July

28th
CHECK YOUR PRIVILEGE

“Some people are sharp and others dull; some are raised in a better environment, others in worse,
the latter, having inferior habits and nurture, will require more by way of proof and careful
instruction to master these teachings and to be formed by them—in the same way that bodies in a
bad state must be given a great deal of care when perfect health is sought.”
—MUSONIUS RUFUS, LECTURES, 1.1.33–1.3.1–3.

A t the end of a frustrating exchange, you might find yourself thinking, Ugh, this person is such an
idiot. Or asking, Why can’t they just do things right?
But not everyone has had the advantages that you’ve had. That’s not to say that your own life has been
easy—you just had a head start over some people. That’s why it is our duty to understand and be patient
with others.
Philosophy is spiritual formation, care of the soul. Some need more care than others, just as some have
a better metabolism or were born taller than others. The more forgiving and tolerant you can be of others
—the more you can be aware of your various privileges and advantages—the more helpful and patient
you will be.
 July 29th
A CURE FOR THE SELF

“The person who has practiced philosophy as a cure for the self becomes great of soul, filled
with confidence, invincible—and greater as you draw near.”
SENECA, M ORAL LETTERS, 111.2

W hat is “a cure for the self”? Perhaps Seneca means that, through nature and nurture, we develop a
unique set of characteristics—some positive and some negative. When those negative
characteristics begin to have consequences in our lives, some of us turn to therapy, psychoanalysis, or the
help of a support group. The point? To cure certain selfish, destructive parts of ourselves.
But of all the avenues for curing our negative characteristics, philosophy has existed the longest and
helped the most people. It is concerned not just with mitigating the effects of a mental illness or a
neurosis, but it is designed to encourage human flourishing. It’s designed to help you live the Good Life.
Don’t you deserve to flourish? Wouldn’t you like to be great of soul, filled with confidence, and
invincible to external events? Wouldn’t you like to be like the proverbial onion, packed with layers of
greatness?
Then practice your philosophy.
 July 30th
STOIC JOY

“Trust me, real joy is a serious thing. Do you think someone can, in the charming expression,
blithely dismiss death with an easy disposition? Or swing open the door to poverty, keep
pleasures in check, or meditate on the endurance of suffering? The one who is comfortable with
turning these thoughts over is truly full of joy, but hardly cheerful. It’s exactly such a joy that I
would wish for you to possess, for it will never run dry once you’ve laid claim to its source.”
—SENECA, M ORAL LETTERS, 23.4

W e throw around the word “joy” casually. “I’m overjoyed at the news.” “She’s a joy to be around.”
“It’s a joyous occasion.” But none of those examples really touches on true joy. They are closer to
“cheer” than anything else. Cheerfulness is surface level.
Joy, to Seneca, is a deep state of being. It is what we feel inside us and has little to do with smiles or
laughing. So when people say that the Stoics are dour or depressive, they’re really missing the point. Who
cares if someone is bubbly when times are good? What kind of accomplishment is that?
But can you be fully content with your life, can you bravely face what life has in store from one day to
the next, can you bounce back from every kind of adversity without losing a step, can you be a source of
strength and inspiration to others around you? That’s Stoic joy—the joy that comes from purpose,
excellence, and duty. It’s a serious thing—far more serious than a smile or a chipper voice.
 July 31st
YOUR CAREER IS NOT A LIFE SENTENCE

“How disgraceful is the lawyer whose dying breath passes while at court, at an advanced age,
pleading for unknown litigants and still seeking the approval of ignorant spectators.”
—SENECA, ON THE BREVITY OF LIFE, 20.2

E very few years, a sad spectacle is played out in the news. An old millionaire, still lord of his
business empire, is taken to court. Shareholders and family members go to court to argue that he is no
longer mentally competent to make decisions—that the patriarch is not fit to run his own company and
legal affairs. Because this powerful person refused to ever relinquish control or develop a succession
plan, he is subjected to one of life’s worst humiliations: the public exposure of his most private
vulnerabilities.
We must not get so wrapped up in our work that we think we’re immune from the reality of aging and
life. Who wants to be the person who can never let go? Is there so little meaning in your life that your only
pursuit is work until you’re eventually carted off in a coffin?
Take pride in your work. But it is not all.
 AUGUST

PRAGMATISM