“A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.” – Seneca
To be perfect means to never think, speak, do, or be wrong or bad or even negative. No one has ever been perfect. No one could ever be perfect. Does this mean we should never try to be perfect? Yes, that is simply too much pressure. The only thing we can and should do is strive for goodness. As Crates states: “It is impossible to find a person free from flaws; just as with the pomegranate, one seed is always going bad.” Stoicism is a philosophy,…Continue Reading “Strive for Goodness”
“Virtue is the same for women as for men.” -Antisthenes
“Esteem an honest man above a kinsman.” -Antisthenes
“It is easier to rule over all others than to rule over oneself.” -The Wry Stoic
“Because I observe that men who wish to become expert horsemen do not get the most docile horses but rather those that are high mettled, believing that if they can manage that kind they will easily manage any other. My course is similar. Mankind at large is what I wish to deal and associate with and so I have got her, well assured that if I can endure her I shall have no difficulty in my relations with the rest of humankind.” -Socrates
No man has seen certain truth for in all things there is opinion. -Paraphrasing Xenophanes
“Whoever chafes at the conditions dealt by fate is unskilled in the art of life; whoever bears with them nobly and makes wise use of the results is a man who deserves to be considered good.” -Epictetus
“The bad are not bad from the womb, but have learnt base ways from the bad because they thought what they said was true.” -Theognis
“Never have good men ruined a city. When the bad do the work of pride and corrupt the commons and favour the unrighteous for private gain, expect unrest. In such times do tyrants come to power.” -Theognis
“Never take counsel with a bad man when you would accomplish a grave matter.” -Theognis
“Never make the bad man your friend, avoid him like a bad anchorage.” -Theognis
“Possessions fortune give even to the wicked, but the gift of virtue to but few.” -Theognis
“If you really want to escape the things that harass you, what you’re needing is not to be in a different place but to be a different person.” -Seneca
You say I should respect your right
Eating meat, dairy, egg
So inhumane your diet kills
Poor souls who cry and beg
No one ever should be o.k.
Lest they even savor
Denying beings of their lives
Just for taste or flavor
Be good. Do better. Go vegan.
-The Wry Stoic
“No one is good by accident. Virtue has to be learnt.” -Seneca
“Someone despises me? That is their concern. But I will see to it that I am not found guilty of any word or action deserving contempt. Will they hate me? That is their concern. But I will be kind and well-intentioned to all, and ready to show this very person what they are failing to see – not in any criticism or display of tolerance, but with genuine good will.” -Marcus Aurelius
“If it is not right, don’t do it: if it is not true, don’t say it.” -Marcus Aurelius
We are all born into a world
Others have raised from dust
We profit from the work they’ve done
Yet self-praise is our lust
Roads and cars and planes and busses
The list is oh so long
Bobs and Jills and even Gusses
Have helped us all along
So when you hear someone mention
They built it all alone
Tell them they are full of shit
And smack them in their dome
Be good. Do better. Go vegan.
-The Wry Stoic
To know the truth and just not care
Is ignorance profuse
Each and every one of us must
Be vegan or obtuse
Be good. Do better. Go vegan.
-The Wry Stoic
How gluttonous is the person
To fill their greed for food
They will kill and maim and torture
The planet and her brood
Be good. Do better. Go vegan.
-The Wry Stoic
In short, the world today is really messed up. It seems that nobody is good anymore and everyone (especially collectives, such as social groups: nationalists, organized religions, republicans, democrats, etc; and businesses: Apple, Shell, Nestlé, Nike, etc.) seem to use whatever means they can to achieve their own desires regardless of the impact on others or nature itself, though this is not a reason for getting depressed. You see, nobody was ever born good, they were just born. They had to decide to be good…Continue Reading “The World Today”