Things Worse Than Dying
The Daily Stoic8 Okt 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.

Episoder(2870)

Chuck Klosterman: The NFL Explains More About America Than You Think

Chuck Klosterman: The NFL Explains More About America Than You Think

Few writers understand American culture like Chuck Klosterman, which is why he joins Ryan ahead of the Super Bowl to talk about how football reshaped American culture.In this episode, Chuck and Ryan d...

4 Feb 1h 16min

Do You Have Double What It Takes? | The Source Of Your Anxiety

Do You Have Double What It Takes? | The Source Of Your Anxiety

Obstacles, adversaries, pitfalls, and bad luck. It’s going to be there. It’s going to happen. 📔 Pick up your own leather bound signed edition of The Daily Stoic! Check it out at the Daily Stoic Store...

3 Feb 7min

BONUS | You Can't Let The Setbacks Win

BONUS | You Can't Let The Setbacks Win

When jarred by circumstances, Marcus Aurelius writes, we have to revert back to ourselves. We have to come back to the rhythm. We have to intervene. We can't let the challenges win.Let’s not write the...

2 Feb 2min

Sometimes You Just Lose (But That’s No Excuse) | A Proper Frame Of Mind

Sometimes You Just Lose (But That’s No Excuse) | A Proper Frame Of Mind

We have to stay at it. We have to accept the losses that come…without accepting the status quo. We should not give up. 📘 Grab the hardcover edition of The Daily Stoic here: https://store.dailystoic.c...

2 Feb 7min

This Is Why You Have To Care

This Is Why You Have To Care

Immigration is a complicated issue. Crime is complicated. But this is not complicated.👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium - unlock ad-free list...

1 Feb 11min

Why Bert Kreischer Thinks He Needs a Stoic Coach

Why Bert Kreischer Thinks He Needs a Stoic Coach

Bert Kreischer and Ryan continue their conversation about the tension between discipline and indulgence, why Bert sometimes feels better hungover than sober, and the pull of routines built around puni...

31 Jan 37min

The Age of Catos is Gone (or Is It?) | Ryan Holiday Owes Everything To This One Book

The Age of Catos is Gone (or Is It?) | Ryan Holiday Owes Everything To This One Book

It always feels like the traditional values are slipping away…Maybe they are. Maybe they aren’t. 📕 Pick up your own Premium Leather Edition of Meditations - Marcus Aurelius (Gregory Hays Translation)...

30 Jan 14min

This is the Day You Start | What Does Living A Virtuous Life Look Like?

This is the Day You Start | What Does Living A Virtuous Life Look Like?

Sometimes life happens, but here’s your second chance. Now is the best time to start being the person you want to be. Let’s not write the year off just yet. The Daily Stoic New Year New You challenge ...

29 Jan 17min

Populært innen Business og økonomi

stopp-verden
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
dine-penger-pengeradet
e24-podden
rss-borsmorgen-okonominyhetene
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
finansredaksjonen
pengepodden-2
utbytte
rss-sunn-okonomi
livet-pa-veien-med-jan-erik-larssen
morgenkaffen-med-finansavisen
tid-er-penger-en-podcast-med-peter-warren
pengesnakk
lederpodden
stormkast-med-valebrokk-stordalen
okonomiamatorene
rss-heftye-moter-flinke-folk
rss-markedspuls-2
rss-fa-makro