Stoic Evening Examination
Stoicism
Seneca
Letters to Lucilius by Seneca (c. 65 CE), Letter 83; Enchiridion by Epictetus (c. 135 CE)
The Stoics practiced daily philosophical self-examination as a spiritual discipline. Seneca describes the nightly practice in his Letters to Lucilius: "I examine my entire day... I conceal nothing from myself. I pass nothing by." Epictetus, drawing on the Golden Verses of Pythagoras, instructs students to ask three questions each night before sleep.
Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BCE - 65 CE) was a Roman Stoic philosopher and playwright. Epictetus (c. 50-135 CE) was a former slave who became one of the most influential Stoic teachers. Modern Stoicism is an academic and practitioner community that applies Stoic philosophy to contemporary life.
Tips
- A physical journal makes patterns visible across weeks. Seneca practiced this review before sleeping, in the quiet after his household had settled. - Beginners often find that simply reviewing the day honestly generates more insight than reaching the formal questions. - The Stoics considered this a form of philosophical training, not punishment. The aim is to see clearly, not to suffer.