The Stoics themselves recognized that the Stoic Wise Man is a rare phenomenon - "as rare as the bird the Phoenix." An almost unattainable ideal, which nonetheless always remains the supreme goal, and which is identical with perfect happiness.

The Wise Man is like God; they differ only in that the Wise Man is mortal and lacks in the beneficent power; however, among two wise individuals, the wealthiest is not necessarily the best. The ideal of the Stoic Wise Man always exists to show us how we could be and how it is worth being. It is the standard by which we judge ourselves and evaluate our actions.

The 4 university lectures that make up the book clarify the true meaning of Stoicism; they examine the evolution and revisions that took place during its 6 centuries of existence, the misunderstandings it has faced over time, and what Stoicism actually means in practice. [Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]