How did Stoic philosophers view human emotions?

Stoic philosophers viewed emotions, or pathē, as irrational and detrimental to a well-lived life. They believed these emotions, such as pain, fear, desire, and pleasure, should be entirely extirpated. The Stoic ideal was apatheia, a state of being free from such passions. This perspective contrasted with other schools like the Aristotelians, who sought a balance, and the Epicureans, who prioritized pleasure. Early Stoics, including Zeno of Citium, advocated for the complete eradication of pathē. Later Stoics, like Panaetius, introduced a compromise by distinguishing between good and bad emotions, reintroducing the concept of a "golden mean". The core Stoic belief was that true good lies in wisdom and virtue, which are within an individual's control, unlike external circumstances or desires.12