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 not to yearn for the things which are not under our control Part III
25Someone has arrived from Rome. “If only there is no bad news!” But how can anything bad for you happen in a place, if you are not there? Someone arrives from Greece. “If only there is no bad news!” In this way for you every place can cause misfortune. Isn’t it enough for you to be miserable where you are? Must you needs be miserable even beyond the seas, and by letter? Is this the fashion in which all that concerns you is secure?—Yes, but what if my friends over there die?—Why, what else than that mortal men died? Or how can you wish to reach old age yourself, and at the same time not behold the death of any that you love? Do you not know that in the long course of time many different things must needs happen; fever must overcome one man, a brigand another, a tyrant a third?
As I have reached my 50’s more people I know have died. Also many of my co-workers have had to deal with the fact that as we age, our parents do also. It is a fact of life that everyone with people close to them must deal with.
Because such is the character of the air about us, such that of our associates; cold and heat and unsuitable food, and journeys by land and by sea, and winds and all manner of perils; this man they destroy, that man they drive into exile, another they send on an embassy, and yet another on a campaign. 30Sit down, therefore, and get all wrought up at each one of these events, mourning, unfortunate, miserable, depend on something other than yourself, and that not one thing or two, but tens upon tens of thousands of things!
If I allow things that happen as a part of life to affect my state of mind more than what is natural, it would be easy to feel helpless in the face of life. Once I lose that self control, where would I draw the line at what I get upset about for no reason? When my dog died, I felt really sad and contemplated not getting another dog. The house was too quiet so I bought one just a couple days after. I am glad I did, even though he is not as smart as the other one, he still adds a lot of joy to my life and definitely made life more interesting than if I had been stuck mourning and not gotten him.
Is that what you used to hear when you sat at the feet of the philosophers? Is that what you learned? Do you not know that the business of life is a campaign? One man must mount guard, another go out on reconnaissance, and another out to fight. It is not possible for all to stay in the same place, nor is it better so. But you neglect to perform the duties assigned you by your commanding officer, and complain when some rather hard order is given you, and fail to understand to what a state you are bringing the army, as far as in you lies; because, if they all imitate you, no one will dig a trench, no one construct a palisade, or watch through the night, or risk his life in fighting, but they will seem useless soldiers.
As a retired Marine, this paragraph makes a lot of sense. I was a pretty good Marine and did what was required of me. We had some useless ones that were either unwilling or unable to do the little things that being a Marine entails. I have learned since I retired that my wife had a lot more animosity towards the Marine Corps than she let me know at the time. Looking back, there were times when she needed me but we had a field op coming up and I never wanted to be one of “those guys” that used their family as an excuse to get out of things, so I would leave and she would have to deal with whatever the issue was at the time.
Again, if you take ship as a sailor, take up one place and stick to that! and if you have to climb the mast, be unwilling; if you have to run to the bow, be unwilling! And what ship’s captain will put up with you? Won’t he throw you overboard like a piece of junk, nothing but a nuisance, and a bad example to the other sailors? So also in this world; each man’s life is a kind of campaign, and a long and complicated one at that. You have to maintain the character of a soldier, and do each separate act at the bidding of the General, 35if possible divining what He wishes.
In life I have had many roles and am currently a husband more than anything else. While I still don’t do much housework, I do handle the yard work and all the mechanic/handyman related issues.
For there is no comparison between this General and an ordinary one, either in His power, or in the pre-eminence of His character. You have been given a post in an imperial city, and not in some mean place; not for a short time either, but you are a senator for life. Do you not know that a man in such a post has to give only a little attention to the affairs of his own household, but for most of the time has to be away, in command, or under command, or serving some official, or in the field, or on the judge’s bench? And then you want to be attached to the same spot and rooted in it like a plant?—Yes, it is pleasant.—Why deny it? But soup is pleasant too, and a pretty woman is a pleasant thing. What else do those say who make pleasure their end?
Being a Marine, I was away quite often and for long stretches. The worst one was when we went to Okinawa for 6 months and while we were there, the US invaded Iraq. Our deployment got put on hold and we wound up spending 13 months there. 6 months after we came back, we were sent to Iraq for 7 months. leading up to this deployment we were training for 10-14 hours a day. By the time we got back from Iraq, there were 3 of us that were still married. I don;t know why my wife hates the Marine Corps. Once I left Artillery and moved to communications, life was much easier for all of us. I try to remember the hard times, it makes my current life very easy and prevents me from getting stressed out about things because this is all easy.
Did I miss the rapture (again)?
I’m still here. Not sure that helps though.
I was being quiet because it felt rude for the first comment to be off topic and didn’t have anything on topic to say
Everyone else worked for Nina Jenkowicz’s NGO and they have all been defunded.
I could have gotten USAID money? Why didn’t anyone tell me?
The bots have been turned off.
Unciv, that crossed my mind too, but I think you needed to a) Live in DC, b) Know someone connected, and c) Be a completely immoral douchebag.
Some of us do actually work.
Now that all the migrants are gone, I guess we all have to chip in. Are you picking vegetables or scrubbing toilets?
I just figured you guys were tired of my babbling.
Never me. But I generally feel out of my depth on your pieces, as (in general) I’ve had a pretty good life.
Lotta chores today, bro. Just got in.
Long work day. Be back later. Trying to remain Stoic.
Being a “good soldier” often means being a terrible husband or father. That’s the curse.
Yep.
I told my (first) wife that I’d been in the army 5 years before I met her. She made the choice to marry me.
Good description of why I decided against a full-time career in the Marines. I eventually left the National Guard because they were starting to get sent out on ridiculous deployments too and I didn’t have a civilian government job that would keep paying me.
That’s why I had to get out of artillery.
I couldn’t bring myself to get out of the Marines, but arty was killing us.
In the National Guard I was in a tank battalion. I was willing to deploy with the tankers if they needed us.
During the last AT I did they took away all our tanks. I few months later, when my enlistment was about up, the Captain tries to chat me up to reenlist. Offered a promotion and the chance to attend MP school. No fucking thank you.
A year later they were sent to Iraq to be prison guards for a year.
Pater Dean was telling me over Thanksgiving how much he liked the Marines, but his next rotation was a year or two in Okinawa, families not allowed, and he didn’t think he could leave Mater Dean with two toddlers (one of whom had just gotten out of the hospital with a near-death experience).
From the Dead Thread:
EvilSheldon on February 7, 2025 at 9:26 am
I’m going to show you a deck of 10 CT scans. Five were taken from men, five were taken from women. I’d like you to sort them into ‘men’ and ‘women’ piles.
(People who actually have a background in this – would this even be possible? Am I talking out of my ass more than usual?)
++++++++End QuoteL++++++
No background in it, but I recall this from a while back.
AI can supposedly do this with brain scans with a 90-98% accuracy. It doesn’t use CT scans though, it uses MRI. There was some controversy around it because it accurately sorts based on sex, so it doesn’t humor troon nonsense.
Link: https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2024/02/men-women-brain-organization-patterns.html
Interesting!
“There was some controversy around it because it accurately sorts based on sex, so it doesn’t humor troon nonsense.”
I can hear the screeching now. “Gender isn’t about my brain, it’s about my HEART!!!”
I’d bet you can tell male hearts from female visually with a high degree of accuracy as well.
Not to mention certain other organs…
It also directly contradicts the comments in that sub-thread from the dude who decided to troon out.
Not to mention certain other organs…
Yes, my spleen is much different than my wife’s
[It’s happening GIF]
People are losing their shit on FB today about Elon Musk raiding our treasury or something. That’s a good indication of what narrative the Dems are pushing. Anything to distract us from this NGO scandal.
Raiding it by saying stop spending money on useless and counterproductive crap is an odd form of robbery.
His shadow government is dismantling our shadow government!
https://babylonbee.com/news/elon-is-an-unelected-official-warns-government-with-3-million-unelected-officials
I’m good at being stoic. Forgot to check furnace fuel and ran out. Went to buy some and my credit card was locked. Got both of those taken care of and tried to refill prescription I’ve only got 5 pills left for, automated message says it’s too early to refill. Yet no anger, just exhaustion.
Anyone know what the sizes are for the “large” and “mega” mugs in the glibs merch store? I broke my coffee tankard.
This is the MAGA size.
Does Stewart’s still sell metal travel mugs?
I’d prefer the money go to the site if they were acceptable.
My site logo sticker was good quality and has worn well on my PC. I believe any coffee mug would be perfectly cromulent.
“If I allow things that happen as a part of life to affect my state of mind more than what is natural, it would be easy to feel helpless in the face of life. Once I lose that self-control, where would I draw the line at what I get upset about for no reason?”
I’ve dealing with this for a while. I sit on a church board (the youngest person) and there’s one guy who isn’t a horrible person, but he uses the bible as a tool to kind of get his way and he likes to do things without consulting us. And on top of that there’s been a couple of people who confided in me that they have issues with him due to his conduct. I tried talking to him about it to no avail and even tried to involve the other board members but he’s resistant to change. I finally had enough last week, and I told him that his behavior is unacceptable and no longer will be tolerated. And he accused me of having anger against him and not helping out with bringing new members to the church (despite him being over the evangelizing committee).
If bothered me for a while that all of this was going on, but my father pointed put something. It’s no used talking to him anymore because he won’t change and if those people have issues with him, it’s on them to bring it to him and the other members instead of running to you to solve their issues. And also, that I need to focus on the stuff I’m charge of instead of trying to do everything because I can’t control everything.
Time to attend AA? “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”.
” but he uses the bible as a tool to kind of get his way and he likes to do things without consulting us”
At my wife’s church, that guy is referred to as “pastor.”
Thanks for continuing this series, ron73440!
It’s always a great reminder that mankind has been wrestling with some of the same issues since the dawn of man.
And, thank you for your service.
Elections have horrific consequences, ch 2025
Trump has issued reams of executive orders and actions in his frenzied 19 days in office — including those axing civil service protections for federal workers, freezing the hiring of new federal employees and mandating a line-by-line review of federal spending to ensure no dollars are going toward diversity, equity and inclusion programs and other causes antithetical to his agenda.
The orders have the incoming Office of Management and Budget director’s fingerprints all over them and align with Trump’s broader goal of tearing down a federal “deep state” he believes worked to stymie his agenda during his first term, Trump insiders and those close to Vought say.
Just because you’re the new duly elected President doesn’t mean you can just run around changing things to suit you.
The things Trump is doing this time almost makes me feel bad for not voting for him.
“Just because you’re the new duly elected President doesn’t mean you can just run around changing things to suit you.”
Standard disclaimer: Unless you’re a Democrat
And also, that I need to focus on the stuff I’m charge of instead of trying to do everything because I can’t control everything.
Excellent advice.
Easier said than done, as we all know.
It’s really difficult for me to practice that but I’ve been trying to really incorporate that line of thinking in my life. Talking to my therapist, I’ve discovered my anxiety is partially due to worrying about crap that I can’t control.
Easier said than done, as we all know.
Step 1 is to shut off the beam of stuff you can’t control into your brain.
Life is so much better when that beam is disrupted.
“OMB is up to its neck right now executing on the president’s priorities,” said a senior White House official who worked with Vought during Trump’s first term and who was granted anonymity to speak candidly to provide insight into the office. “Russ will arrive at a time when OMB is being asked to execute a huge swath of the president’s agenda.”
Fucking Office of Management and Budget– how does it work?
Thanks Ron, I’ve been trying to not get too excited. On Tuesday I had a filling fallout. Surprisingly I got an appointment for Wednesday, 3 PM. Great. Wednesday morning I was busy, got home about 11:15. My wife told me they had changed my appointment to noon, 12 o’clock. It’s 20 miles to the clinic. I had planned to change my clothes before the appointment, now there was no time. I drove out at 11:25, PO’d, drove 70 MPH which I never do, because of reasons. Fortunately there was little traffic, pulled into the clinic at 11:45, checked in, hit the bathroom, when I came out they called my name before I even at a chance to sit down. 12:10 I walked out of the clinic, all was well.
I drove home leisurely. Stoic for the win.
Congressional Democrats are strategizing how to counter Vought’s directives, including legal challenges that could make their way to the Supreme Court. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) suggested there might be some additional mechanism Congress could use to make sure the administration spends federal dollars in the way lawmakers voted.
By all means, Senator, stand up in the Senate and defend these programs. Get it all down on the public record in microscopic detail. Every name, every dollar.
Little too late to try and claw back the authority you ceded to the Executive, Timmy…
An honest Media: Senator Kaine, can you explain to us why paying for condoms in Gaza is a good use of the American taxpayer’s money?
The “Waste our Money or Else” Act.
It’s a nice day when I can just sit at my desk and make Word docs look pretty.
Backing up more of my dvds/bluerays, rewatching Hackers. 13 minutes in and I hate all the main characters.
I love that movie, even without a young Angelina Jolie’s boobs. So, I guess I’m not surprised?
I thought I did. But these cringy “teenagers” are obnoxious. Maybe I shouldn’t expect them to act like humans.
I thought I knew you EvilSheldon.
The movie that I’m pretty sure codified all the worst hacker tropes. Multiple people typing on the same keyboard, the best CGI graphics that can be bought for the hacking, “hack the Gibson”… Sneakers is better in every way except it doesn’t have Angelina’s boobs in it.
Sneakers is the better movie, no question. I like Hackers for entirely different reasons.
“Mess with the best…die like the rest”
I have a stack of DVDs to scan in. Mostly 90s sitcoms courtesy of the wife.
I’m now working through “In Search Of”.
It’s amusing, almost comedic in its earnestness.
“Each man’s life is a kind of campaign, and a long and complicated one at that. You have to maintain the character of a soldier, and do each separate act at the bidding of the General, if possible divining what He wishes.”
I agree, some times the General is your wife, other times your boss, but it should mainly be you. You need to be your own General otherwise your wife or boss will be running your life at the expense of the other and both will eventually leave you. Take ownership for your life by balancing the obligations and managing the tradeoffs within it.
Otherwise move on!
https://youtu.be/_WNJ-S6oQp8?si=fm5Kg6tTAzgC_7jw
young Angelina Jolie’s boobs.
Before she succumbed to hysterical self-mutilation?
For Evil Sheldon, or any other gun guy/aspie
https://uspsa.org/announcement/949
New guy in charge of rules enforcement at USPSA. $120k/year, plus travel plus match fees.
That sounds like a lot of work with people.
Hahaha! I thought the same thing.
Yeah, you’d need to be able to deal with lots of people with podcasts hating you.
Even without the hostile side, it sounds like the regular duties involve dealing with people plus meetings and more dealing with people.
Honestly I have no idea what the “office” culture is an NROI or if they even have an office.
Yes, you’d have to work with people. Fortunately, most of the people you’d work with are people doing something they want to be doing.
I can do that. First rule: No bellyaching. Second rule: Don’t do stupid shit. Third rule: Don’t annoy the head of Rules Enforcement. If your situation is not covered by those three rules, re-read them ::carefully::.
Ah, but you don’t make the rules. The Board of Directors does that. You wrangle volunteers of various degrees of comeptence, though you can punt them if you think they’re insufficiently competent.
Elon Musk’s team on Friday entered the headquarters of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Friday, sources tell us.
Three Musk allies are listed as “senior advisers” in the staff directory at the CFPB now.
CFBP staff is “mad as hell.”
https://x.com/hollyotterbein/status/1887922859596538028
Oh no! Anyway…
Not another unconstitutional fiefdom!
Comment *Big balls is back!
#MAGA
Good on JD. No more cancellations on social media. Judge people by their work, not the size of their balls.
OMB has done more to end cancel culture in less than a day than Ken White has done in his entire life.
Big Ball Energy!
https://x.com/DerrickEvans4WV/status/1887865329390395423
As the post closes:
“Someone has arrived from Rome. “If only there is no bad news!” But how can anything bad for you happen in a place, if you are not there? Someone arrives from Greece. “If only there is no bad news!” In this way for you every place can cause misfortune. Isn’t it enough for you to be miserable where you are? Must you needs be miserable even beyond the seas, and by letter? ”
Amen, my Stoic brother. How many people lost their minds and put up Ukrainian flags on Twitter and live and die by what happens over in Ukraine? There was absolutely nothing any of us could do about it the last four years. Tend to your own issues and fix those.