Book of Isms: The Economist

Biography: Lived circa 55-135 AD. Greek stoic. Lived in Rome, initially as a slave.

"Freedom is secured not by the fulfilling of one’s desires, but by the removal of desire."

- Epictetus

• Insight: Life is suffering, suffering is the result of desires, there is a way to stop suffering, the way to stop suffering is the Eightfold Path - correct views, intention, speech, conduct, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration.
• Insight: Buddhists do not believe in any god, but in the Four Noble Truths.
• Insight: Through ethical conduct and discipline, we can achieve nirvana - being free of suffering.

• Insight: Stoicism, the indifference to hardship or pain, was founded and taught by Zeno of Citium (335-263BCE) in Athens.
• Insight: Stoicism derives its name from the 'Stoa Poikile' or painted porch where Zeno taught.
• Insight: Zeno believed that virtue, based on reason involves living in harmony with fate, and that we should free ourselves from passion and emotion.