ZENO THE STOIC (335-263 BC) "It does not matter what you bear, but how you bear it"

Zeno was a business-man turned philosopher. The philosophy he developed, Stoicism, derives its name from the covered porch, the stoa, where its founder, Zeno, shared his insight with others.

Today, to be stoical is to face hardship with fortitude. However, Stoicism was a complex doctrine which saw a universe ordered by a divine principle of order, the Logos (the Word or Reason). Only through submission of individual will to the laws of nature as determined by the Logos, could man achieve inner peace and tranquillity. The law to which he yields is at once the law of the universe and the law of his own nature. Zeno describes this as "life in agreement with nature".

The wise man sees the good in all situations, is free from passion and free from vanity. He is earnest and vigilant in self improvement, in cultivating his soul. Zeno identifies the primary virtues as being wisdom, courage, justice and temperance. He was the first to devise the concept of duty as being right and proper conduct, for doing one's duty meant undertaking actions in keeping with universal law.