I blame the English dictionary for a good chunk of the misconceptions about Stoicism. Look up the word ‘stoic’ there and you’ll find something like, “a person who can endure pain or hardship without showing their feelings or complaining.” Or maybe it’s the wealth of social media accounts that associate imagery of ultra rugged men alongside quotes from famous Stoics. Whatever the reason, there is quite a bit of misconception about Stoicism out there. This article clears up eight common misconceptions about Stoicism.
1. “Stoics suppress their emotions and feel nothing.”
It’s a common misunderstanding to think that Stoicism advocates repressing emotions entirely. Stoics, practitioners of Stoicism, that is, aim to cultivate “apatheia” (freedom from destructive emotions) rather than apathy in the modern sense. They don’t ignore emotions. Rather, they strive to understand them, master them, and respond in ways that align with virtues and their values. Believing Stoicism is about “not showing emotions” oversimplifies this rich and practical philosophy focused on emotional resilience and balance.
2. “Stoicism is all about ‘toughing it out’ and self-denial.”
Stoicism is about resilience. It’s not gritting your teeth, rise and grind, or living an austere life for its own sake. Stoics value tranquility and happiness, which come from aligning actions with virtues like wisdom, courage, and justice—not merely from enduring hardship. The idea is to manage desires and focus on what truly matters rather than forcing yourself to “tough it out”.
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3. “Stoics believe in fate, so everything is predetermined.”
Stoics accept that many aspects of life are outside our control, which is why they focus on mastering their responses to life’s ups and downs. But they also believe in the power of personal agency within those boundaries. Saying Stoics are “fatalistic” misses the mark; they work actively to respond to life rationally and virtuously, despite the unpredictability of the world.
4. “Stoicism is about positive thinking.”
Stoicism is not about positivity in the “conceive, believe, achieve” self-help sense. Instead, it teaches rationality, groundedness, and acceptance. While Stoics cultivate a calm acceptance of life’s ups and downs, they are not advocates of optimism without reason. Stoicism is actually more about seeing things as they are and focusing on what can be controlled, rather than “thinking positively” about everything.
5. “The goal of Stoicism is to be ‘unaffected’ by anything.”
While Stoics aim to cultivate inner calm, this doesn’t mean they strive to be completely detached or indifferent. Their goal is not to feel nothing but to reduce the sway of excessive emotions. Stoicism teaches us to engage with the world—just not to be dominated by impulses and passions. Their teachings focus on appropriate responses to emotions rather than avoiding emotions altogether.
Related article: Ataraxia: How Stoics Achieve Equanimity
6. “If you’re a Stoic, you don’t care about other people.”
Some interpret Stoicism as a cold, self-centered philosophy. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Stoics care deeply about the common good and human interconnection. They advocate treating others fairly, acting justly, and fulfilling one’s role in society to make the world a better place.
Related article: Interconnection & Its Connection With Stoicism
7. “Marcus Aurelius and Seneca were perfect Stoics, so we should emulate them exactly.”
Stoics see even these figures as imperfect practitioners who strove to live by their principles. Anyone who practices Stoicism will struggle and fall short sometimes. Stoicism isn’t about hero-worship; it’s about continuously striving toward self-improvement, understanding that perfection is out of reach.
8. “Stoicism is a ‘hack’ for modern productivity.”
Stoic techniques like the dichotomy of control or negative visualization can help with focus and resilience, but framing it as a “life hack” for productivity trivializes the philosophy. Stoicism is fundamentally about cultivating inner virtue, moral character, and alignment with your own values, not just getting more done in the day.
Final thoughts
I’ve definitely made mistakes in writing about Stoicism and trying to incorporate its teachings into my personal conduct. I’m no historian. I’ve read books like Lives of the Stoics by Ryan Holiday (paid link) to gain historical perspective, but I only remember a handful of names and dates. That’s OK. What matters is that I’m trying to develop my character and Stoicism continues to be a useful framework for doing that. If you’re new or not-so-new to Stoicism, hopefully this article has cleared up some common misconceptions about Stoicism, and hopefully that helps you discover its purpose, which is to help you live a principled life.
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