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.
That we ought to approach each separate thing with circumspection
In each separate thing that you do consider the matters which come first, and those which follow after, and only then approach the thing itself. Otherwise, at the start you will come to it enthusiastically because you have never reflected upon any of the subsequent steps, but later on, when some of them appear, you will give up disgracefully.
It is easy for me to start a project without considering all of the work that goes into it. Sometimes that works out, like when I decided that while I was replacing the dash and heater core in my truck, “as long as I’m in there”, I wanted to put in a vinyl floor and paint my interior plastic black instead of the gray. If I had thought carefully about the amount of work involved, I would have lived with the gray. Once I tore it all out, I felt I had made a huge mistake, but it came out really nicely.
“I wish to win an Olympic victory.” But consider the matters which come before that and those which follow after; and only when you have done that, then, if it profits you, put your hand to the task. You have to submit to discipline, follow a strict diet, give up sweet-cakes, train under compulsion, at a fixed hour, in heat or in cold; you must not drink cold water,[2] nor wine just whenever you feel like it; you must have turned yourself over to your trainer precisely as you would to a physician. Then when the contest comes on, you have to “dig in” beside[3] your opponent, sometimes dislocate your wrist, sprain your ankle, swallow quantities of sand, take a scourging;[4] yes, and then sometimes get beaten along with all that.
When I was in the Marines, I was always proud of my physical fitness scores. As I aged, I had to work harder to maintain the young man’s 1st class as an older guy. My decision to work out more to do this was made lightly, but it was difficult to make myself work out more on top of our regular unit physical training. Once I got used to it, (2 or 3 weeks), it became just part of what I did.
After you have counted up these points, go on into the games, if you still wish to; otherwise, I would have you observe that you will be turning back like children. Sometimes they play athletes, again gladiators, again they blow trumpets, and then act a play about anything that they have seen and admired. So you too are now an athlete, now a gladiator, then a philosopher, after that a rhetorician, yet with your whole soul nothing, but like an ape you imitate whatever you see, and one thing after another is always striking your fancy, but what you are accustomed to bores you. For you have never gone out after anything with circumspection, nor after you have examined the whole matter all over and tested it, but you act at haphazard and halfheartedly.[5]
It is easy for me to get sucked into a new hobby and go really deep into it and burn myself out on it. As I have gotten older, I have gotten better because I know that I have this tendency. Now I work on my truck and go shooting for my main hobbies, but I try not to do too much of either in a short time. When I first started studying Stoicism, I read too many books and got a little tired of it. Now I try to go over my day before I sleep and read The Daily Stoic for that day’s lesson and the only reading other than that is this weekly article base. I found it keeps me more focused and still enjoying the process.
In the same way, when some people have seen a philosopher and heard someone speaking like Euphrates[6] (though, indeed, who can speak like him?), they wish to be philosophers themselves. Man, consider first what the business is, and then your own natural ability, what you can bear. If you wish to be a wrestler, look to your shoulders, your thighs, your loins.
What I would like to be good at and what I am naturally good at do not always align. Luckily what the Marines required of me were things I was naturally good at. If I had a flighty temperament, or a weak mind, I would have had to find a different career path.
10For one man has a natural talent for one thing, another for another. Do you suppose that you can do the things you do now, and yet be a philosopher? Do you suppose that you can eat in the same fashion, drink in the same fashion, give way to anger and to irritation, just as you do now? You must keep vigils, work hard, overcome certain desires, abandon your own people, be despised by a paltry slave, be laughed to scorn by those who meet you, in everything get the worst of it, in office, in honor, in court.
If I worried about what people thought of me and obsessed over that, Stoicism would not work for me. It has helped me to not give way to anger and to irritation most of all, but it also was helping me to stick to my workout schedule before my ankle reminded me that I do not control my body. dealing with that frustration has been another good Stoic lesson. I currently can walk without a limp if I’m wearing my work boots, but bare foot I can not push off and drag the foot behind me a little.
Look these drawbacks over carefully, and then, if you think best, approach philosophy, that is, if you are willing at the price of these things to secure tranquillity, freedom, and calm. Otherwise, do not approach; don’t act like a child—now a philosopher, later on a tax-gatherer, then a rhetorician, then a procurator of Caesar. These things do not go together. You must be one person, either good or bad; you must labor to improve either your own governing principle or externals; you must work hard either on the inner man, or on things outside; that is, play the role of a philosopher, or else that of a layman.[7]
I am still working on my governing principles and not worry about externals. I don’t know that I am really playing the role of a philosopher for anyone except myself, but I am mostly consistent with it and am still improving.
When Galba[8] was assassinated, someone said to Rufus,[9] “Is the universe governed now by Providence?” But he replied, “Did I ever, even in passing, take the case of Galba as the basis for an argument that the universe is governed by Providence?”
Although Galba replaced Nero, he was not a popular Emperor and only held the position for 7 months. I wonder what the person that thought his assassination was done by Providence thought about the chaos that followed. The killing of Galbe started the “Year of four Emperors”. It might have been a case of being careful what you wish for.
“As long as I am in there…”
Famous last words. My wife volunteers me for extra duty during most projects. Generally it does end well, but it can test my Stoicism.
Today in propaganda…
A Charlotte resident sent me a screenshot of the Charlotte Observer’s voter guide for the governors race.
They have profiles on the Democrat, Green and CST candidates. (Not sure what that last one is)
Missing? The republican candidate. Not even listed in the guide at all.
Lol. Pretty brazen.
eh..from their site “More candidates will be added as we publish stories about each one.” So maybe they should have that disclaimer a bit more prominent or not list any of a particular race until you have all the profiles written; doesn’t seem too nefarious but is a bit of editorial and journalistic malpractice.
There! Exercised my Stoicism for the day.
Hahaha…. we wrote profiles on the Green and Central Standard Time candidates… we just haven’t gotten around to the Republican.
(Voting has begun in North Carolina)
Here’s a white Karen schooling Mark Robinson on racism.
https://x.com/MargoinWNC/status/1846994775272313112
For the record, NC House Bill 10 as set to the governor.
I like this one the most. I get such a wide view of projects that I don’t approach each step or thing to be done as well as I should
I liked that one as well.
I had a few projects over the years where I didn’t do this and wasted money getting started only to quit once I discovered I was in over my head.
I think if I knew the entirety of the task I would never start anything. I’ve gotten pretty stoic about oh shit moments in house and car projects.
The finished product always makes me happy enough to ignore the trials.
There is a balance there.
If I had truly thought about all the work involved in that interior job, my truck’s interior would not look as nice as it does.
Painting the exterior has given me several crisis of confidence and oh shit what was I thinking moments?
So normal for house projects.
One thing we have learned about home projects when you own an older place is that nothing is available off the shelf, so it will take three times as long, cost twice as much and require 10x the Oh Shit moments.
And, boy, does it feel good when something comes together.
I don’t do that anymore. I want to do thing X. But that requires I do thing M first. But that requires I do thing B first. And so on.
I finally get overwhelmed, start in on thing X, get it most of the way done, clean up a little with things M, B, and so forth, then finish thing X. And it’s done.
Me, I just have to start. In the middle, even, if I have to, to get it done.
you must labor to improve either your own governing principle or externals; you must work hard either on the inner man, or on things outside
This is good advice.
Thanks Ron!
Just harvested my peppers. 8 Carolina Reaper plants, 4 Ghost Chili plants, 4 Scorpion pepper plants
~30 Reapers, 3 which matured to red (about 9 little baby peppers about size)
~23 Ghost peppers, 3 matured to orange, no red (about 4 babies)
~4 Scorpion peppers, 1 matured to orange
I left them as long as I could to mature, but the last couple nights it’s gotten too cold and the plants shriveled up.
No peppers from the prairie fire peppers I planted this year. Moved the containers indoors to try to keep them over the winter, and give them a chance to grow next year.
Mine were planted in a raised bed, too much work to dig em up.
What are you doing with them? I had some Thai chili peppers once, I dried them on the smoker and made chili powder. That turned out great.
Hot sauces and chopped up in food mostly. Maybe I could try my hand at drying some this year.
I’ve got the dehydrator running out in the warehouse right now.
🙂
Drying them is fairly easy even if you don’t have a dehydrator. Hatch green chilies time came and went and I think the grocery store thought I was making something for a pot luck with the 10 lbs of peppers I bought to roast and dehydrate.
OBE:
Depends on the environment. Locally, trying to dry them indoors without a fan or the like is a good way to risk losing quite a bit to mold. Even putting them in the little dehydrator I have, it took ~32 hours for a tray of peppers to dry.
True since my past experiences were typically in the desert
I am still working on my governing principles and not worry about externals. I don’t know that I am really playing the role of a philosopher for anyone except myself, but I am mostly consistent with it and am still improving.
I’m wondering if there is ever a moment of enlightenment. I think the more I’ve tried to improve myself the more help I can be, but I’m light years from being optimized lol.
I really like Zen’s answer to enlightenment:
A monk was once asked ‘What did you do before enlightenment?”
He replied “Chop wood, carry water.”
He was then asked “What do you do after enlightenment?”
The monk paused to consider, then replied “Chop wood, carry water.”
Yes, that’s a great one!
I haven’t listened to any Buddhism podcasts lately, but when I was, I found that I’d intellectually understand something, but it might be days or weeks later and I’d find myself noticing or even applying something I’d learned. Sometimes it just has to marinate in your subconscious.
My favorite definition of enlightenment is “seeing things as they are”. Which means it happens as more of a process than one moment.
My favorite definition of enlightenment is “seeing things as they are”. Which means it happens as more of a process than one moment.
Yes. Discernment is an important part of ancient Christianity as well.
The Other Kevin:
From Discworld (specifically the abilities of some witches):
I don’t think so.
Even in Meditations Marcus Aurelius was fighting his inner demons.
Maybe if you’re someone like Epictetus then you can be 100% certain, but in private, I’m sure he had his struggles and failures to deal with.
I’m sure that’s true. Perfection is unattainable. Pursuit is always worth it.
It’s the trip, not the destination.
I know the destination, I need to concentrate on the trip.
Preach it, brother. Anger management is one of my biggest challenges.
There is nothing inherently wrong with feeling anger. Everybody feels it, after all. It’s how you express it, which is where I fail.
Hello, ADHD. They have medication for that.
Why would I do that to myself?
Modifying my thoughts with medicine does not sound appealing.
My tongue was firmly planted in my cheek. 😜
However, MY life is greatly improved when my thoughts are not all over the place and I can’t hold them in my head. I have journals upon journals of just word vomit trying to sort my shit out, which works … for about a day. I don’t know how I survived without my drugs, to be honest. Maybe just being on subsistence level and doing anything I had to do to not go below it was its own coping mechanism.
He’s not Russell Brand in real life is he? Yo Russ, how about a discount on one of your anti-5G amulets?
TeeHee!, this fits me perfectly. I am thrilled I know I’m diving into. My last day of Octapharma employment was Oct 8, tho was told to leave the office early the Fri before. I’ve been doing more scouting, still convinced my phlebotomy dive was a proper Ev- into-Korea /Ev’s plunge into editing a newspaper. After applying to two new places, yesterday I popped in to see if I could get a feel of the place. Maybe get to talk to someone and politely leave a resume and walk on out.
But! I went into Grifols Biomat’s local plasma center. Mgmg wasn’t there and I left a resume with someone. On my way out, my phone rings! It was Grifols wanting to set up an appointment for ‘tomorrow!’ I told ’em I was just out the building and I walked back in. I chatted with two managers and it went quite well, though I wasn’t expecting a full two-on-one interview [insert all euphemisms here] right off the bat.
This morn they called and I got the gig! Gotta do the paperwork, background checks, etc, but I’ll likely be starting in 2.5 weeks. The Octa gig was my Dress Rehearsal. Certainly must learn the new spot and folk, but a far better feel for the Medical Professional /yet also an ‘engineer’ working with the client’s blood, trying to get what we both need. Chat often helps loosen folk, establish trust. (Some folk don’t wanna talk and ya feel it right off the bat. I find those trickier, oddly. Like working with a mannequin, but one that actively feels pain.)
Bro and I are nearly twins, physically and intellectually. *Drastically* different personalities and interests. His laser focus against my shotgun blast. (Both are mighty useful, depending.) I enjoy that I somehow spread to phlebotomy. It’s a great, reliable skill set that is in increasing demand everywhere. It
certainlylikely won’t be automated in my lifetime. And plenty of room for upward growth, particularly into labwork. If they want to pay me to write their shit, I’m all game as well.I dove into Korea and the Peru Tribune without any prior experience. Those went well, but with this especially, I feel having a first collapse sets me up much better for my second At-Bat. Ya always got a better feel the second time facin’ a bloke. I’m quite personally happy that Phlebotomist Persona got ~six weeks practice before I can break it all out anew this time. Donors won’t see (so many of) my character shifts like last time.
This bodes remarkably well. I still gotta work hard and stick the landing, but for now.. I’m just waiting on paperwork to get finished. Not my problem. I get to chill, sans obligation, as I wait. “Patience, my Pet, Ev.” I’ll have plenty to get sorted and mission or two out of town to attend to.
👍
Been sick for a few days and finally went to the doctor just to find out I have covid. Should have thought of that a done a home test. Then I wouldn’t have wasted my time with Prisma who won’t prescribe any real medicine for it.
That is quite annoying. Take your vitamins and get some rest for a week.
I think the only value in a test would be to save a trip to the doctor, as you said. If it had been strep or something bacterial they could prescribe something. Anything viral, and it’s all the same. Hope you’re feeling better soon.
Have some chicken noodle soup. Throw in a hot pepper.
There’s your medicine.
Mrs OBE and myself had something this past weekend. Pulled out the 80s handbook: Slammed NyQuil, vitamins, soup and hot toddies. Hope you start feeling better soon.
Obviously, you need to go to a Veterinarian and get some horsepaste.
Jesus, I didn’t mean to type my whole thoughts the first time.
tl;dr: I walked into Grifols Plasma Center yesterday and actually got a surprise sit-down interview. They said they’d call and they did! We have to get the paperwork sorted, but it looks like I’ll be on the donor floor in a couple of weeks. I suppose I’m in the purgatory of ‘Employed but not Officially.’
This is a wondrous place to be. I love ridding my brain of that lingering wasp of fear, constantly buzzing-in close. Having ‘failed’ my first phleb job was a curve ball of a learning period, and I’m excited to have a much-more fleshed-out Medical Persona established. It will go much more smoothly this time because I’ve fallen off before. My technique is far sharper, and Round II is an opp to start afresh on solid ground.
Good job!
Hopefully lesson learned from your last experience.
I shall. Important question: My psych folk say to put my disabilities UP FRONT. Accident of last job? I had an ‘Off’ moment mid-day. A sort of fuzzy spell. We hadn’t set up appropriate “Accommodations” for my disabilities. Work knows on paper that I have them, but not specific. I’ll tell HR/etc about epilepsy, hearing loss, and titanium hip issues. I doubt the whole Story.
I’d love legal advice from anyone about how these Accommodations are addressed. I’ll look up epilepsy ones for an idea.
I have zero clue how to “accommodate” me for epileptic (or brain-damaged) “Moments” when I am “off,” fuzzy, cloudy, etc. Usually need like 10-15 min of just sitting alone, chill, w/o distractions. (Sounds too much like an extra smoke break, yeah? Uh.) Once I’m officially an employee, they need to know about this stuff, but… I’m not sure how to address it. They’re infrequent, without a single ‘spark’ to look out for. (Stress always makes it worse, but..) It’s hard to describe what’s up with me without them just saying I’m too much trouble, just in case such a Moment occurs, tho it’s highly illegal for them to NOT accommodate me, iirc. I really am worried colleagues will think I’m getting a special smoke break. Bad vibes.
I am home from the store and still have money!
Never the less I must split wood and draw up plans for a smoke house my neighbor and I are plotting to fill with sausage, ham, boudin, and pork bellies.
Back later.
These days, that is a major accomplishment. I hate going to the store now, I always have a budget and I have to use my phone’s calculator to keep track of everything. I often come back without meat because it’s so damn expensive.
You’re building a smoke house? I wish I was your neighbor. I have rough plans for a brick smoker/grill in my head but have not built it yet.
o.O
I can’t even.
Look, man, not everyone has a magic store that sells below cost.
The sales are mediocre this weekend.
The one has ribeyes for 8.99/lb and the other has porterhouses at 9.99.
London broil is $3.99/lb, but I don’t bother with that.
https://www.breitbart.com/2024-election/2024/10/18/closing-message-kamala-harris-dumps-joy-angry-bitter-nasty-tone/
Perfect. Everyone likes a nasty, vapid bitch.
That kind of tone always attracts new people to you, it is known.
You’d have to be weird not to.
Other countries actually seem to report the news
https://x.com/CherylWroteIt/status/1847188935950082452?s=19
Harris tries to take credit for Hamas assassination. These guys bring receipts
I guess her job is toast. If she is who I think she is that wont matter to her.
I have an 8lb sledge around here somewhere but I cant find it. I also have a 12lb hammer. I must be feeble. That hammer wore me out in no time.