“the willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life—is the source from which self-respect springs.” (Location 2365)
Note: Chharcter
We have to quit monkeying around and be the owners of our own lives. (Location 2366)
New highlights added August 12, 2021 at 3:46 PM
“People used to tell me that business administration is for the practical life and philosophy is for the spirit,” he said. “Through the years I found it is exactly the opposite—I used philosophy much more practically.” War and leadership offer an unending series of ethical decisions that require (Location 2377)
priorities, balance, and clarity. That’s what philosophy helps with. (Location 2379)
Is it really so strange to treat your own life as seriously as you might treat an idea for a business? (Location 2406)
“In your actions, don’t procrastinate. In your conversations, don’t confuse. In your thoughts, don’t wander. In your soul, don’t be passive or aggressive. In your life, don’t be all about business.” —MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, (Location 2408)
Great teachers are usually hardest on their most promising students. (Location 2431)
Early promise can lead to overconfidence and create bad habits. (Location 2433)
The answer to the question “Why did you do the right thing?” should always be “Because it was the right thing to do.” (Location 2439)
“As Plato said, every soul is deprived of truth against its will. The same holds true for justice, self-control, goodwill to others, and every similar virtue. It’s essential to constantly keep this in your mind, for it will make you more gentle to all.” (Location 2477)
“Whenever you have trouble getting up in the morning, remind yourself that you’ve been made by nature for the purpose of working with others, whereas even unthinking animals share sleeping. (Location 2503)
“Nothing is noble if it’s done unwillingly or under compulsion. Every noble deed is voluntary.” (Location 2514)
A well-meaning friend might ask you today: “What do you think about [insert tragedy from the other side of the world]?” You, in your equally well-meaning concern, might say, “I just feel awful about it.” In this scenario, (Location 2538)
It can be so easy to get distracted by, even consumed by, horrible news from all over the world. The proper response of the Stoic to these events is not to not care, but mindless, meaningless sympathy does very little either (Location 2541)
If there is something you can actually do to help these suffering people, then, yes, the disturbing news (and your reaction to it) has relevance to your reasoned choice. If emoting is the end of your participation, then you ought to get back to your own individual duty—to yourself, to your family, to your country. (Location 2542)
Sometimes our professional commitments can become an end unto themselves. A politician might justify the neglect of his family for his office, or a writer might believe her “genius” excuses antisocial or selfish behavior. Anyone with some perspective can see that, in fact, the politician is really just in love with fame, and the writer enjoys being condescending and feeling superior. Workaholics always make excuses for their selfishness. (Location 2551)
all evil needs to prevail is for good men to do nothing. It’s not enough to just not do evil. You must also be a force for good in the world, as best you can. (Location 2564)
Money creates problems. Climbing one mountain exposes another, higher peak. There is never enough love. (Location 2575)
At the end of a frustrating exchange, you might find yourself thinking, Ugh, this person is such an idiot. Or asking, Why can’t they just do things right? But not everyone has had the advantages that you’ve had. That’s not to say that your own life has been easy—you just had a head start over some people. That’s why it is our duty to understand and be patient with others. (Location 2584)
We want things to go perfectly, so we tell ourselves that we’ll get started once the conditions are right, or once we have our bearings. When, really, it’d be better to focus on making do with how things actually are. (Location 2634)
This is how we can respond to even the most disabling turns of fate—by working within whatever room is left. Nothing can prevent us from learning. (Location 2647)
There were always distractions, always so many things to do—and the writer’s block and insecurity that plagues creative types traveled with him wherever he went. (Location 2661)
We tell ourselves that we need the right setup before we finally buckle down and get serious. Or we tell ourselves that some vacation or time alone will be good for a relationship or an ailment. This is self-deceit at its finest. (Location 2662)
“Silence is a lesson learned from the many sufferings of life.” —SENECA, THYESTES, 309 (Location 2679)
The inexperienced and fearful talk to reassure themselves. The ability to listen, to deliberately keep out of a conversation and subsist without its validity is rare. Silence is a way to build strength and self-sufficiency. (Location 2685)
“Apply yourself to thinking through difficulties—hard times can be softened, tight squeezes widened, and heavy loads made lighter for those who can apply the right pressure.” —SENECA, ON TRANQUILITY OF MIND, (Location 2688)
Defeatism won’t get you anywhere (except defeat). But focusing your entire effort on the little bit of room, the tiny scrap of an opportunity, is your best shot. (Location 2695)
“Wherever a person can live, there one can also live well; life is also in the demands of court, there too one can live well.” (Location 2699)
“Don’t tell yourself anything more than what the initial impressions report. It’s been reported to you that someone is speaking badly about you. This is the report—the report wasn’t that you’ve been harmed. I see that my son is sick—but not that his life is at risk. So always stay within your first impressions, and don’t add to them in your head—this way nothing can happen to you.” (Location 2723)
Pragmatism has no such hang-ups. It’ll take what it can get. That’s what Epictetus is reminding us. We’re never going to be perfect—if there is even such a thing. We’re human, after all. (Location 2742)
There is no time to chop logic over whether our theories are correct. We’re dealing with the real world here. What matters is how you’re going to deal with this situation right in front of you and whether you’re going to be able to move past it and onto the next one. (Location 2751)
