True Stoicism: Common Good Over Self-Interest and Resentment

Key Quotes

"You went to school, you worked hard, you sacrificed, you got really good at what you do. That's what they pay you for, right? That's why they recruited you, that's why they put you in charge. You earned it. And yet, despite this success, this track record, this leverage you have, your life is so backwards."

The author argues that external achievements like education and hard work do not automatically equate to a well-ordered life. This quote highlights a common paradox where success in one area can coexist with personal disarray, suggesting that true success involves more than just professional accomplishment.

"Alexander, Seneca tells us, quietly corrected them, saying that he hadn't come to Asia with the intention of accepting whatever they cared to give him, but of letting them keep whatever he chose to leave them."

The author uses this anecdote about Alexander the Great to illustrate a principle of agency and control. This quote demonstrates that true power lies not in receiving what is offered, but in dictating what remains, a concept the author later applies to how one should approach their own time and priorities.

"Philosophy likewise tells all other occupations," he wrote, "it is not my intention to accept whatever time is left over for you. You shall have instead," he says, "what I regret." Philosophy should not get the leftovers, or as we said in a Daily Dad email and podcast about this same idea, neither should your family."

The author, referencing Seneca, argues that essential pursuits like philosophy or family should not be relegated to spare moments. This quote emphasizes that these core aspects of life deserve dedicated attention and the best of one's time and energy, rather than being treated as secondary obligations.

"There's no one who will give them the guidance that they desperately need and crave. There's no one that says, 'Hey, here's how you live a good and meaningful life, but also a challenging life. Here's how you do what you were put here to do.'"

The author explains the appeal of Stoicism to young men by pointing out a societal gap in providing essential life guidance. This quote articulates the need for a philosophy that offers direction on living a meaningful, challenging, and purposeful life, which the author suggests Stoicism can provide.

"I don't think it should surprise us then, though, that grifters and demagogues would step in to fill this space. What you see people doing, whether it's Andrew Tate or whoever, is they pervert the ideas in Stoicism. They take some of these core ideas and they mix it with notions of masculinity and other cultural traditions."

The author critiques how certain figures distort Stoic principles for their own gain, particularly when appealing to young men. This quote identifies the perversion of Stoicism by mixing its core ideas with problematic notions of masculinity and tradition, leading to harmful interpretations.

"The Stoics weren't emotionless. There is a part of Stoicism that's about being less emotional, particularly destructive emotions. So the Stoics were not repressed, emotionless robots. And if you think that's what Stoicism is going to help you do, you're doing it wrong."

The author clarifies a common misconception about Stoicism, distinguishing it from a state of emotional repression. This quote asserts that Stoicism aims to manage destructive emotions rather than eliminate all feelings, correcting the stereotype of Stoics as unfeeling automatons.

"The point of life is good character and acts for the common good."

The author presents a core tenet of Stoicism, attributed to Marcus Aurelius, to counter misinterpretations. This quote emphasizes that the ultimate purpose of life, according to Stoicism, is the cultivation of virtue and contributing positively to society, not self-serving actions.

"The purpose of Stoic philosophy, the rational purpose, was to pull these outer rings inward, to really care about other people and to try to make the world better for them, sometimes especially even at the cost of one's own interest."

The author explains the Stoic concept of "cosmopolitanism" and its ethical implications. This quote describes the Stoic aim of expanding one's concern beyond personal circles to encompass all of humanity, prioritizing the collective good even at personal expense.