Embrace Change and Stake Your Own Claim Through Personal Philosophy

Key Quotes

"Emerson complained about how writers dance around a difficult topic by relying on quotes. I hate quotation, he wrote. Tell me what you know."

This quote highlights a critique of over-reliance on quotations, suggesting that true knowledge and original thought are more valuable than simply repeating others' words. The author uses this to introduce the idea that individuals should express their own understanding and experiences rather than deferring to established figures.

"Seneca was throwing down the same gauntlet some 20 centuries before. It's easier to quote to rely on the wise words of others, especially when people you're deferring to are such towering figures. It's harder and more intimidating to venture out on your own to express your own thoughts."

This passage emphasizes the difficulty and intimidation associated with developing and expressing one's own original ideas, contrasting it with the perceived ease of quoting established authorities. The author suggests that true intellectual courage lies in venturing beyond quoting to articulate personal insights.

"Marcus [Aurelius] wrote in Meditations during an indubitably tumultuous period of history just as the incessant progression of time remakes eternity. Things were confusing and difficult sure, but he understood that things were always changing, always in crisis, always being disrupted, always becoming something new."

This quote illustrates Marcus Aurelius's perspective on constant change and disruption, even during his own challenging times. The author uses this to show that periods of crisis and flux are not unique to the present but have been a consistent feature of history.

"The question then is not how do we stop this? The question is how are we going to change and adapt to it? We don't need to be scared of change the Stoics remind us because we ourselves are products of change and if we want to survive and thrive in this moment we're in, we're going to need to keep on changing and evolving."

This passage frames change not as something to be resisted, but as a fundamental aspect of survival and thriving, according to Stoic philosophy. The author argues that adaptation and evolution are necessary responses to the inevitable flux of life.

"The point is make your own arguments on your own merits, but I think this is a really important part of the Stoic practice. If you think about what Meditations was for Marcus, right? It's not him arguing Stoicism to the public, it's him arguing the Stoics to himself."

This quote, referencing Nassim Taleb's advice and Marcus Aurelius's Meditations, suggests that personal growth and self-reflection are key Stoic practices. The author implies that the true value of Stoicism lies in its application to one's own internal struggles and development, rather than public performance.

"It's not just downloading the information from the originals from me from other people, but it's also putting your own spin on it. It's disagreeing with them. It's adding your own view. Stoicism should be better, different, added to as a result of you having studied and learned about it."

This passage argues that engaging with Stoicism involves more than passive reception; it requires active interpretation, critical engagement, and personal contribution. The author asserts that true learning should lead to an enhanced and evolved understanding of the philosophy.