How to Think Like a Roman Emperor
If you have anger issues, this one is a great tool (h/t mindyourbusiness)
This week’s book:
Discourses and Selected Writings
Disclaimer: I’m not your Supervisor. These are my opinions after reading through these books a few times.
Epictetus was born a slave around 50 ad. His owner was Epaphroditus, a rich freedman who was once a slave of Nero. Though he was a slave Epictetus was sent to study philosophy under Musonius Rufus.
Epictetus was lame and there are some stories it was caused by his master and others that it was caused by disease.
He was a freedman when all philosophers were banished from Rome in 89 by the Emperor Domitian. He then started his school in Greece, and had many students. He did not leave any writings from his lessons, but one of his students, Flavius Arrian, took notes and wrote the Discourses.
Epictetus did not marry, had no children, and lived to be around 80-85. In retirement, he adopted a child that would have been abandoned and raised him with a woman.
He died sometime around AD 135.
He is my favorite Stoic teacher. I love his bare bones and very straight forward approach.
Following is a paragraph-by-paragraph discussion of one of his lessons. Epictetus’s text appears in bold, my replies are in normal text.
Some scattered sayings
As the good[† 1] chorus-singers in tragedy cannot render solos, but can sing perfectly well with a number of other voices, so some men cannot walk around by themselves. Man, if you are anybody, both walk around by yourself, and talk to yourself, and don’t hide yourself in the chorus. Let yourself be laughed at sometimes, look about you, shake yourself up, so as to find out who you actually are.
It is easy to hide in the crowd. Hanging with a group would have me doing things and going places that I really didn’t enjoy. It took me being a grownup before I figured out that I did better by myself or with a couple true friends than hanging out with the cool kids. Now, I really don’t have anyone I hang out with except my wife, but she is a good influence on me.
Whenever a man drinks water only, or has some ascetic practice, he takes every opportunity to talk about it to everybody: “I drink water only.” 5Why, do you drink water just for the sake of drinking water? Man, if it is good for you to drink water, drink it! Otherwise your conduct is absurd. But if it does you good and you drink water only, don’t say a word about it to the people who are annoyed by such persons. Why, what’s your object? Are these just the ones you wish to please?[1]
Maybe in ancient Rome,drinking water only was like being a vegan or a cross fitter today. I try to be healthy but don’t go around making sure everyone knows when I go to the gym. It has been a few months now because of my swollen ankle. I hope to be able to start going again next week, but don’t feel the need to bring attention to it when I do start up again. Although if I did brag to everyone about it, maybe it would be more of an incentive, but then I would hate myself.
Among actions some are performed primarily on their own account, others on occasion, or as a matter of good management, or as required by tact, or as part of a formal plan.
We all do things for different reasons. I try to have logical reasons for what I do, but this is not always the case.
Here are two things of which one must rid men, conceit and diffidence. Now conceit is to fancy that one needs nothing further. And diffidence is to assume that one cannot enjoy a life of serenity under so many adverse circumstances. Now conceit is removed by cross-examination, and this is what Socrates starts with. . . .[2] But that the matter is not impossible, consider and search—this kind of search will do you no harm; 10and, indeed, to philosophize practically amounts to this, that is, to search how it is possible to employ desire and aversion without hindrance.
I don’t know which is worse a conceited person, or one with no self confidence. I have always been a little arrogant in my physical abilities as a Marine. This was brought about with experience and the knowledge that I was better than the average Marine at most things. As I age, I am gaining the knowledge that my body is not as capable as it used to be. I will not lose confidence in myself, I just need to keep my expectations realistic.
“I am superior to you, for my father has consular rank.”[3] Another says, “I have been a tribune, and you have not.” And if we were horses, you would be saying: “My sire was swifter than yours,” or, “I have quantities of barley and fodder,” or, “I have pretty neck-trappings.” What then, if, when you were talking like this, I said, “Granted all that, let’s run a race, then”? Come now, is there, then, nothing in man like running in the case of a horse, whereby the worse and the better will be recognized? Isn’t there such a thing as reverence, faith, justice? Prove yourself superior in these points, in order to be superior as a human being. If you tell me, “I can deliver a mighty kick,”[4] I shall say to you in my turn, “You are proud over what is the act of an ass.”
It doesn’t matter who a person is related to, it matters what kind of person they are. While I understand being proud of your ancestors, it doesn’t mean you are endowed with any special traits. YMMV if your parents are both professional athletes, but in general, my point stands.
Work has been keeping me busy this week, so I haven’t been around much, next week should be more normal.
The piece about telling everyone you drink water shows how nothing ever changes. I made the same connection as you.
Something about rewards on Earth and rewards in heaven come to mind.
I assume he is referring to the often referred to practice of fasting which, like the pretentious bullshit today was the social signaling of the day.
That gives a lot of references in the Bible a different flavor.
I work with a female manager who walks around with an outlandishly oversized water thermos all day. She’s literally letting us all know how much water she drinks (instead of filling a regular bottle a couple of times during the day).
Ask her if she isn’t concerned about her electrolytes. That should be good for a laugh.
Tundra:
You mean like what plants crave?
Brawndo!
But yeah, drinking that much water is certainly gonna fuck hers up.
You are assuming she was actually drinking it?
Need to drink more water
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10091501/
My wife tells me that and I just nod my head. The days of water only, rather than fluid in general, are over. Drink whatever you like, especially if thirty.
Suthen:
And that it was full of water. There was a trend among the girls in my high school class to bring in water bottles that had been refilled with vodka.
I have never once managed to identify who these people were supposed to be.
It helped that no one wanted to associate with me.
They are the preening empty shells you have been around most of your life who are all about appearance and association.
I have not noticed that archetype in person – only in media or news.
I guess people not wanting to associate with me is a boon.
We associate with you. Granted, some of us are retired muppets, pickles or not from around here, but we do hang out with you.
Let yourself be laughed at sometimes, look about you, shake yourself up, so as to find out who you actually are.
Conformity is comfortable, which is why so many people prefer it. Epictetus is spot on, though, that the only way to achieve discernment is to be often uncomfortable and definitely beyond the influence of the group.
Greetings from, not North Nowhere, Vermont; but Sea Cliff, a small but wealthy town on the Long Island of New York. I’m visiting a relative.
I took a morning constitutional and saw my first Harris/Walz signs! Signs in NNV are scarce but they’re all for Trump.
The skies are supposed to be clear so tonight’s entertainment is going to try to see the comet:
https://www.space.com/comet-tsuchinshan-atlas-bright-night-sky
But probably not any northern lights:
https://pix11.com/things-to-do/will-new-yorkers-see-the-northern-lights-tonight/
I have not seen any Harris signs in the Hudson Valley of New York. Just Trump signs.
I have not seen a one here yet. And the liberals are all over DFW suburbs.
My relative delicately touched upon the subject of politics and was relieved to learn that I’m not a hard-core Trumpist. I didn’t mention my opinion of Trump’s opponent. My relative recently gave up her long-term subscription to the New York Times in favor of The Wall Street Journal because she thought the Times had become 100% editorial. I didn’t tell her I gave up on the WSJ years ago because I thought it had become 100% editorial.
We have a few Harris signs in the same few places there were Biden signs last time – folks recognized to be among our local oddball Proggies, plus a few scattered in the mostly black neighborhoods. Trump signs and flags everywhere.
I looked outside yesterday, between the street lights, neighbors houses, and trees, I’m luck to even see the northern sky, let alone any northern lights.
Nice, you can wave at my birthplace while you’re there (Glen Cove Hospital).
Enjoy your visit.
No shortage of Harris/Walz signs in my neck of the woods. My neighborhood used be solidly red, unfortunately it’s a shade of purple now. Besides being empty nesters this is another reason to relocate.
Here in deepest Blue Mass there aren’t really as many signs as I would have expected. I don’t think most people are that enthused.
Although my neighbors who I otherwise quite like have put up an obnoxious “Harris, obviously” sign.
slumbrew:
I hate that sign so much. There’s one around the corner from me that’s Barbie pink, and says Madame President, Obviously.
A neighbors’ house has “Trump/Vance: Obviously”.
Not many signs backing either candidate in my newly Blue suburban county.
Living in a small midwest college town, a lot of Harris/Walz signs have popped up recently. Then there’s the one huge TRUMP 2024 flag on a 30-foot pole just below the U.S. flag…
Here, in a county that went 75% Trump, last time, the Harris signs are 2 to 1 over the Trump, and it’s the lack of flags and banners that stands out this time, Trump people just aren’t as enthused. In ’16 or ’20 people didn’t have a Trump sign they had three or four, and flags ,and banners, and FJB painted on the roof of their barns. That kinda support just aint here this time, it’s just my local observations and I’m sure my county will still go for Trump (but a much closer race), but if the enthusiasm for Trump here is the norm He’s fucked in contested areas.
Up here there’s still plenty of Trump flags, trucks with Trump flags in the back, and even impromptu rallies for the Trump tent on corners. Very few Harris signs around here, but go over the Cleveland Heights, they’re all over the place.
“I drink water only.”
Pure grain alcohol or GTFO.
Have you ever seen a Commie drink a glass of water?
Yes, I have.
It is hard to be stoic when you accidentally payed 5 american dollars on undrinkable swill because the wrong can was in the wrong place and you did not look.
Who the fuck makes a this shit?
WeWilder collab brew w/ Wild Oregano, Thyme, Linden and Ancient Apples from the foothills of the Tarcu Mountians
who the fuck drinks this shit.
there ought to be a law.
GAAAHHHHHH
advice: never buy beer that has farmhouse ale written on it.
More advice: Ignore Pie’s advice.
PieInTheSky:
I will not allow you to disparage the noble Saison!
But yeah, that sounds like one I’d take a pass on. A couple breweries here do the kitchen sink method for their harvest ales… just… no.
WeWilder is a social enterprise partnership between WWF Romania and local community members. Our mission is to create a blueprint for sustainable development of local communities on the frontline of nature conservation, with support from Flex Foundation.
We work to bring people closer to wild nature and create true value for people and nature in Armeniș comune and the foothills of Țarcu Mountains. Here WWF and Rewilding Europe are working to create a rewilding landscape, now with over 190 free roaming bison.
goddamn treehuggin hippie crap
Why would the World Wrestling Federation do such a thing?
I will go to my grave still thinking about wrestling when I see “WWF”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCbfMkh940Q&ab_channel=NamelessVoice
Me too.
One of the brewery books I have talks about a brewery that forages for wild ingredients to make their beers. While I appreciate the commitment, that doesn’t seem like something that would scale up to (what I would consider) a brewhouse recipe. For homebrewing, sure.
“you accidentally payed”
Why am I suddenly seeing this error somewhat frequently? Is it an autocorrect thing, or a semiliteracy thing?
Pie gets a little bit of a pass because he has ESL, although in writing at least he is very fluent, so . . .
speaking of drinking water the right way who has a Hidrate Spark PRO Smart Water Bottle – Tracks Water Intake & Glows to Remind You to Stay Hydrated. you can connect it to your phone to see how thirsty you are but you need to remember to recharge the batteries on your water bottle every evening
Good of Patrick Boyle to find you the perfect gift.
From the ded thred. ODF has totally lost the plot. They’ve given up their traditional role in forestry with the decline of the timber industry and want to be CalFire North*. Their big goal, according to their FB releases, is to get unqualified girl bosses into their firefighting empire building.
*and further the state’s land
usecontrol planning to keep people urbanized and afraid**. Fuck the conservative who buy into the wildland-fire interface argument and think no one should live there. Like dipshit urban resident Laura Ingram spouting off the other night.1) far, far too much of the state is publicly owned
2) too much focus on reforesting swathes of the state that were historically open. Too much “greenways” which brown out in summer. Lack of mowing down brown fields in favor of “open spaces”.
3) too much densification and urbanization, and no new cities have been platted for essentially 60 years
4) weather and climate cycles, periods of high fire are normal. Get over it.
5) actually fight fires instead of leaving them to meander until they blow up
6) let fire burn build up down
** used to be the only fire danger signs were when you went into the forests. Now they’re in the middle of cities far away from any wildfire danger or next to schools, totally irrelevant, but they’re to stoke fear and mental conditioning. Also, adding “extreme” after “high” to turn it up to 11.
Well, we had a huge fire take out more than 1000 homes in the suburb just north of us. I agree with you that there is too much hysteria, but the disgusting mismanagement of the forests is real. If my property abuts federal land, no matter how well I manage it there is a nontrivial risk because of those ridiculous fuckwits.
Marshall fire? https://ti.org/antiplanner/?p=19622
Antiplanner is an interesting guy. Environmentalist turned libertarian. Very opposed to the USFS’ empire building schemes.
In addition, what you might call good management probably violates dozens of laws.
Gustave: Yep, that’s the one. I went through the area not long after the fire and it was absolutely astonishing.
Thanks for the link – excellent read. My neighborhood is densely built but bordered by a golf course and large lots, so hopefully I can skip that particular horror.
Obama may be right. These Brothers aren’t going for Kamala. Huge transfers away from them to migrants probably doesn’t help.
https://x.com/LibertyLockPod/status/1844779021302722723
The Obama Twink weighted in on that. He set them straight. They will all vote Kammy now.
Just got an email for upcoming diversity training. Yay.
What will I learn during the session?
• Practicing “The Platinum Rule” of treating others how they wish to be treated.
Fuck that noise – I never get that treatment, they should be happy I’m not using them for ritual sacrifices.
treating others how they wish to be treated – so I should grab women’s ass on the street?
I mean this is how I assume they want to be treated, I am not a mind reader
The only way to be sure is to try.
Just make sure you grab many women’s asses in order to ensure diversity.
I have it on good authority that women prefer to be greeted by the Fish Slapping Dance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vElQuo1LA8A
Treat me like I’m your master!
It’s a lot like life.
My only wish is to be exempt from these trainings.
Gah! Speaking of twinks……
“We wish to be treated in such a way that doesn’t result in me ending up in your struggle session.”
Fortunately my DEI training was two videos I could mute and run on a minimized window.
Didn’t Elicit Interest
efficiency
Now the seat’s all wet – how are you supposed to sit on that?
With a *squish*
Wet rooms – the new thing in residential architecture (imported from Scandinavia, natch.) They are kinda handy if you have a lot of shower orgies.
Just reminds me of living in a small RV. Not luxurious.
Shitter and shower should be separate.
No grab bars.
🙁
If there’s a drain in the floor, I’m not seeing it.
Our mission is to create a blueprint for sustainable development of local communities on the frontline of nature conservation, with support from Flex Foundation.
*makes jerk-off motion*
*using just thumb and forefinger*
• Practicing “The Platinum Rule” of treating others how they wish to be treated.
That goes two ways, right?
RIGHT?
Look, just prostrate yourself and do as you are told.
Brothers aren’t going for Kamala.
Not a single one of those guys is authentically black.
I have something for Suthen, who asked in the last post if we would ever be rid of this guy:
https://www.worldtribune.com/report-george-soros-appears-to-be-preparing-to-meet-his-maker/
Satan?
Such a fantastic article. If your journalism is going to slant, let’s slant towards Soros is a minion of Satan.
Besides the main point about George circling the drain, I also liked the line about how he turned off wifi at parties so guests couldn’t send pix. So you’re telling me that Westchester County has crummy cell service? No?
Oh, so really it indicates some combo of idiot “sources”, made-up “sources”, idiot reporters who think their readers are also idiots, or an article chummed together from crappy AI.
My suspension of disbelief broke at the idea of him hosting parties.
I think it’s a hot take combined with neighbors’ gossip.
“Fucker switches on a signal jammer that ruins all wireless communications for half a mile out”
Are black masses are considered ‘parties’?
Couldn’t they send the pix later, from home?
Reproduce pictures with AI later.
“Make a photo of Satan sipping champagne.”
With AI now you dont need to be at the party. Just whip something up out of thin air. ‘Here is Obama getting pegged by Soros’. Oh wait, that one isn’t made up.
Speaking of AI, I see they are improving very quickly. This one is clearly an AI creation but much better than what I have seen in the past. I wonder how much human input it has.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe-GSFfcDrc
I thought perhaps the story was written by a person and just the imagery is AI. Nope, written by AI as well.
https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/do-you-want-a-giant-redbox-machine-nows-your-chance-172806520.html
Perfect for you DVD collectors!
I know I am old. Companies and cutting edge technology have come along, run their course, gone out of business and become obsolete several times in my life. This is not the world I was. born into.
Graham Hancock, fact checks Flint Dibble.
Yes, it’s a video you Luddites.
He lost me before he opened his mouth…Dibble that is. An Indiana Jones hat, really? That is beyond Thomas Friedman thoughtful look, chin tugging territory.
Ok, in line with Nye’s habit of wearing a lab coat.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/guitar-player-magazine-halts-publication-puts-out-one-last-print-edition-after-58-year-run/ar-AA1s6HOX?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=2742f47516714edbf31774475a889671&ei=26
GP was my greatest discovery of 1983. I could barely everygoodboydoesfine when I first saw it in the rack in Knoxville, but every month I learned more of the names of the parts of music that I had always sensed and known: turns out there’s method, argot, and structure to the lovely madness of music and the fretboard in particular. There was a range to the articles from beginner to master, and more of them made more sense every month I kept reading. Before the internet, if it wasn’t in WorldBook, I would probably never hear about anything.
I have discovered a local museum.
https://xfilespreservationcollection.com/
The Truth is in there?
I love it.
If we find ourselves in Florida again we will definitely see that.
Just saw Kammy’s running mate referred to as “The Great Walz of China”. I snerked.