Philosophy
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In the thirtieth year of his reign, Emperor Liang sat upon the alabaster throne in the Hall of Balanced Scales. Two provincial governors had journeyed a thousand miles to lay their quarrel at his feet. Governor Wei of the fertile Riverlands entered first. His robes were silk, his retinue numerous, hearty, and gracious. Behind him…
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In the half-light of dawn, Viktor trudges through the frozen mud. His feet are raw with blisters from ragged shoes that do not fit, handed down from a former occupant with no more need. He shudders at the promise of the day’s forced labor. Victor has been a prisoner in the Nazi concentration camps for…
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In a trading village in the windy plains, Caius the blacksmith was a man of fire and iron. A handsome man with bright eyes, a charming smile, and strength born of a lifetime of physical labor, he was the envy of the village lads and ever the subject of interest for the young ladies that…
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The Rich and The Poor It is easy for a man who has much to criticize the habits of one who has little, and easy for a poor man to criticize the wealthy for the usage of what he has. It is not common to hear the poor criticizing the poor, or the rich the…
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In a quiet valley nestled between rolling hills, two friends, Elias and Mara, dreamed of building homes to call their own. Both decided to craft sturdy brick houses, envisioning shelters that would stand proud and long. With enthusiasm, they laid their foundations and began stacking their first rows of bricks under the warm sun. That…
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In a village carved from the frozen jaws of a Slavic winter, where the wind howled like a hungry wolf, lived Katya, a girl with eyes like storm clouds and skilled fingers that could’ve danced with flax… if only she’d let them. Her family’s hut smelled of damp wool and expectation, the flax piled high…
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“Where’s that scout I told you to find?” General Jackson’s query is sharp and accusatory. Major Norton drops his salute and shifts in his boots. “They say the best man is one of the volunteers, name of Davy Crockett.” “Well, where is he?” the general barks. “As a matter of fact, General, he’s out… hunting.”…
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Three people watched Fight Club last night. Spoiler alert. My wife, the narrative purist, was not a huge fan. “What’s so great about it?” She said. “It’s just a story about a guy who goes crazy and destroys things.” My mom, the plot sleuth, had the alter-ego twist pegged earlier than anyone. “I suspected…
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Three people watched Fight Club last night. Spoiler alert. My wife, the narrative purist, was not a huge fan. “What’s so great about it?” She said. “It’s just a story about a guy who goes crazy and destroys things.” My mom, the plot sleuth, had the alter-ego twist pegged earlier than anyone. “I suspected…
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The Stoic Dichotomy of Control When I first began to read the Stoic philosophers, I was struck by a bedrock idea that is preached by pretty much all of them. In a nutshell, the Stoics promoted a key principle known as the dichotomy of control, which basically says that we should stick to worrying about…
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“Every instrument, tool, vessel, if it does that for which it has been made, is well. Does the sun undertake to do the work of the rain? And how is it with respect to each of the stars? Are they not different and yet they work together to the same end?” These words from Marcus…
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An excellent mental exercise, rooted in Stoicism, is to start at the high level of the activities that make up the lion’s share of your daily efforts. Select one that you would rate as being highly important, write it down on a piece of paper, and then ask the question: “Why? Why do I do…
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“Well John Henry hammered in the mountain. He’d give a grunt and give a groan with every swing. The women folks from miles around heard him and come down, to watch him make the cold steel ring, Lord what a swinger! Just listen to the cold steel ring” – Johnny Cash “The Legend of John…
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How to Cultivate Calmness: Stoic Lessons from Socrates and Everyday Practice Want to cultivate calmness in a chaotic world? Stoicism offers timeless wisdom for living and dying well, from Socrates’ serene acceptance of death to practical habits you can start today. This guide explores how Stoic principles rooted in reason, resilience, and self-mastery can help…
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Stop Losing Sleep Over Work Stress with Stoicism If you are like me, you have lost more than a few nights of sleep over your job. Negative interactions, a boss that may be impossible to please despite your best efforts, reviews you disagree with, ever moving goal-posts, and stress-build up can send your head spinning…
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Letting Go Like a Stoic Saint: Detachment Done Right Stoic and Christian values, though born from wildly different worldviews— think polytheistic naturalism and toga-clad philosophers versus a single Creator and sandal-wearing disciples — share a surprising overlap when it comes to building an unshakeable character. Both Stoicism and Christianity emphasize cultivating an inner strength that…