Things Worse Than Dying
The Daily Stoic8 Loka 2018

Things Worse Than Dying

Death and dying are the worst parts of life, right? After all, they do end the whole thing.

So while it does make sense, generally, to try to avoid dying, Seneca marvelled at the terrible things people do to stay alive--things much worse than death. We’ll betray friends, he said, betray our most closely held beliefs, people will even sell out their own children and grandchildren--as the elderly often do in almost every election--just to keep things the way we like them.

How pathetic is this? And what a contradiction it is. Sure, you’re literally still alive, but you traded your soul to make it so. You might as well be in a coma on a ventilator.

Actually, according to Seneca, that would be better. Because the problem with the pathetic, unprincipled, selfish things we do to stay alive--stealing, hoarding, lying, and cheating--is that we then have to live with them. People do terrible things to live to see the sunrise the next day, he says, “a dawn that’s privy to their many sins.”

There are many worse things than death, many things that no amount of years are worth trading for. That is: Living with what we had to do to keep living, well, that can be worth than death.

We must always remember that. Life is not the scarce resource, living well is. Being a good person is. Doing the right thing is. That’s what important. Not how many years you pile up.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jaksot(2869)

You’ve Been Given a Fresh Chance | Ask Daily Stoic

You’ve Been Given a Fresh Chance | Ask Daily Stoic

2025 is dead and gone. Who we were in 2025 is dead and gone. Here we are, lucky enough to rise again in 2026. A year not guaranteed to anyone. No more waiting. Demand the best for yourself. The Daily ...

1 Tammi 16min

BONUS | Another Year Gone By. What Have You Done?

BONUS | Another Year Gone By. What Have You Done?

We’ve been blessed with another go, or at least the start of another go. Will we take it? Or will we go on the same as we did before and before and before?No more waiting. Demand the best for yourself...

31 Joulu 20253min

How James Clear Would Start 2026 If He Were You

How James Clear Would Start 2026 If He Were You

The first few weeks of 2026 will decide far more than you think. In this episode, you’ll hear the best of James Clear’s most important advice from his past conversations with Ryan on how to start the ...

31 Joulu 202551min

We Are Training For This

We Are Training For This

When we develop the discipline to prepare our minds and our bodies for hardship, we have the discipline to see the hard times through to the end. Make 2026 the year where you finally bring yourself cl...

31 Joulu 20254min

BONUS | 7 Simple Stoic Habits That Will Transform You In 2026

BONUS | 7 Simple Stoic Habits That Will Transform You In 2026

Here we are at the end of one year and the beginning of another. What do we have to show for it? Did we do what we set out to do? Did we meet those resolutions?Make 2026 the year where you finally bri...

30 Joulu 202519min

You Don't Have Unlimited Time | What's Up To Us, What's Not Up To Us

You Don't Have Unlimited Time | What's Up To Us, What's Not Up To Us

This is what we do, isn’t it? We think about doing something…but we put off actually doing it until the last minute.Make 2026 the year where you finally bring yourself closer to living your best life....

30 Joulu 202511min

If You Want to Make the World Better, Do This | Give Thanks

If You Want to Make the World Better, Do This | Give Thanks

Let’s focus on getting better. Let’s get serious about stuff we’ve put off. Let’s lend a helping hand. Let’s “fight to be the person philosophy tried to make us,” as Marcus Aurelius said.Make 2026 the...

29 Joulu 20258min

The Stoic Way To Survive 2026

The Stoic Way To Survive 2026

You do not control the year ahead. You do control how you meet it. In this episode, Ryan walks through the Stoic framework for becoming better in the year ahead built around courage, discipline, justi...

28 Joulu 202517min

Suosittua kategoriassa Liike-elämä ja talous

sijotuskasti
mimmit-sijoittaa
psykopodiaa-podcast
rss-rahapodi
rss-draivi
oppimisen-psykologia
rss-rahamania
rss-seuraava-potilas
taloudellinen-mielenrauha
rss-porssipuhetta
rss-lahtijat
rss-inderes
rss-sami-miettinen-neuvottelija
pomojen-suusta
rss-h-asselmoilanen
rss-bisnesta-bebeja
rss-viisas-raha-podi
asuntoasiaa-paivakirjat
rss-paatos-podcast-suomen-kovimmat-paatoksentekijat-2
rss-bisnespaiva