Stoics in the Modern World - Critical Thinking Secrets

Many people think that the word stoicism is just for the leaders of ancient civilizations that you only hear about in history books. The term was made famous by great philosophers like Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus. However, you might be surprised to find that there are more people who practice stoicism in today’s world than you might think.

In this article, we are going to introduce you to 5 modern-day stoics who might surprise you. These people are celebrities, athletes, and content creators that you probably are already a fan of, but you may never have realized that their beliefs align with the ancient stoic philosophy.

Contents

1 What is stoicism?

2 Who are 5 modern-day stoics?

What is stoicism?

Stoicism has become something of a buzzword in society today, but many people still aren’t totally sure what it is.

In its simplest form, the practice of being stoic involves having little to no outward emotion towards the things that happen in life. This means that anything that causes great joy, sadness, or anger will all elicit the same calm, collected response from someone who practices stoicism.

The reason why stoics don’t react strongly to any of the things that happen in their lives is that they believe that nothing is all that important. They believe that everyone is on an equal field and that good and bad things happen, but that they are not worth either celebrating or worrying about.

Who are 5 modern-day stoics?

Now that you know what stoicism is, let’s talk about who you might know that practices stoicism. Again, the names on this list may surprise you.

Let’s talk about 5 modern-day stoics that you most likely already know.

Ryan Holiday

If you know anything at all about stoicism, Ryan Holiday is probably one of the first names that will come to mind. To many, he is considered the father of the modern-day stoicism movement.

Ryan Holiday was first introduced to stoicism when he was a student. He was introduced to the works of Marcus Aurelius during this time and found a deep connection to the philosophy of stoicism.

Studying stoicism opened up an entirely new world for Holiday and it quickly became a passion for him to live a stoic life, and it wasn’t long before he was sharing his love for stoicism with the world.

Ryan Holiday has written multiple books on the art of stoicism including his best seller, The Daily Stoic. He also has a podcast and a robust website dedicated to all things stoicism.

Tom Brady

Many people have spent decades trying to understand what Tom Brady’s secret sauce is. As one of the best football quarterbacks in NFL history, his success and skill are widely loved (and even hated) by football fans.

One of his best qualities is that he seems to be able to stay calm during even the most stressful plays during the game. He maintains a straight face and is able to perform at a high level even when the execution of critical game-winning plays relies on him.

So how does he do it? He credits much of his attitude and ability to remain centered during these trying moments to stoicism. He has been known to quote Marcus Aurelius in interviews and social media posts, further proof that he is a student of stoicism.

Tim Ferriss

Tim Ferriss is a well-known entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and more. He has gained tremendous success in recent years, and he has stoicism to thank for much of it.

Ferriss makes it a point to talk about stoicism any chance he gets. He has been open about its influence on his life since 2009, well before stoicism was as trendy as it is now. He is a big fan of all the stoics but admits to connecting most with the works of Lucius Seneca.

He is one of the main voices in the modern-day stoicism movement because he believes so strongly in the philosophy as a lifestyle. He talks about it regularly on his blog, podcast, and even during speaking engagements as well.

Anna Kendrick

Although it might seem like most of the modern-day stoics are men, even female celebrities like Anna Kendrick are influenced by this ancient philosophy as well.

This might help you realize that many people practice stoicism even if it doesn’t seem like it. The beauty of stoicism is that it’s a practice, so you can work towards it without having to execute it perfectly every day. There is a spectrum of stoicism and it will look different for everyone.

Anna Kendricks has mentioned in several interviews that she has been actively working on practicing stoicism in her life. She keeps a copy of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius on her bookshelf so that she can reference it when she is having a difficult time remaining stoic.

Admittedly, Kendrick says that she struggles with stoicism at times because her natural state is one of more stress and high emotion. Her openness in discussing that stoicism is a work in progress rather than a practice that has to be perfect is inspiring to many aspiring stoics.

Robert Greene

Robert Greene has written six best-selling books, including his most recent book which he co-wrote with rapper 50 Cent, The 50th Law. He has appeared on numerous podcasts and in blogs to talk about his thoughts on things like behavior, relationship dynamics, and the why behind it all.

Robert Greene has been a student of the stoic philosophy for over three decades, so he is something of a master on the topic. His interest in stoicism started when he began to research for his books and he discovered the work of Seneca and Aurelius.

Greene writes about human behavior including power dynamics, strategy, and even seduction. His books are known to be somewhat heavy in terms of the subject matter, but fans of his state that his books are truly life-changing.

His books are deeply rooted in psychology and in understanding why humans act the way they do. To date, he’s sold millions of copies worldwide and his work is revered by many. Much of his work draws on stoic philosophies as he weaves the concepts into his work in many different ways.