What We Do In Life Does Not Echo In Eternity
The Daily Stoic31 Des 2018

What We Do In Life Does Not Echo In Eternity

In the movie Gladiator, Maximus, the protege of Marcus Aurelius, says famously, “What we do in life, echoes in eternity.” It’s a powerful, inspiring line, (also tattooed on Lebron James’s arm) one the average viewer might assume that Marcus Aurelius agreed with.

Funnily enough, in his actual writings, Marcus Aurelius could not have come out more strongly against this idea. He says at one point, in Meditations, that “People out for posthumous fame forget that the Generations to Come will be the same annoying people they know now. And just as mortal." But even if they weren’t, he asks:

“What good would it do you?...You're out of step—neglecting the gifts of nature to hang on someone's words in the future."

Indeed, not only do people deprive themselves of the wonder of the present in order to hopefully be remembered in the future, far too many people—especially leaders—do themselves and those they serve a disservice by “performing for history.” Instead of focusing on what they can do right now, what little progress or improvements they can make, they get caught up in the idea of a grand, sweeping legacy. Or they play things safe, not wanting to take risks that could turn out badly...at the expense of possible opportunities they’ll never even know they missed.

We should want to do the right thing, today, because it’s the right thing. We should pursue excellence because excellence is intrinsically valuable, not because we want to be admired after we’re dead and gone. Forget echoing in eternity—just speak loudly enough to be heard right now.

Or better yet, let your actions do the talking.

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

Episoder(2904)

Now Is The Time

Now Is The Time

It’s been a long winter. But now? Now you can feel something is in the air. 💡 Go to dailystoic.com/spring and enter code DSPOD20 at checkout to get 20% off the Spring Forward Challenge! Challenge you...

4 Mar 2min

You Can’t Forget What You Don’t Put Off | (Dis)integration

You Can’t Forget What You Don’t Put Off | (Dis)integration

We plan to do it. We mean to do it. We just tell ourselves that we’ll do it tomorrow. The problem, as the Stoics remind us, is that we don’t control tomorrow.👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into ...

3 Mar 8min

They’re Not Wrong (They’re Just Cut Off From Truth) | What Expensive Things Cost

They’re Not Wrong (They’re Just Cut Off From Truth) | What Expensive Things Cost

Haven’t you been wrong before? Haven’t you done stuff that in retrospect seems dumb or weird? Of course you have.📚 Books Mentioned: Great Gatsby: 100th Anniversary Deluxe EditionMeditations by Marcus...

2 Mar 7min

Why Thinking About Your Death Will Save Your Life

Why Thinking About Your Death Will Save Your Life

Meditating on death isn’t depressing, it’s clarifying. In this episode, Ryan explains how the Stoic practice of Memento Mori will sharpen your priorities, push you to stop wasting time, and remind you...

1 Mar 17min

The Discipline That Made Marcus Aurelius

The Discipline That Made Marcus Aurelius

The greatness of Antoninus and Marcus Aurelius was not perfection but progress. They were imperfect men committed to self-discipline and self-correction. Today's episode explores how Antoninus shaped ...

28 Feb 30min

Who Would Ever Want to Be King? | Stop Letting Yourself Off the Hook

Who Would Ever Want to Be King? | Stop Letting Yourself Off the Hook

Power doesn’t wait for the perfect person to raise their hand. Someone will wield it. Someone always does.📚 Looking for stories to teach your kids about Stoicism? Check out Ryan Holiday’s books: The ...

27 Feb 8min

BONUS | 3 Practices to Improve Your Life In a Week

BONUS | 3 Practices to Improve Your Life In a Week

What if it only took five minutes each morning to feel more in control of your life? In this conversation, Dr. Rangan Chatterjee shares the three daily questions he uses to stay grounded in alignment,...

26 Feb 10min

It Picks You Up. It Puts You Down. A Hundred Times A Day. | Cultivate Indifference

It Picks You Up. It Puts You Down. A Hundred Times A Day. | Cultivate Indifference

Is this what we’re here for? To be the passions’ slave? To be the plaything of emotions and impulses? It can’t be!📓 Pick up a copy of The Daily Stoic Journal: 366 Days of Writing and Reflection on Th...

26 Feb 7min

Populært innen Business og økonomi

stopp-verden
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
dine-penger-pengeradet
e24-podden
rss-borsmorgen-okonominyhetene
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
finansredaksjonen
livet-pa-veien-med-jan-erik-larssen
pengepodden-2
utbytte
rss-sunn-okonomi
tid-er-penger-en-podcast-med-peter-warren
morgenkaffen-med-finansavisen
pengesnakk
lederpodden
stormkast-med-valebrokk-stordalen
liberal-halvtime
lederskap-nhhs-podkast-om-ledelse
rss-politisk-preik
rss-markedspuls-2