Three compelling and succinct summaries of the Stoic practice, preserved for the sake of posterity.

Dr. Jan Garret:

1. The key to successful living (sometimes called happiness) is freedom from the violent feelings.
2. The key to freedom from the violent feelings is living in accordance with virtue.
3. The key to virtue is living consistently in agreement with nature.
4. The things called good by most people, such as life, health, possessions, good reputation, and the like, are often in accord with our nature.
5. But they are not consistently in accord with our nature, as they are sometimes purchased or preserved at the expense of a person’s integrity.
6. Virtue and successful living are not inborn but result from deliberate choice and continuous attention to what is in our power and what is not.

Paul Lecorde:

1. One to live in accord with Nature; worldly Nature and human nature.
2. The Unity of All; all gods; all substance; all virtue; all mankind into a Cosmopolis (Universal City).
3. That the external world is maintained by the natural interchange of opposites (poioun / yin, paskhon / yang)
4. That everyone has a personal, individual connection to the All; a god within.
5. That every soul has Free Will to act and that the action of the soul is opinion.
6. Simple Living through moderation and frugality.
7. That spiritual growth comes from seeking the good.
8. That Virtue is the sole good, Vice the sole evil, and everything else indifferent.
9. That the Cardinal Virtues are Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance.
10. That the path to personal happiness and inner peace is through the extinguishing of all desire to have or to affect things beyond ones control and through living for the present without hope for or fear of the future; beyond the power of opinion.
11. The sequential reabsorption and recreation of the Universe by the Central Fire; the Conflagration.

Dr. Gordon L. Ziniewicz:

1. The overall purpose or Summum Bonum or reason for living: Apatheia, serenity or mental tranquillity, peace of mind, one’s own reason in accord with universal reason.
2. The universe is governed by intelligence, and everything happens as it should. Do not ask that the universe conform to your will; conform your will to the universe.
3. The universe as a whole is good. Every event has its place in the scheme of things. No event is good or bad. Events (like sickness, death, impoverishment) appear bad to persons who expect things to conform to their wishes and are disappointed. Be calm in the face of what has been destined (fated).
4. Do not be disturbed by anything that happens to you. External events are outside of your control.
5. Do not desire anything. Rid yourself of the “will to get.”
6. Do not try to avoid the inevitable and the fated. Rid yourself of the “will to avoid” those things that are outside of your power.
7. “Will to avoid” only those things that are under your control. Only things under your control can be called good or evil. “Will to avoid” those thoughts, impulses, desires, and judgments which enslave you to external things or which are disturbing.
8. Be your own master. Depend on nothing outside of yourself. Nature gives and nature takes away. External goods do not last. Depend only on your reason, which is a spark of divine reason.
9. Do not depend upon other people. Do not become so attached to other people that you cannot be happy without them. Know that even your spouse and children are human beings, are mortal.
10. Help others in need. Treat all persons equally. Give them food and shelter if they need it. Stay with them when they are grieving; grieve outwardly with them, if need be. But do not grieve on the inside. Do not let their disturbance make you disturbed. Do not feel their feelings.
11. In all your affairs, remain outwardly involved and inwardly detached and serene. Do not let anything “get to you.” Remain calm. We cannot calm the storm of external events. We can calm our own minds. Objective knowledge of what we can and cannot control leads to peace of mind.
12. Let nothing disturb you. Expect nothing. Want nothing. Do not blame the gods or other people for your unhappiness. Only you can make yourself happy (serene) or unhappy (disturbed).
13. To blame others for one’s own misfortunes shows a lack training; to blame oneself shows that one’s training has begun; to blame neither oneself nor others shows that one’s training has been completed (after Epictetus). When you are disturbed, you have only yourself to blame. When you are undisturbed, you have no one to blame.