Stoic Quotes

 

                        Photo by Dajana Reçi

 “I cannot escape death, but at least I can escape the fear of it.”

Epictetus 

 Death Is Inevitable, But Panic Is Optional

There’s a quote that often floats around the more philosophical corners of the internet (and probably printed on a coffee mug in a monk's kitchen somewhere):  

“I cannot escape death, but at least I can escape the fear of it.”  

At first glance, it sounds a little grim—like something you’d say dramatically while staring into the abyss after binge-watching too much true crime shows. But give it a moment, and it might just be one of the most liberating words you'll ever hear.

Check out this week's Podcast 👇 🙂 

Let’s break it down:  

Death? Unavoidable.  

Fear of death? Totally optional.

This little gem of wisdom—attributed to the Stoic philosopher Epictetus—is a philosophical mic drop. He’s not saying “You Only Live Once” in the reckless, energy drink-fueled way. He’s saying, “You’re gonna die eventually, but how you truly feel about it is 100% up to you.” This is surprisingly empowering, and If I may say so, kind of comforting.

Step 1: Accept That You’re Not Special (In a Good Way)

The ultimate equalizer is death. It doesn't give a damn about how many avocado toasts you've had, how many LinkedIn endorsements you have, or your Wordle streak. Eventually, everyone leaves this party with a ticket. This fact may be unsettling or oddly soothing. What a strange and unjust cosmic lottery it would be if only some people had to perish. It's a group excursion, though. Nobody is falling behind. It's similar to the best team-building activity, but it involves more existential contemplation and fewer trust falls.

 Step 2: Fear of Death Is Just Fear of the Unknown… With a Cloak

Why, therefore, do we initially fear death? It's usually because we don't really know what will happen next. The best "loading screen" without a status bar is this one. The worst part is that fearing it doesn't make it any different. I'm sorry, everyone, but it doesn't delay it, make it better, or even make it more dramatic.

For something you can't control later, fear simply steals your peace in the present moment. That would be like constantly worried that a meteor might land on your lunch meal. Is it possible? Yes maybe in a technical sense. However, should you give up sandwiches? Not at all.

Step 3: Take a Cue From the Stoics (They Had It Together)

Stoic philosophers like Epictetus were basically the ancient world’s version of chilled out life coaches. Their whole vibe was about just accepting what you can’t control and mastering your inner world. To them, fearing death was like fearing the next day's sunrise. It’s natural, inevitable, and completely outside your jurisdiction.

Instead of fixating on death, they suggest focusing on just living well everyday. You’ve got time, breath into your lungs, and out. That’s a solid start.

Step 4: Laugh a Little—Even at Death

One of our biggest defenses against fear is humor. Even though death is a serious topic, you may still have fun with it. Writing a will and telling your pets that you love them are responsible ways to prepare for the inevitable. You can also find comfort in the knowledge that your fear need not follow you about for the rest of your life.

Consider this: Wouldn't it be more entertaining to make the intermediate chapters of your life book crazy, strange, and happy if death is the story's conclusion? You can certainly fill the pages with some spice, dance parties, and sunbathing, even though you may not have any influence over how the book concludes.

Final Thoughts

So yeah, death? It’s coming for all of us, probably when we least expect it—like a surprise pop quiz from the universe. But the having fear of it? That’s just optional baggage you can leave behind. Epictetus knew how to manage that, and now, so do you.

In the meantime, get out there and live like someone who isn’t afraid of what’s waiting at the finish line. Smile at passerby strangers, wear the cool happy socks, and eat the really good dark chocolate. After all, you can’t escape death… but you can definitely escape living like you're already dead.

Thanks for reading. Please leave a comment below so we can engage in positive conversation and if you have not done so already Please Subscribe. If you love listening to podcasts then you follow me by clicking here👉 Wise Mindset Guy Podcast