The Daily Stoic The Stoic All the Stoics Admired
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May 8, 2026 A vivid look at Cato the Younger as a living example of Stoic courage and character. Short takes on restraint in speech, valuing obscurity, and austere habits as moral training. Discussions cover standing for justice, using privilege to protect others, and Stoic exercises like voluntary hardship and silence.
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Speak Only When It Matters
- Speak only when what you say is better than silence.
- Ryan recalls advice from his first Hollywood job and links it to Cato's rule: don't talk to fill space; speak with purpose and confidence.
Practice Standing Alone Daily
- Practice living differently to prepare for moments when you must stand alone.
- Cato dressed plainly and endured ridicule daily so when confronting Caesar or corruption he was already accustomed to standing apart.
Justice Means Standing For The Little Guy
- Stoicism links virtue to using privilege to protect others.
- Ryan argues justice means speaking up for the powerless and asks 'If not you, then who? If not now, then when?'.
