Two Types of People: A Stoic Perspective on Living in the World or Above It
In observing human nature, one can discern two distinct types of people. The first is deeply entrenched in the world, tethered to the ebb and flow of society, affected by the actions of others, and whose happiness is dependent on external circumstances. The second, by contrast, walks a different path—one governed by an internal compass, rooted in self-sufficiency and a connection to nature rather than the tumult of human affairs. These two modes of existence are not merely personality traits; they represent fundamental philosophical orientations toward life. Through the lens of Stoicism, we can explore the implications of each and discern which leads to true fulfillment.
The Externally Governed Life
The first type of person is one who lives within and for the world, finding meaning, happiness, and validation in the approval of others. Their joys and sorrows are dictated by social trends, relationships, and external successes or failures. The Stoics would caution against such a way of life, recognizing its inherent instability. As Epictetus warns, "If you are ever disturbed by something external, it is not the thing itself that troubles you, but only your judgment of it."
This individual seeks happiness in transient things: the praise of society, the accumulation of wealth, or the pursuit of status. Their identity is intertwined with external validation, leaving them vulnerable to disappointment, suffering, and manipulation. When the world turns against them, as it inevitably does at times, they feel adrift, powerless against forces beyond their control.
Seneca, in his writings, reminds us that such a person lives in constant fear, saying, "He who suffers before it is necessary suffers more than is necessary." The fear of losing what they hold dear, of falling from grace, or of being abandoned by those whose approval they seek keeps them in a state of perpetual anxiety.
The Internally Governed Life
In contrast, the second type of person lives by their own code, seeking solace not in the fickle tides of human opinion but in the unchanging truths of nature and the self. This is the Stoic ideal—the one who recognizes that virtue and wisdom are the only true goods and that external circumstances are neither inherently good nor bad, but simply indifferent.
Marcus Aurelius, the Stoic emperor, speaks to this principle in Meditations: "You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." The internally governed person does not concern themselves with the judgments of others but rather focuses on their own moral character, their actions, and their alignment with nature’s rhythm.
Nature, in its vast and unperturbed majesty, offers an eternal refuge. The Stoics often looked to it for guidance—seeing in its cycles and resilience a model for their own lives. To live in accordance with nature means to accept change, to recognize impermanence, and to embrace each moment with equanimity.
Which Path Leads to True Freedom?
It is not difficult to see which of these two types of people experiences greater peace. The one bound to the world is at the mercy of forces outside their control. The one bound to inner principles, however, remains unshaken by the turbulence of life.
Stoicism teaches us that happiness comes not from the external world but from the discipline of the mind. It is within our own judgments, values, and attitudes that we find true freedom. As Epictetus put it, "No man is free who is not master of himself."
This does not mean that one should retreat entirely from the world. Marcus Aurelius himself was an emperor, engaged in the affairs of his people, yet he remained unshaken because he understood the distinction between what he could control and what he could not. The key is not to reject society altogether but to exist within it without being enslaved by it.
The Choice Before Us
Every person faces a choice: to live at the mercy of the world, dependent on others for happiness, or to cultivate inner strength and seek fulfillment within. The former leads to frustration, fear, and an endless pursuit of something always just out of reach. The latter leads to tranquility, resilience, and a life well-lived.
The great Stoics implore us to choose wisely. In the end, the measure of a life is not in the things we accumulate, the recognition we receive, or the affections we command, but in how steadfastly we adhere to virtue, how unwaveringly we maintain our principles, and how deeply we align ourselves with the natural order of existence.
One path leads to dependence; the other to true freedom. The choice is ours to make.
References
Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations.
Epictetus. Discourses.
Seneca. Letters from a Stoic.
Holiday, Ryan. The Daily Stoic.
Pigliucci, Massimo. How to Be a Stoic.