they stood with him.
- Claudius Maximus was, like, all about being totally in control, staying positive no matter what, being kind and serious, and being super efficient without any whining. People could always count on him because he always kept it real and had good vibes. He never got caught off guard, wasn’t in a hurry but not too slow either, and always stayed chill. He never lost his cool, was always there to lend a hand and forgive, and always kept it real. He seemed confident and never needed to be called out. People never felt underestimated by him, and nobody thought they were above him. Plus, he was, like, hella friendly and charming.
- Like, my dad was so chill, you know? He was always like, true to himself and never wavered once he made up his mind. He wasn’t all about seeking attention or praise, and he worked hard and listened to others for the greater good. He was fair to everyone and knew exactly how to act in tough situations. He never got caught up in unwholesome stuff and always stayed down-to-earth, you know? He didn’t expect his friends to be at his beck and call or join him everywhere he went. And if he had to put off something important, he always came back to it with the same dedication. He was really good at thinking things through and never just went with the first idea that popped up. He always took care of his friends and never took them for granted. He was content and always had a positive attitude, planning ahead without making a fuss. He never let praise or flattery get in the way, and he was strict about handling things, even when criticized. He wasn’t super religious or obsessed with impressing people, just modest and considerate. His friends respected him and he never sought attention or tried to be someone he wasn’t. He was into things that made his life easier without being showy, you know? He took care of himself but wasn’t obsessed with appearances. He rarely needed any medical help because he took care of himself. He also admired other people’s talents and helped them shine in their own way. He was all about tradition and respecting the past, but didn’t need to show off about it. He was calm and steady, not easily swayed, and always got back to work even after tough times. He kept things low-key and didn’t share many secrets, only stuff that mattered for everyone. He was thoughtful and didn’t show off for attention, just did things out of kindness. He didn’t waste time on unnecessary things and was always kind and relaxed in his interactions. He was like totally in control, never getting too excitable or careless, just always calm and collected. He was able to enjoy life without going overboard and stayed strong and steady through thick and thin.
- I got lucky fam. Blessed with solid family, good peeps around me, and avoided making dumb mistakes. The gods looked out for me. I didn’t rush into adulting, stayed humble, and learned from those wiser than me. My upbringing kept me grounded. Had a bro to look up to, kids who ain’t messed up, and a loyal wifey. Grateful for the simple life. Never tripped up when trying to help others. Fam, I’ve been blessed with some real ones in my corner. Dreams came thru when I needed help, guiding me in the right direction. Avoided getting caught up in useless stuff and stayed focused on what really matters. All this couldn’t have happened without a little help from the universe.
- Thought of this one chillin in the Quadi land at Granua1 , yo. When you wake up, tell yourself: “Today I gotta deal with someone lazy, nosy, ungrateful, a hater, a sly backstabber, or a jealous person; a loner, unkind dude.” All these bad vibes come from not knowing what’s really good or bad. But I know what’s good and what’s bad — the good stuff is the only thing worth wanting, and the bad stuff is nasty and shameful. Plus, I know the person dissing me is fam, not blood-related but on the same vibe intellectually and spiritually. So why let any of them get to me when they can’t dish anything really embarrassing? Or get mad at someone who’s basically fam? We’re all meant to work together, like how feet, hands, and eyelids all do their thing. Going against that is unnatural, going against the flow, nah mean?
- Uh, like, whatever I am, it’s like either this body, or life, or that thing folks usually call the main part of us; reason. Put those books away, don’t let your mind get all scattered and thrown around anymore; ’cause in the end it’s pointless; almost like ready to call it quits, don’t focus too much on your body: blood, bones, and skin; like, a cool little combo of nerves, veins, and arteries; just don’t dwell on it, you know? And when it comes to your life, think about it; it’s like a breeze; not even a steady breeze, but like every minute of an hour blown out, and sucked back in. The next thing is your main part; and like think about this; You’re getting old; don’t let that awesome part become submissive, and like turn into a slave: don’t let it be manipulated by unreasonable and unsocial desires and actions, like it’s tangled up with wires and nerves; don’t let it whine about the present or worry and run from what’s to come, which fate has in store for you.
- Whatever comes from the gods is totally in their control. Things that seem like they happen by luck actually have to do with nature or the bigger picture planned by the gods. Everything is connected and necessary for the greater good. Remember these guidelines and don’t get too caught up in thirsting for knowledge. Stay humble, grateful, and content with what you have.
The heading of this section of the book is “On the River Gran, Among the Quadi.” The Quadi were a Germanic tribe against whom Rome fought in the Marcomannic Wars, and the River Gran was in what’s now Slovakia—then on Rome’s northern frontiers.[↩]