“We’re rarely given the teachers we need when life’s inevitable hardships leave us crestfallen and confused. Fortunately, we have the ability to linger among humanity’s noblest minds and choose mentors for ourselves.” — Phil Van Treuren
There aren’t a lot of quotes from ancient Stoic philosophers on the topic of self-confidence, because they didn’t necessarily think that it was something we should strive for in itself. Being self confident is a good thing, but it also comes as a natural side-effect of practicing what’s important in Stoicism: seeking virtue, correct impressions and focusing on the moment you’re living in.
Stoics don’t have perfect, unshakable self confidence at every moment, because we’re all human beings who are susceptible to self-doubt sometimes, regardless of how clear we are on our own capabilities. Someone who practices Stoic philosophy strives to identify initial feelings of insecurity for what they are, and use logical thinking to overcome them.
The best Stoic quotations on self confidence are like the ones below, which help us embrace the fact that we’re all flawed people who need to constantly seek self-improvement, as well.
Stoic Quotes on Self Confidence & Improvement from Marcus Aurelius
“Do not think that what is hard for you to master is humanly impossible; and if it is humanly possible, consider it to be within your reach.”
“You want praise from people who kick themselves every fifteen minutes, the approval of people who despise themselves. (Is it a sign of self-respect to regret nearly everything you do?)”
“When jarred, unavoidably, by circumstance, revert at once to yourself, and don’t lose the rhythm more than you can help. You’ll have a better group of harmony if you keep on going back to it.”
“Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.”
Stoic Quotes on Self Confidence & Improvement from Epictetus
“The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own.”
“If you are tempted to look outside yourself for approval, you have compromised your integrity.”
Stoic Quotes on Self Confidence & Improvement from Seneca
“I judge you unfortunate because you have never lived through misfortune. You have passed through life without an opponent—no one can ever know what you are capable of, not even you.“
“How does it help to make troubles heavier by bemoaning them?“
“It’s not because things are difficult that we dare not venture. It’s because we dare not venture that they are difficult.“