The Daily Stoic12 Dec 2018

Don’t Let Your Virtues Become This Vice

So we’ve begun to get serious about our training, both physical and philosophical. Before, we never read, and now we do. Before, we were lazy and slothful, and now we’re regularly going to the gym. Before, we would eat everything we felt like eating—too much of it usually—and now we’ve got a diet and we’re sticking to it.

This is great. We’ve conquered that vice.

Now there is a new danger. That this virtue becomes a new vice—the vice of pride, of superiority, of obnoxious self-satisfaction. You know the type...because, well, they won’t let you not know how great they’re doing, how they can’t believe they used to eat that, what a rush it was to finish that marathon, or just how transformative all these mind-blowing books have been. Ugh.

Apparently, these folks existed two thousand years ago, too. As Epictetus warned his students:

“When you have accustomed your body to a frugal regime, don’t put on airs about it, and if you only drink water, don’t broadcast the fact all the time. And if you ever want to go in for endurance training, do it for yourself and not for the world to see.”

This is good, timeless advice. Progress is wonderful. Self-improvement is a worthy endeavor. But that’s sort of the point. It should be done for its own sake—not for the congratulations or the recognition. Are you really running that marathon for the medal?

Don’t let your progress become pride. Otherwise you have just traded one set of vices for a new one. And the worse part is that because of your new healthy lifestyle, the rest of us risk having to endure it for your many remaining years.

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(3122)

The Stoic Reminders Hiding All Over Rome

In Rome, Ryan could barely go for a run without passing a place connected to Stoic history. In today’s episode, he shares moments from his family trip, from visiting the places where the Stoics lived ...

5 Sep 30min

Don’t Let It Keep Slipping Away | The Philosopher's School Is A Hospital

It’s already Labor Day weekend. What happened? 📘 The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday: https://store.dailystoic.com/🎟️ DAILY STOIC LIVE | Ryan Holiday is coming to a city near you! Grab tickets here | h...

4 Sep 6min

What Ryan Holiday Would Ask Marcus Aurelius

If Ryan could sit down with Marcus Aurelius and ask him one question, it wouldn’t be about Meditations or Stoic philosophy. In today’s episode, Ryan poses the question to Professor William O. Stephens...

3 Sep 19min

You Need To Hit The Road

It might even be easy to use some of the Stoic teachings to tell yourself that travel is exotic, or even frivolous. But it isn’t. It’s essential.📚 The Four Virtues Boxed Set: https://dailystoic.com/v...

3 Sep 2min

You Fought The Wall and the Wall Won | When Self-Discipline Becomes a Vice

“Why should we get angry at the world,” Marcus Aurelius writes, “as if the world would notice?”Ryan Holiday is coming to a city near you! Grab tickets here | https://www.dailystoiclive.com/🇺🇸 USA d...

2 Sep 17min

BONUS | 7 Books AI Can't Replace

In this bonus episode, Ryan shares seven books that will help you think more clearly, use AI wisely, and become harder to replace.🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeBuZjNq8u0📚 ...

1 Sep 5min

As Above, So Below | How Seeing Earth From Space Changes You (with Astronaut Mark Kelly)

We need to take a step back from problems, arguments, and frustrations. To look at the bigger picture. Watch the full episode with Senator and Astronaut Mark Kelly here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

1 Sep 8min

This is What You Do With Your Freedom? | A Strong Soul Is Better Than Good Luck

People have, since Prometheus, developed technology that frees us from backbreaking drudgery and toil. And what do you do with this freedom, this incredible bounty?🎟️ DAILY STOIC LIVE | Ryan Holiday ...

31 Aug 6min