Stoic Quotes About Anxiety: Wisdom from Seneca, Aurelius, and Epictetus

Anxiety is the fear of what hasn’t happened — the belief that what’s outside of you can determine your peace.

Anxiety is the fear of what hasn’t happened — the belief that what’s outside of you can determine your peace.
The Stoics saw through this illusion. For them, anxiety wasn’t a problem to eliminate, but a signal to re-examine what you’re trying to control.

These quotes were handpicked by Jon, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, for their ability to help you challenge anxious thinking and regain perspective.

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📜 Stoic Quotes on Anxiety

“When I see an anxious person, I ask myself, what do they want? For if a person wasn’t wanting something outside of their own control, why would they be stricken by anxiety?”
‍— Epictetus

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“Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions—not outside.”
‍— Marcus Aurelius

“We are more often frightened than hurt; and we suffer more from imagination than from reality.”
‍— Seneca

“You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
‍— Seneca

“Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.”
‍— Epictetus

“What upsets people is not things themselves, but their judgments about these things.”
‍— Epictetus

“Learn to be indifferent to what makes no difference.”
‍— Marcus Aurelius

“The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.”
‍— Marcus Aurelius

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✍️ How to Use These Quotes

• Pick one quote each morning and journal about how it applies to your current anxieties
• Write the quote by hand to internalize its message
• Use one quote as your mantra during the day whenever anxiety arises

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Looking for more? Read our full reflection:

👉 On Anxiety: How to Understand and Journal Through It

Or get started with:

👉 10 Journaling Prompts to Process Anxiety

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Want to know more about the philosophers behind these quotes?

Meet the minds behind the wisdom:  

→ Who is Seneca?

→ Who is Marcus Aurelius?

→ Who is Epictetus?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Stoics talk so much about anxiety?

Because they believed inner peace depends on what we control — our judgments, not external events. Anxiety often signals we’ve lost sight of that.

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Can a quote really help during anxious moments?

Yes. A quote can interrupt the spiral, refocus your thoughts, and remind you what matters.

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Where can I save or revisit these quotes?

You can favorite them and use them for journaling inside the Stoic app.

FAQ updated on Jun 20th, 2025