Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why did Stoics believe that wisdom and virtue were more important than wealth or physical pleasure?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Marble bust of Pythagoras, the ancient Greek mathematician and philosopher, showing a bearded man with a head covering and calm expression. — History of ethics Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras, portrait bust.

Stoics believed that wisdom and virtue were the only true goods because they are matters of the intellect and remain entirely under an individual's control. By identifying with reason rather than physical desire, a person becomes protected from the unpredictable "play of fortune" that dictates the acquisition or loss of material wealth and physical pleasure.1

While Stoics acknowledged that humans experience physical sensations, they maintained that a wise person distinguishes between wanting something and judging it to be good. They rejected passions as a basis for moral judgment, arguing that physical pain or the lack of pleasure cannot touch the "true reasoning self". Because the capacity for reason is a universal human trait, the pursuit of a virtuous life is accessible to everyone, regardless of their external circumstances or social status. Ultimately, for the Stoic, living in a state of wisdom and virtue is the only path to a good life that cannot be taken away by external events.1