Stoicism · The Stoic Way, part 15 of 20 · 4 October 2026 · Charlotte Himsworth
The Four Virtues
Wisdom, courage, justice and temperance: the only true goods.
If the dichotomy of control tells us where to put our energy, the four virtues tell us how to use it. For the Stoics, they were the heart of a good life.
Wisdom
Wisdom is seeing clearly: knowing what is truly good, what is harmful, and what is neither. It helps us tell the difference between what matters and what merely glitters.
Courage
Courage is not the absence of fear, but acting rightly in its presence: speaking up, trying again, facing pain, change and uncertainty with an open heart.
Justice
Justice, for the Stoics, included fairness, honesty and kindness. Because all people share in reason, we owe each other respect and care. Justice turns philosophy outwards, towards our families, communities and the world.
Temperance
Temperance is moderation and self-mastery: enough, not excess. It is the golden mean of the ancients, found in what we eat, how we speak, how we rest and how we spend our time.
What about everything else?
Health, wealth, reputation and comfort are not bad. The Stoics called them “preferred indifferents”: welcome when they come, wisely used, but never the measure of a good life. Character is the one thing that is always ours.
A simple practice
Choose one virtue for this week. Each evening, write one moment where you practised it, and one where you could try again. Small, steady steps build character.