Stoic philosophy teaches us to live, not in accordance with ideals or emotions, but with reason. This means having a deeper appreciation for life, its finitude, and the people around us who we share life with. Within the context of a relationship, it is clear then how Stoic philosophy applies.

According to the Dutch Golden-Age philosopher Baruch Spinoza, humans are captured by —in “bondage” to— their emotions, causing them to live substandard lives. It is only through reason and understanding reality that we can overcome the substandard life, by regulating our emotions, according to Spinoza.