stoicism
STOH-uh-siz-um
/ˈstoʊɪsɪzəm/
The endurance of pain or hardship without display of feelings and without complaint; also, a school of Hellenistic philosophy.
Capitalized ('Stoicism') it refers to the philosophy of Zeno, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius; lower-case ('stoicism') refers to general emotional endurance.
The story behind the word. Around 300 BCE, Zeno of Citium began teaching his ideas at the 'Stoa Poikile' (Painted Porch), a public colonnade in the market square of Athens. Because his followers gathered on this public porch rather than in a private school building, they became known simply as 'the Stoics'—the Porch Philosophers.
Word relationships
- fortitude: Fortitude is moral courage under trial, whereas stoicism is the overall disposition or system of bearing hardship calmly.
- impassivity: Impassivity denotes lack of reaction; stoicism implies deliberate, reasoned acceptance.
- emotionalism: Emotionalism is the tendency to display or react with unrestrained emotions.
- sensationalism: Sensationalism seeks emotional excitement and dramatic stirrings.
Commonly confused with
- cynicism: Cynicism believes human motives are selfish; Stoicism focuses on virtue and self-mastery regardless of others.
Word family
- stoic (noun): A person who can endure hardship without showing feelings.
- stoic (adjective): Enduring pain and hardship without showing feelings.
- stoically (adverb): In a stoic manner.
Collocations
- characteristic stoicism
- practice stoicism
- ancient stoicism
- philosophical stoicism
Idioms & expressions
- stiff upper lip
- bear one's cross
Example sentences
- "He bore the pain of his injury with characteristic stoicism, refusing to let it disrupt his duties." Classical essay on endurance
- "Stoicism provided the Roman ruling elite with a rigorous moral framework in times of political chaos." Literary analysis of Roman literature
Memory hook
Think of gathering at the public STOA (porch) to stand firm against whatever weather comes. The philosophy of the public porch.
When not to use
Do not confuse with robotic suppression of all love or joy; Stoicism advocates caring deeply about virtue and civic duty while accepting external outcome.
Fun facts
- Because Zeno lost all his fortune in a shipwreck before turning to philosophy, he famously joked: 'Now that I have been shipwrecked, I have a good voyage!'
Related words
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