“Stoic thought wasn’t created by philosophers, it was identified by them . . . Even if we lost every word that was ever written about Stoicism, the concepts would be re-discovered by human beings again and again.” — Phil Van Treuren
Accepting inevitable changes in the people and the world around us is an important goal of Stoics, and there are many quotes from ancient Stoic philosophers about change. Stoicism teaches that we should learn to accept things that are out of our control, and most of the changes we experience in life are not things we have the power to stop.
Even more importantly, Stoics don’t just accept inevitable change . . . they also believe that in every change, even changes that seem to be obstacles, there is an opportunity to practice virtue and better ourselves. Embracing changes and finding how to utilize them for your own benefit is a very Stoic mindset.
These Stoic quotes on change and how to adapt to it offer a small glimpse into these philosophers’ view of changes in the world around us as merely new opportunities to become better human beings.
Stoic Quotes on Change from Marcus Aurelius
“Everything you see will soon alter and cease to exist. Think of how many changes you’ve already seen; the world is nothing but change.”
“Loss is nothing else but change, and change is Nature’s delight.“
“Everything’s destiny is to change, to be transformed, to perish. So that new things can be born.”
“Is any man afraid of change? What can take place without change? What then is more pleasing or more suitable to the universal nature? And can you take a hot bath unless the wood for the fire undergoes a change? And can you be nourished unless the food undergoes a change? And can anything else that is useful be accomplished without change? Do you not see then that for yourself also to change is just the same, and equally necessary for the universal nature?”
Stoic Quotes on Change from Epictetus
“If someone is able to show me that what I think or do is not right, I will happily change, for I seek the truth, by which no one was ever truly harmed. It is the person who continues in his self-deception and ignorance who is harmed.”
Stoic Quotes on Change from Seneca
“You need a change of thinking rather than a change of climate.”
“Man is affected not by changing events, but by the view he takes of them.“
“It’s not because things are difficult that we dare not venture. It’s because we dare not venture that they are difficult.“
“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.”