Paradoxa Stoicorum

In this brief but powerful work, Cicero brings the provocative edge of Stoic philosophy to life. The Paradoxa Stoicorum presents six bold claims that challenge common assumptions about happiness, wealth, freedom, and beauty. With characteristic rhetorical flair, Cicero argues that virtue alone guarantees a happy life, that only the wise are truly rich, and that everyone who lacks wisdom is a slave. Written in the twilight of the Roman Republic, this treatise is both a philosophical manifesto and a practical guide to inner resilience. This modern edition renders Cicero’s Latin into clear, present-day English, preserving the force of his argument while making the Stoic paradoxes accessible to today’s reader. Whether you are new to Stoicism or returning to it, these pages offer enduring insights into what it means to live well. Part of The Modern Wisdom Library.