The Daily Stoic22 Okt 2018

We Take The Bitter To Get To The Sweets

“The hunter worthy of the name always willingly takes the bitter if by so doing he can get the sweet, and gladly balances failure and success, spurning the poorer souls who know neither.”

Theodore Roosevelt was talking about the philosophy of hunting when he said this, but he was also describing his philosophy of life. This is how the Stoic looks at things as well.

So much of life is outside of our control, and indeed much of that is bitter. We set out to do something and we are quickly beset by challenges, by loss, by other people’s frustrating tendency to think about themselves over our needs. Yet we continue to put up with this. Not just because we have to, but because we know what’s on the other side is wonderful: friendships, success, excellence, life-changing experiences.

It is said that Marcus Aurelius was dour, but his Meditations is full of odes to the many sweets of life. Seneca’s writing, too, captures life’s great balancing act--he speaks of how unpredictable and unfair fate can be just as eloquently as he speaks of joy and flourishing.

If today ends up being another one of those days for you, try to remember what Roosevelt was talking about. Try saying to yourself, ‘I am taking the bitter to get to the sweet.’ Say, ‘It all balances out and I am lucky to have both when so many have neither.’ In this way you will not only grow stronger and more able to endure any misfortune that comes your way, but you will also be more grateful for and appreciative of the gifts you are given as well.

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

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(3081)

These Are Things You Cannot Buy

As Epictetus, the slave-turned-philosopher who inspired Marcus, reminds us, ”Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.”🎶 Song lyrics: A Satisfied Mind (Bon Iver versi...

5 Aug 2min

The Marcus Aurelius Quote Tom Junod Can’t Forget

One sentence from Marcus Aurelius made Tom Junod circle it three times, star it, and dog-ear the page. In this episode, Ryan talks with the acclaimed writer about reading Meditations for the first tim...

5 Aug 12min

BONUS | The Craziest Reasons Books Were Banned

Got a banned book at home? Send it our way — we need a lot more 👉 Address: 912 Main St. Bastrop, TX 78602🎥 Watch this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m02lZEbBY9E 📚 Sign up for Ryan’s...

4 Aug 11min

None of These Things Change | 10 Habits That Made Marcus Aurelius Great

This is what it is to be a human. Some of it good, some of it better to resist. But it’s the rhythm of life, the bleeding of eras, one into the other.🎟️ DAILY STOIC LIVE | Ryan Holiday is coming to a...

4 Aug 13min

You Can’t Stop Here | No Blame, Just Focus

Marcus Aurelius was not satisfied just getting the gist of Epictetus’ powerful teachings and you shouldn’t be, either.💡 We designed our How To Read Epictetus (A Daily Stoic Guide) as a personal field...

3 Aug 8min

Can Stoicism Fight Modern Corruption?

Corruption is everywhere, from politics and business to sports and universities. But as modern as it all feels, the Stoics saw the same thing happening thousands of years ago. So how did they resist i...

2 Aug 28min

5 American Heroes Everyone Should Know | Ty Seidule

Some of the greatest American heroes are people most of us have never heard of. In today’s episode, Ryan talks with retired Brigadier General and military historian Ty Seidule about five remarkable Am...

1 Aug 39min

This is a Line Worth Remembering | A Cure For The Self

We live in busy, stressful, unnerving times. We can’t let that rattle or rush us.📔 Grab a premium leather bound signed edition of The Daily Stoic! Check it out at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store...

31 Juli 6min