During the 300's B.C., a philosopher named Zeno taught in Athens. He was called a Stoic philosopher because he taught at place called the Stoa.

Stoicism taught that the only use of knowledge was, to help man find his proper place in Nature. It was man's duty to accept cheerfully whatever came - poverty, disease, or even death - secure in the knowledge that it was all for the best. A Stoic would ask wether or not each event was in his power. If it were in his power he could shape it as he wished. If it were not, he could accept it as fate. He believed that to worry over events beyond his control was useless.