How to Think Like a Roman Emperor
If you have anger issues, this one is a great tool (h/t mindyourbusiness.
Today’s lesson comes from: Musonious Rufus’s Lectures
We don’t know much about Rufus’s life, he was born between 20-30 AD. By the rein of Nero he was a leading Stoic teacher. He was banished twice under different Emperors. His most famous student was Epictetus and like him, Rufus did not write any of his own lessons. The lessons and fragments that remain were written by his students. We do not now when he died, but in 101 AD Pliny mentions him as deceased.
Disclaimer: I’m not your Supervisor. These are my opinions after reading through these books a few times.
That Kings Also Should Study Philosophy Part III
8 In general it is of the greatest importance for the good king to be faultless and perfect in word and action, if, indeed, he is to be a “living law”[2] as he seemed to the ancients, effecting good government and harmony, suppressing lawlessness and dissension, a true imitator of Zeus and, like him, father of his people. But how could anyone be such a king if he were not endowed with a superior nature, given the best possible education, and possessed of all the virtues which befit a man? If, then, there is any other knowledge which guides man’s nature to virtue and teaches him to practice and associate with the good, it should be placed beside philosophy and compared with it to see whether it or philosophy is better and more capable of producing a good king. Then the man who wished to become a good king would be wise to use the better one.
The higher a person is in a hierarchy, the more damage can be done if they are immoral. When my sons would act like fools, the after effects were mostly limited to themselves. If I, as the father and husband, stole or was unfaithful, it would hurt the whole family. Understanding Stoicism can encourage “good” behavior and choices and for any type of leader that is important for themselves and anyone under them.
9 If, however, no other art professes the teaching and transmission of virtue, though there are some which are concerned solely with man’s body and what is useful for it, while others which touch the mind aim at everything else but making it self-controlled,[3] yet philosophy alone makes this its aim and occupies itself with this, how a man may avoid evil and acquire virtue, if this I say is so, what else would be more serviceable to a king who wished to be good than the study of philosophy? How better or how otherwise could a man be a good ruler or live a good life than by studying philosophy? For my part, I believe that the good king is straightway and of necessity a philosopher, and the philosopher a kingly person.
A king or any important person needs to have an understanding of how to be the best they can and not abuse their power. Regardless of how large or small their power actually is. It doesn’t have to be Stoicism to be correct and useful. Even though I am not a Christian, I strive to follow the Bible as a guide for how to live a good life. I have incorporated Stoicism as a practical tool to help me reach the goals I have set for my life with my wife.
10 Of these two propositions let us examine the former: Is it possible for anyone to be a good king unless he is a good man? No, it is not possible. But given a good man, would he not be entitled to be called a philosopher? Most certainly, since philosophy is the pursuit of ideal good. Therefore a good king is found to be forthwith and of necessity a philosopher also. Now again that the philosopher is entirely kingly you may understand from this. The attribute of a kingly person is obviously the ability to rule peoples and cities well and to be worthy to govern men. Well, then, who would be a more capable head of a city or more worthy to govern men than the philosopher? For it behooves him (if he is truly a philosopher) to be intelligent, disciplined, noble-minded, a good judge of what is just and of what is seemly, efficient in putting his plans into effect, patient under hardship. In addition to this, he should be courageous, fearless, resolute in the face of things apparently disastrous, and besides beneficent, helpful, and humane. Could anyone be found more fit or better able to govern than such a man? No one. Even if he does not have many subjects obedient to him, he is not for that reason less kingly, for it is enough to rule one’s friends or one’s wife and children or, for that matter, only oneself.
Ruling myself is difficult sometimes, but it is a self-induced problem. The better I control myself, the better I am at being a good husband and father. Just because I understand the proper things I should be doing, I do not always do them. Knowledge of philosophy is only useful if it is followed, the same as any other training. When I am a better Stoic, I am a better man and everything else starts with that.
11 For, indeed, a physician who attends few patients is no less a physician than the one who attends many if, to be sure, he has skill and experience in healing. In the same way the musician who teaches only a few pupils is no less a musician than the one who teaches many, provided he knows the art of music. Likewise the horseman who trains only one or two horses is just as much a horseman as the one who trains many if he is skilled in horsemanship. And so the title of kingly person belongs to the one who has only one or two subjects just as well as to the one who has many, only let him have the skill and ability to rule, so that he may deserve the name of king. For this reason it seems to me that Socrates too called philosophy the statesmanlike and royal discipline, because one who masters it immediately becomes a statesman.[4]
When I was an artillery section chief in the Marine Corps, my section was my little kingdom. This was especially true when we were in the field for live fire shoots. I had 10 to13 Marines and a M198 howitzer that I was in charge of. I remember one time, we did a double Combined Arms Exercise (CAX). This entailed 3 1/2 weeks in the field, one week home and then 3 1/2 more weeks in the field. When I came home from the second half, my wife told me I was acting like a Sergeant in the house. I realized she was correct, I was being an asshole about something small because I was used to being in charge. It was hard sometimes to adjust, but I always liked the line from We Were Soldiers, when someone asks Mel Gibson’s character about how he balanced being an Army Colonel and a family man. He replied: “I hope being good at one makes me be better at the other.”
12 When Musonius said these things, the king was glad at his words and told him that he was grateful for what he said and added, “In return for this, ask of me whatever you wish for I shall refuse you nothing.” Then Musonius said, “The only favor I ask of you is to remain faithful to this teaching, since you find it commendable, for in this way and no other will you best please me and benefit yourself.”
I love the way Musonius didn’t ask for anything except that the king follows his teaching. It reminds me of when my wife and I first came to 29 Palms. It was her first time in America and my first time maintaining a home in America with her. One of her friends and her husband were very helpful to us. He helped me find an A/C compressor for my car in a junkyard, and a used dryer when we needed one. I asked him how to repay him and he told me to help younger Marines when I had the opportunity. I think I would have done it anyway, but that was a push that encouraged me to be more vocal about volunteering to help when I could.
Stoic question for the day. I was at a busy Sheetz tonight to fill up my car. There were cars at every pump and a few waiting behind them. I pulled in behind a BMW and realized there was no one at the car. I was stuck so I had to wait. A few minutes later he came out with a couple bags of food. Luckily he had already filled his car, so he got in and drove away. While I was filling my car, an old Toyota truck pulled into the pump next to mine. A man and woman got out then they both walked straight to the store. I finished pumping, moved my car to a parking spot and went in to use the facilities. The man and woman from the truck were in there browsing the snacks. I don’t understand that mentality. They know the pumps are busy, yet they tie one up just so they can find a bag of chips and some sodas.
Surely it’s not just me that hates when people do that?
You are not alone.
If you are shopping, park in a non-pump parking spot. Only pull up to a pump to fuel. When fuelled, leave the space so someone else can use it. Moreso when it’s a busy station.
I relarely go into the convenience store when I fuel.
If I do I’ll pump first, drive to a parking spot and go in. If with the kids one of us will fill the rig and the other will take them in to pee.
I really hate this behavior at truck stops. The sandal wearing group is particularly bad about blocking the pumps and then going in to stand in line for ten minutes for some junk food.
People are jerks and don’t care about being efficient.
That kind of rudeness is a helpful marker that makes me think “I don’t want to associate with you in any way”.
Yep.
Well, then, who would be a more capable head of a city or more worthy to govern men than the philosopher? For it behooves him (if he is truly a philosopher) to be intelligent, disciplined, noble-minded, a good judge of what is just and of what is seemly, efficient in putting his plans into effect, patient under hardship. In addition to this, he should be courageous, fearless, resolute in the face of things apparently disastrous, and besides beneficent, helpful, and humane. Could anyone be found more fit or better able to govern than such a man? No one.
Yankee Doodle came to town
riding on a poh-neeee…
People are jerks and don’t care about being efficient.
and completely oblivious to the world around them.
Headupassism is everywhere.
Many people get practice staring at a little screen in their hand for hours and hours every day.
When I came home from the second half, my wife told me I was acting like a Sergeant in the house.
Maybe she needed to be more stoic and understand you were right to be correcting her mistakes.
I kid, I kid!
And you thought droughts were bad
On Tuesday, Daniel Swain, a prominent climate scientist at UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, took to social media to issue his most alarming update yet on El Niño’s potential.
“Based on what I am seeing now, I am officially concerned,” Swain said, pointing to forecast models that show increasingly high confidence in a very wet California winter.
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“We’ve never seen an event this big before in the context of our rapidly warming climate … The warning lights are flashing,” Swain said.
Last month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom preemptively declared a state of emergency – and representatives from the National Weather Service joined Los Angeles city officials on Monday to discuss El Niño’s potential impact on the region and to update preparedness measures.
Fucking reversion to the mean- how does it work?
It’s almost as if we are in a chaotic system with a self-centering tendency. Don’t like the weather? Just wait a while.
Panic!
😱
I thought California needed rain. Make up your mind!
Like farmers.
‘This drought is going to ruin me’
‘This spring rain is too much. I’m going to be ruined by root rot!’
How many women does it take to screw in a light bulb?
One good looking one who will call a guy to do it for her.
Is lightbulb slang for silicon valley cnc parties?
lol headline and the pics are even better
Pussies can harbor beaver fever. This is Known.
How many women does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Modern sexually empowered women use candles.
They know the pumps are busy, yet they tie one up just so they can find a bag of chips and some sodas.
Wait. They ignore the little signs which say “Do not leave vehicle unattended”?
*faints*
Rate this quote for stoicism on a scale of 1 to 10
Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,
But not expressed in fancy—rich, not gaudy,
For the apparel oft proclaims the man,
And they in France of the best rank and station
Are of a most select and generous chief in that.
Neither a borrower nor a lender be,
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.
This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.
Farewell. My blessing season this in thee.
Make homelessness great again
A massive crackdown, dubbed ‘Operation Save Skid Row,’ targeted over two dozen alleged drug dealers and distributors.
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“Just to be clear, we are not targeting the homeless people, we are targeting the drug dealers who take advantage of them,” said Oleg Pobereyko, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge at IRS Criminal Investigation.
Federal officials say the alleged drug dealers are using homeless tents to sell or deal drugs and even disguising themselves as homeless or city workers.
We all know how much the homeless hate drugs and drug dealers.
I was at a busy Sheetz tonight – explosive diarrhea?
I finished pumping, moved my car to a parking spot – in romania this would do no good as the pump is blocked untill you pay
I don’t understand that mentality. – romanian has a word nesimtit which i am not sure how to translate in english
You don’t pay at the pump? Tap, pump, leave
Most places did not install that. Some did i expect in a few years most will.
I still find the fact that in canadia i was asked how much money should be blocked on my card before i pumped weird. Like i dont fucking know i fill her up and then pay whatever that is.
I’m having trouble wrapping my head around that given that for the entire time I’ve had a driver’s license, pay at the pump was standard fare at our gas stations.
Cigar of the evening is gurkha 15 reserve. Not bad.
Some french asshole pestered me all day with stupid questions
The operation is a joint effort between federal agencies and the LAPD, whose relentless investigative work, according to DEA officials, helped lead to the identification of 28 suspects.
Masters of disguise and subterfuge.
It’s not like you could just ask any street urchin where to score.
Rate this quote for stoicism on a scale of 1 to 10
Sounds like some sort of white supremacist propaganda.
Gas Station Etiquette: For me it depends on what I am doing and what the status is at the store. When I’m traveling I will gas up first, then if the lot isn’t busy I’ll keep my truck where it is and go get a drink/snack or hit the head. If it’s busy I’ll find a spot to park first, then go in the store to shop and/or piss, then go fill the gas tank. Around town I usually only need to fill up the truck so it’s not an issue, unless there’s a problem with the card reader at the pump. Then I leave the truck at the pump and go in to pay for gas.
If I drive up and there’s a mob at the station pumps I’ll usually just drive to a different one unless there’s some special reason to stay (like a discounted price of gas). Then I just play the waiting game.