(독서) Daily Stoic-9월4일 HOW CAN YOU KNOW IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TESTED?

"We must undergo a hard winter training and not rush into things for which we haven't prepared."-EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 1.2.32 ("우리는 혹독한 겨울 훈련을 거쳐야 하며, 준비되지 않은 일을 성급하게 해서는 안 된다." - 에픽테토스, 《담론》 1.2.32)   Before the advent of modern warfare, armies typically disbanded during the winter. War was not the total war as we understand it today, but more like a series of raids punctuated by the rare decisive battle.   When Epictetus says we ought to go through "hard winter training" the Greek word is cheimaskêsai-he was disputing the notion that there is such a thing as part-time soldiering (or part-time anything for that matter). In order to achieve victory, one must dedicate every second and every resource into preparation and training. LeBron James doesn't take a summer break-he uses it to work on other aspects of his game. The U.S. military trains its soldiers day and night when not at war, in preparation for when they have to go to war; when they do go to war, they fight until it's over.   The same is true for us. We can't do this life thing halfheartedly. There's no time off. There aren't even weekends. We are always preparing for what life might throw at us-and ...

"Men, the philosopher's lecture-hall is a hospital-you shouldn't walk out of it feeling pleasure, but pain, for you aren't well when you enter it."-EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 3.23.30 ("여러분, 철학자의 강의실은 병원입니다. 여러분이 그곳을 나설 때 쾌감을 느끼는 것이 아니라, 고통을 느껴야 합니다. 왜냐하면 여러분은 그곳에 들어올 때 이미 건강하지 않기 때문입니다." - 에픽테토스, 《담화집》, 3.23.30)   Have you ever been to physical therapy or rehab? No matter what the name implies or how many people you see lying about, getting massages, it's not a fun place to be. It turns out that healing hurts. The trained experts know exactly where to exert pressure and what to subject to stress so that they can strengthen where the patient is weak and help stimulate the areas that have atrophied.   Stoic philosophy is a lot like that. Some observations or exercises will touch one of your pressure points. It's nothing personal. It's supposed to hurt. That's how you'll ...

"The rational soul is stronger than any kind of fortune-from its own share it guides its affairs here or there, and is itself the cause of a happy or miserable life."-SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 98.2b ("이성적인 영혼은 어떠한 운명보다도 강합니다. 자신의 몫으로 인해, 그것은 자신의 일들을 이리저리 인도하며, 행복한 삶이 될지 불행한 삶이 될지의 원인이 됩니다." - 세네카, 『도덕적 서신』, 98.2b)   Cato the Younger had enough money to dress in fine clothing. Yet he often walked around. Rome barefoot, indifferent to assumptions people made about him as he passed. He could have indulged in the finest food. He chose instead to eat simple fare. Whether it was raining or intensely hot, he went bareheaded by choice.   Why not indulge in some easy relief? Because Cato was training his soul to be strong and resilient. Specifically, he was learning indifference: an attitude of "let come what may" that would serve him well in the trenches with the army, in the Forum and the Senate, and in his life as a father and statesman.   His training prepared him for any conditions, any kind of luck. If we undergo our own training and ...

"Whenever you take offense at someone's wrongdoing, immediately turn to your own similar failings, such as seeing money as good, or pleasure, or a little fame-whatever form it takes. By thinking on this, you'll quickly forget your anger, considering also what compels them-for what else could they do? Or, if you are able, remove their compulsion."-MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 10.30 ("누군가의 잘못된 행동에 화가 날 때마다, 즉시 자신의 비슷한 잘못들을 떠올리십시오. 예를 들어, 돈을 선으로 여기거나, 쾌락을 추구하거나, 약간의 명성을 얻으려 하는 것 등 어떤 형태로든지 말입니다. 이를 생각함으로써, 당신은 곧 분노를 잊게 될 것입니다. 그들이 무엇에 이끌렸는지도 생각해보십시오—그들이 할 수 있는 것이 무엇이겠습니까? 아니면, 가능하다면 그들의 강박을 제거하십시오." - 마르쿠스 아우렐리우스, 《명상록》 10.30)   Earlier we were reminded of Socrates's tolerant belief that "no one does wrong on purpose.” The clearest proof of that hypothesis? All the times we did wrong without malice or intention. Remember them? The time you were rude because you hadn't slept in two days. The time you acted on bad information. The time you got...

"Anything that must yet be done, virtue can do with courage and promptness. For anyone would call it a sign of foolishness for one to undertake a task with a lazy and begrudging spirit, or to push the body in one direction and the mind in another, to be torn apart by wildly divergent impulses."-SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 31.b-32 ("아직 해야 할 일이 있다면, 덕(德)은 그것을 용기와 신속함으로 해낼 수 있습니다. 누구나 무언가를 게으르고 마지못해 하는 것을 어리석다고 여길 것입니다. 몸은 한쪽으로 움직이지만 마음은 다른 방향으로 향하고, 서로 다른 충동에 의해 찢어지는 것은 미련한 짓이니까요." - 세네카, 《도덕 편지》, 31.b-32)    If you start something and right away feel yourself getting lazy and irritated, first ask yourself: Why am I doing this? If it really is a necessity, ask yourself: What's behind my reluctance? Fear? Spite? Fatigue? Don't forge ahead hoping that someone will come along and relieve you of this task you don't want to do. Or that someone else will suddenly explain why what you're doing matters. Don't be the person who says yes with their mouth but no with their actions. Steve Jobs told ...