Gaius Musonius Rufus (/ˈruːfəs/; Ancient Greek: Μουσώνιος Ῥοῦφος) was a Roman Stoic philosopher of the 1st century AD.
[3] While Gyaros was "harsh and devoid of human culture",[4] Musonius was able to survive and form a small community of philosophers.
[7] When the party of Vitellius gained the upper hand, Musonius was able to accuse, and obtain the conviction of, Publius Egnatius Celer, the Stoic philosopher who had condemned Barea Soranus.
[12] The titles of the 21 discourses (Cora Lutz edition) are as follows: His philosophy, which is in many respects identical with that of his pupil, Epictetus, is marked by its strong practical tendency.
[14] He does not reject logic: he regards it as a proof of a weak mind to decline to examine the fallacy which perplexes it;[15] yet at the same time he expresses his disgust at the multitude of dogmas which fed the vanity of the sophists.
[17] He agrees that it is easy to follow one's own nature, and the only great impediment which he can find to a truly moral life is the prejudices with which the mind is filled from childhood, and the evil habits confirmed by practices.
[18] He distinguishes two kinds of practice: the exercise of the mind in reflection and the adoption of good rules in life, and the endurance of bodily pains which affect both the soul and the body.
[19] He combats all selfishness, and regards marriage not merely as becoming and natural, but as the principle of the family and state, and the preservation of the whole human race.