Wisdom from the Stoics
The Stoics believed in this idea of Sympatheia: When other people suffer, we suffer. When the world suffers, we suffer.
To the Stoics, we are all part of the same larger organism. We are all unified and share the same substance. We breathe the same air. We share the same hopes and dreams. We are all descended from the same long chain of evolution — and this is true no matter what race you are, no matter where you come from, or what you believe.
When we understand that our lives are inextricably bound up in others’, and that our actions will directly or indirectly come back to affect us, maybe we’ll see more reasons to not hurt people.
Till I write to you again, do forget to do this:
Remember the Golden Rule and live by it:
“Do unto others as you would like it to be done unto you.”
Pray when you’re scared or feel like complaining.
Smile.
Remember that you have two hands; one to help people, and the other to help yourself.
— Dee.