This word originates from the Old French “fleumatique,” which derives from the Greek “phlegmatikos,” meaning “inflammation.” Whereas “inflammation” is a bodily reaction to injury or infection, phlegmatic people are noted for their lack of reaction. These stoic people may be said to have a “stiff upper lip” in Britain, but the phlegmatic philosophy is rooted in ancient Greece. The Spartans developed a strict culture of discipline that would one day act as inspiration for the British public school system.