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 italicized in bold, my replies are in normal text.
To the man who had become shameless
Whenever you see another person holding office, set over against this the fact that you possess the ability to get along without office; whenever you see another person wealthy, see what you have instead. For if you have nothing instead, you are wretched; but if you are capable of feeling no need of wealth, know that you are better off, and have something worth far more than wealth. Another has a comely wife, you the ability not to yearn for a comely wife. Is all this small in your eyes? Yet how much would these men give, who are rich and hold office, and live with beautiful women, to be able to despise wealth and offices, and these very same women whom they passionately love and win?
While more money or a nicer car would be nice, I do not desire it to the point of feeling anything is missing from my life. The things I do have make me happy without feeling jealous towards others that have more. I have been much poorer in my younger days, but we never were unhappy because of it.
Do you not know what kind of thing the thirst of a man in fever is? It is quite unlike that of a man in health. The latter drinks and his thirst is gone, but the other gets a momentary satisfaction, and then becomes nauseated, turns the water into bile, throws up, has a pain in his bowels, and suffers more violent thirst than before. 5A similar thing it is to be rich and have strong desire, to hold office and have strong desire, to sleep by the side of a beautiful woman and have strong desire; jealousy is added to one’s lot, fear of loss, disgraceful words, disgraceful thoughts, unseemly deeds.
I have known people that never had enough, they were always either looking ahead to when they would get promoted and get more money or worried about losing what they did have. That always seemed like an exhausting way to live.
And what do I lose? says somebody.—Man, you used to be modest, and are no longer so; have you lost nothing? Instead of Chrysippus and Zeno you now read Aristeides and Evenus;[1] have you lost nothing? Instead of Socrates and Diogenes you have come to admire the man who is able to corrupt and seduce the largest number of women. You wish to be handsome and make yourself up, though you are not handsome, and you wish to make a show of gay attire, so as to attract the women, and you think yourself blessed if perchance you light upon some trivial perfume. But formerly you used never even to think of any of these things, but only where you might find decent speech, a worthy man, a noble thought. Therefore you used to sleep as a man, to go forth as a man, to wear the clothes of a man, to utter the discourse that was suitable for a good man; and after all that do you still say, “I have lost nothing”? And is it nothing but small change that men lose in this way? Is not self-respect lost, is not decency lost? Or is it impossible that the loss of these things counts for anything? 10To you, indeed, the loss of none of these things, perhaps, seems any longer serious; but there once was a time when you thought it the only serious loss and harm, when you were in great anxiety lest anyone should dislodge you from these good words and deeds.
Until I met my wife when I was 19, I liked to drink beer and chase women. Many young Marines have these hobbies. Most people would dress differently and listen to music they thought the ladies would like. I was always more of a “they will either like me or they won’t” kind of guy. I remember getting made fun of because I was wearing an Iron maiden shirt and never wore cologne by some of my drinking buddies.
Behold, you have been dislodged, though by no one else but yourself. Fight against yourself, vindicate yourself for decency, for respect, for freedom. If anyone ever told you about me that someone was forcing me to commit adultery, to wear clothes like yours, or to perfume myself, would you not have gone and murdered the man who was so maltreating me? And now, therefore, are you not willing to come to your own rescue? Yet how much easier is the work of rescue in the latter case! It is not necessary to kill somebody, put him in bonds, or assault him; you do not have to come out into the market-place, but only to talk to yourself, the man most likely to be persuaded, to whom no one is more persuasive than yourself. And first of all condemn what you are doing; then, when you have passed your condemnation, do not despair of yourself, nor act like the spiritless people who, when once they have given in, surrender themselves completely, and are swept off by the current, as it were, 15but learn how the gymnastic trainer of boys acts. The boy he is training is thrown; “get up,” he says, “and wrestle again, till you get strong.” React in some such way yourself, for I would have you know that there is nothing more easily prevailed upon than a human soul. You have but to will a thing and it has happened, the reform has been made; as, on the other hand, you have but to drop into a doze and all is lost. For it is within you that both destruction and deliverance lie.—But what good do I get after all that?—And what greater good than this are you looking for? Instead of shameless, you will be self-respecting; instead of faithless, faithful; instead of dissolute, self-controlled. If you are looking for anything else greater than these things, go ahead and do what you are doing; not even a god can any longer save you.
Working on my self control has made me feel better about myself. I can do things without getting angry that would have been impossible in the past. Flying out on Monday, I was a little behind my self imposed deadline to get there 2 hours before my flight left. I was tenser than I would have liked, but not nearly as stressed as that situation would have made me in the past. I am still working on that, but this would have been impossible before. Last time I flew, I was disappointed in my inability to not be stressed. Since I identified this as a weakness, I paid more attention to my reactions this time. Tomorrow we fly home, so I will attempt to work on that again.
Little short this week since I am traveling with my wife and we went to an Irish pub for dinner. It is nice that after being married for 31 years, we can still go out together and have fun.
It is nice that after being married for 31 years, we can still go out together and have fun.
🙂
Today is Mrs F’s birthday, tomorrow dinner at the fanciest Vietnamese restaurant in P’ville. DST lets us stay out a little later.
Happy Birthday to her.
🎂🍰
Happy birthday to Mrs. Fourscore!
I’ve tried a similar approach.
Turns out they don’t like me.
We like you.
Don’t take this the wrong way – in terms of romantic liasons… you’re not my type.
It was my buddy Phil that all the boys were attracted to back in the day.
Seems the same dandy clothes, jewlery and perfume that he wore to attract the comely ladies also set off their gaydar.
https://youtu.be/rl_NpdAy3WY
“There’s someone for everyone”
I’m living proof X2.
Demoralized
Since Trump began his second term, his administration’s legally questionable use of the armed forces — from his deployment of the National Guard to several cities led by Democrats to U.S. strikes on Venezuelan boats — has left a growing number in the military unsettled and demoralized, according to NPR interviews with service members.
The White House has also worked to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs within the military, leading many to question how they fit in. And Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has conducted a major restructuring of the Pentagon, including widespread firings of four-star admirals and generals, most recently Gen. Randy George, then the Army chief of staff, in the midst of the war with Iran.
Now, as that war has spread throughout the region and killed more than a dozen U.S. service members, many are worried about what comes next.
The Army just isn’t that much fun anymore, apparently.
I’m picturing the “We’ve got to save out phoney baloney jobs!” scene from Blazing Saddles, only with generals.
“Four star admirals”
I’m army and that makes my head hurt.
The “Four star” Admiral is an O-10, ‘full’ Admiral as opposed to the O-9 Vice Admiral, or the unfortunately named Rear Admirals at O-7 and O-8 (who in the days of wooden ships commanded the ass-end of the formation)
I wondered what the rear admiral was.
The rear admiral isn’t in charge of the poop deck?
Depending if it’s rear admiral, lower half or rear admiral, upper half. 😏
Not Adahn wins the internet this day.
On the bright side, imagine how bad they’d feel if Musk had been allowed to unleash DOGE on the DOD budget.
Medicaid and social security.
Re DEI and how they “fit in” the military. You adapt to the military because it doesn’t adapt to you. Or as I heard the G1 of the Army tell us at the War College about a beef concerning a pay policy, “Imagine a bucket of water. Now imagine sticking your fist in it. Remove your fist and the remaining hole in the water is how much the Army needs you personally.”
Not to make light about the Iran War’s KIAs and serious WIAs but during the period of the war two to three times as many service members have died out the Theater of Operations from various things, none of which is related to the war, than what has occurred inside the theater. This has not been a month of daily Antietam/ Omaha Beach/ Tarawa/ etc. battlefield losses.
Somehow I thought the Army would collapse when I left. I was wrong.
My experience was that the DEI promotions reached critical mass and then promoted their own, and all the fresh E nothing women they were banging.
If a “real” war hit us I would like to think that luxury concerns about DEI and “fitting in” are going to be laughed out of the room but I am not so sure that would actually happen.
Send all the DEI hires to the front lines to serve as cannon fodder while we train up a real military.
Me trying to be stoic and decide on a first handgun. Do I just get a Glock 19? One of the PSA guns? I know I’ll need to rent and shoot to see what I really like but the Mrs agrees we need something in the house sooner rather than later. Suggestions please!
Go to a shooting range that rents gunz to see what feels best in your hands.
This. Also, go shooting with any friends who have handguns, and try all of them. Also, talk to people at the range, and see what they say.
Why stop at one? Get one for your wife, you may not always be home.
One day me and my gf got his and hers 1911s – SA RO compacts. I got a .45 and she got a 9mm.
I’m not a fan of the ergonomics of the Glock.
But you do want something that works with your hands rather than mine. The rent and see how it feels plan is your best bet.
To be carried? Home defense? What’s it intended purpose?
If you want a gun for home defense, I think a shot gun would be better.
Glocks are fine, but they are not the best, nor the best value.
If you want a handgun in the house, not expensive and are limited to your local gun stores, any of there are just as good or better and all cheaper than a Glock:
CZ P10 (C or F)
Ruger RXM
Beretta APX
Smith & Wesson M&P
Samsung SGR-A1, you don’t even have to get out of bed.
If this is mainly for “something in the house,” have you considered a long gun? My home defense go-to is a 20-gauge shotgun (less likely to knock me on my ass than a 12-gauge.) My (dated?) understanding is that shot is less likely to penetrate walls enough to go all the way to your neighbors’ house.
The great thing about guns is they do hold their value better than cars when it’s time to trade them in.
This will be for the home. You can be from front door to any room in house in a few seconds. It’s only 1300SF. Have Shotgun but looking for pistol and eventually edc.
NA’s list is solid.
I’ll add Springfield Armory Echelon as another fine suggestion. Look for a gear pack version for the best value.
Don’t worry about brand name recognition, caliber wars, or any other debates that rile up gun owners.
The only thing that matters is being able to put a round on target under stress.
Rent a lot of guns. Shoot a lot of rounds. Buy the gun that works in your hand.
We bought our first pistols about 6 years ago. For striker-fired weapons, I was leaning towards Smith & Wesson M&P and the Springfield XD-S. The Echelon is new and I have not fired one.
In the end, we bought 1911s. I loved the trigger from the first pull.
I keep a double action .38 for this. It is dead simple, nothing special to remember about it, easy to tell if loaded, and you just pull the trigger on it and it works. Six into a paper plate at bedroom door distance as quick as possible when practing.
You don’t have to worry about Glock leg, cocked and locked 1911, is it on safe, loose mags, your wife/girl friend who doesn’t care, etc. It just works.
Suggestions please!
You can’t go wrong with a 1911.
I finally got around to reading the “gunman with 100 rounds of ammo stopped at church” link.
The dude does seem to be a prime candidate for institutionalization.
However at the verrrrrry end of the article:
That may be all he could afford. He’s still crazy.
Not denying that. Just the implication from the headline that the dude was going to be spraying those 100 rounds that were in his backpack, (not even in magazines, ‘cuz revolver) t’was a bit misleadinng.
Now I’m envisioning a .22 revolver with a 100 round cylinder. I’m seeing something like a ring gear that carries all the chambers in a giant loop that cannot be contained within the frame of the revolver and I’m all but laughing at the image.
No idea if it is 22 LR or WMR, or if it was something like the Kel-Tec PMR 30, which could hold 30 rounds. It hardly matters I suppose.
Ahhh… Kel-Tec “Half of our R&D Budget is for cocaine and psychadelics”
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2026/04/accused-of-11m-fraud-he-flees-country.php
And how did he get away? He posted a $150,000 unconditional bond. The judge did not make him surrender his passport. This, despite a previous conviction for Medicaid fraud.
No comment.
“Your plea of guilty is accepted. We will now put a $150,000 bounty on your head – dead or alive”
I subscribe to UCS’ newsletter.
The judge should have an arrest warrant for aiding and abetting a convicted felon. <– Doesn't seem a stretch, honestly. Jack McCoy could certainly make it happen.
Time to call up Dog.
Oooh! Dog the Bounty Hunter meets Jack “Mad Dog” McCoy!
The intersectionalities are too great to ignore! The Judge Dredd of afternoon TV!
*4th attempt; victory worth > sly observation*
Dog
Brutal psychological torment
A complaint has been filed against Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins after she sent an overtly religious email to around 100,000 federal workers.
The top Donald Trump ally sent an email over the Easter weekend across the USDA’s 4,500 offices, making explicit references to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“Happy Easter—He is Risen indeed!” the Sunday message from Rollins began. “From the foot of the Cross on Good Friday to the stone rolled away from the now empty tomb, sin has been destroyed. Jesus has been raised from the dead. And God has granted each of us victory and new life.”
The email from Rollins prompted internal complaints that it violated the constitutional separation of church and state, as well as a formal complaint to the Office of Special Counsel, reported CNN.
Ethan Roberts, the president of a local union for federal employees and also an employee at the USDA, submitted the complaint over what he said amounted to a “pro-Christianity sermon.”
As well as potentially violating the establishment clause of the First Amendment, Roberts told CNN that Rollins making reference to “sin” and “Hell” made him “feel as if that was my fate if I did not treat Easter as holy as Secretary Rollins does.”
Boo fucking hoo. Grow up, you snivelling retard.
They’ll just add this to the “proof” that the Trump admin is lawless and has all kinds of complaints against them.
Now complain about the mayor of New York conducting Muslim celebrations.
I think he should put his own money where his mouth is and go martyr himself.
I’m not a religious person but even I know this is bullshit. The meaning only got twisted when activist judges decided that feelings were being hurt.
So the match tomorrow had a rules update a couple weeks back so I decided to reread them.
There are no even-numbered sections in the rulebook.
Someone experienced with documentation practices explain this to me.
My first reaction is “Half the Rules are Missing”
See, if it had just been one section missing I’d have assumed these guys were the sloppy incompetent clowns I suspect them of being. But the regularity of the numbering oddity make me wonder if there’s some convention like how BASIC programs were numbered by tens to allow for additional lines to be inserted later.
I was just thinking the same thing.
These folk must get cathartic release from it, the internal guilt they feel for being prosperous. (And white, likely.) Self-flagellation in modern times. Must demonstrate how worthy of whatever cause that moment makes them feel worthwhile, themselves.
People love being told, is the most upsetting bit. Obviously, puppeteers love telling people what to do. Made for another. (Sigh.)
It turns out you were right.
It’s a test to see if you read the rules. Like that mythical college test that says “Read the whole test” at the top of the first page, and at the end tells you to just turn in the test blank.
I am with Kevin on this one. I did tricks like that too when I did tech writing.
ToK – I was in a class that actually got a test like that, except it was in middle school, and the last instruction was “put X in the answer box” rather than leave it blank.
I probably would have been sent to detention if some teacher pulled that shit on me.
“No brown M&Ms”
Evan can’t even! But they’re so odd they can’t even even!
Only odd pages for odd people. (That’s why you got ’em.)
The answer has been found!
They claim to have “half the rules” of the leading national action pistol sport.
While I love having fun, this seems to give severely mixed messages about how seriously I’m supposed to follow the rules.
Rule #15: Don’t shoot your friends, or the judges.
Embrace the power of “and”.