The ancient philosophers LOVED a wander. We’ve taken a stroll through some of their philosophies to find some ancient insights as freshly useful today as when they were first thought. Slip one of these quotes into your shoe and head for a wander. See what happens?
Get outdoors, asap!
“We should take wandering outdoor walks, so that the mind might be nourished and refreshed by the open air and deep breathing.”
— Seneca, from ON TRANQUILITY OF MIND, 17.8
Listen more than you speak
“To the youngster talking nonsense Zeno said, ‘The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is so we might listen more and talk less.’”
— Diogenes Laertius, from LIVES OF EMINENT PHILOSOPHERS, 7.1.23
Focus on the present moment
“Don’t let your reflection on the whole sweep of life crush you. Don’t fill your mind with all the bad things that might still happen. Stay focused on the present situation and ask yourself why it’s so unbearable and can’t be survived.”
— Marcus Aurelius, from MEDITATIONS, 8.36
Keep steady now
“If then it’s not that the things you pursue or avoid are coming at you, but rather that you in a sense are seeking them out, at least try to keep your judgment of them steady, and they too will remain calm and you won’t be seen chasing after or fleeing from them.”
— Marcus Aurelius, from MEDITATIONS, 11.11
Take the long way round
“You could enjoy this very moment all the things you are praying to reach by taking the long way around — if you’d stop depriving yourself of them.”
— Marcus Aurelius, from MEDITATIONS, 12.1
Get curious about your obstacles!
“While it’s true that someone can impede our actions, they can’t impede our intentions and our attitudes, which have the power of being conditional and adaptable. For the mind adapts and converts any obstacle to its action into a means of achieving it. That which is an impediment to action is turned to advance action. The obstacle on the path becomes the way.”
— Marcus Aurelius, from MEDITATIONS, 5.20
For more on this vivid connection between walking and the ancient philosophers, we loved this piece by Donald J Robertson, How To Walk Like A Stoic.
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Inspired? Fancy some more Street Wisdom in 2023? Join a Walkshop near you, or head out for your own wander right now with our Tune Ups. Buy your own copy of Wanderful, all profits go back into Street Wisdom to help keep it free. Share your insights and follow us @StreetWisdom_
