Every dictator's obsession is one

Human language evolved from simple communication to a sophisticated and complex way because humans love gossip.


Yuval Noah Harari

NO ONE HAS A GUN TO YOUR HEAD

“Nothing is noble if it’s done unwillingly or under compulsion. Every noble deed is voluntary.”
—SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 66.16b

You don’t have to do the right thing. You always have the option to be selfish, rude, awful, shortsighted, pedantic, evil, or stupid.


In fact, sometimes there are incentives to break bad. Certainly, not every criminal gets caught. But how does this line of thinking usually work out for people? What’s that life like?

You don’t have to do the right thing, just as you don’t have to do your duty. You get to. You want to.

RECEIVE HONORS AND SLIGHTS EXACTLY THE SAME WAY

“Receive without pride, let go without attachment.”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 8.33

In the midst of the breakdown of the Roman Republic, during the civil war between Pompey and Caesar, Pompey made the decision to give control of the military fleet to Cato. It was a massive honor and hugely powerful position. But then a few days later, responding to the protests of his jealous inner circle, Pompey reversed his decision and took the command away. It could have been seen as an enormous public humiliation—to be given a promotion and then have it taken away.


The record shows that Cato’s reaction was basically nothing. He responded to the honor and the dishonor the same way: with indifference and acceptance. He certainly didn’t let it affect his support for the cause. In fact, after the snub, he worked to rally the soldiers before battle with inspirational speeches—the very men who should have been under his command.

That’s what Marcus is saying. Do not take the slights of the day personally—or the exciting rewards and recognitions either, especially when duty has assigned you an important cause. Trivial details like the rise and fall of your position say nothing about you as a person. Only your behavior—as Cato’s did— will.

Shabbat Shalom

Shabbat update
Stay tuned👇👇👇

This is the shot the BROKE Jake Paul

I ain't no a fan of Jake Paul but the nigga got heart
Fighting AJ is crazy

Andrew Tate has a fight today btw

Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

#Churchሂዱ
@chrstian_316

Some call it GOD'S equation

“Don’t kill what you hate,
Save what you love.”

— Elon Musk

SOMEWHERE SOMEONE’S DYING

“Whenever disturbing news is delivered to you, bear in mind that no news can ever be relevant to your reasoned choice. Can anyone break news to you that your assumptions or desires are wrong? No way! But they can tell you someone died—even so, what is that to you?” —EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 3.18.1–2

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, both of you have put aside your reasoned choice without doing a single thing for the victims suffering from the actual tragedy. 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 (and comes at the cost of one’s own serenity, in most cases).

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.

WHEN GOOD MEN DO NOTHING

“Often injustice lies in what you aren’t doing, not only in what you are doing.”

—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 9.5