(독서) Daily Stoic-9월19일 FLEXIBILITY OF THE WILL

"Whenever you suffer pain, keep in mind that it's nothing to be ashamed of and that it can't degrade your guiding intelligence, nor keep it from acting rationally and for the common good. And in most cases you should be helped by the saying of Epicurus, that pain is never unbearable or unending, so you can remember these limits and not add to them in your imagination. Remember too that many common annoyances are pain in disguise, such as sleepiness, fever and loss of appetite. When they start to get you down, tell yourself you are giving in to pain."-MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 7.64 (“고통을 겪을 때마다 고통은 부끄러워할 일이 아니며, 그 고통이 우리를 이끄는 지성을 저하시키거나 합리적이고 공익을 위해 행동하는 것을 막을 수 없다는 사실을 명심하세요. 그리고 대부분의 경우 고통은 결코 참을 수 없거나 영원하지 않다고 하는 에피쿠로스의 말에 도움을 받아 이러한 한계를 기억하고 상상 속에서 고통을 더하지 않도록 해야 합니다. 졸음, 발열, 식욕 부진과 같은 일반적인 성가신 증상도 고통을 가장한 것임을 기억하세요. 그런 것들이 당신을 주저앉히기 시작하면 스스로에게 고통에 굴복하고 있다고 말하세요."-마르쿠스 아우렐리우스, 명상, 7.64)   In 1931, on a trip to New York City, Winston Churchill was struck crossing the street by a car going more than thirty miles an hour. A witness at the scene was sure that he had been killed. He would spend some eight days in the hospital, with cracked ribs and a severe head wound.   Churchill somehow retained consciousness. When he spoke to the police, he went to great lengths to insist that he was completely to blame and wanted no harm to come to the driver. Later, the driver came to visit Churchill at the hospital. When Churchill heard that the driver was ...

"What if someone despises me? Let them see to it. But I will see to it that I won't be found doing or saying anything contemptible. What if someone hates me? Let them see to that. But I will see to it that I'm kind and good-natured to all, and prepared to show even the hater where they went wrong. Not in a critical way, or to show off my patience, but genuinely and usefully."-MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 11.13 (“누군가 저를 경멸하면 어떻게 하나요? 그렇게 하도록 내버려둬요. 하지만 제가 경멸할 만한 행동이나 말을 하지 않도록 주의하겠습니다. 누군가 나를 싫어하면 어떻게 하나요? 그렇게 하도록 내버려 둡니다. 하지만 저는 모든 사람에게 친절하고 선량하며, 미워하는 사람에게도 그들이 어디에서 잘못했는지 보여줄 준비가 되어 있다는 것을 보여줄 것입니다. 비판적인 방식이나 내 인내심을 과시하기 위해서가 아니라 진정으로 유용하게 말이죠."-마르쿠스 아우렐리우스, 명상, 11.13)   When someone has a strong opinion about something, it usually says more about them than whatever or whomever the opinion happens to be about. This is especially true when it comes to resentment and hatred of other people. (It is a sad irony that the prejudiced often harbor secret attractions to those they so publicly hate.)   For this reason, the Stoic does two things when encountering hatred or ill opinion in others. They ask: Is this opinion ...

"Success comes to the lowly and to the poorly talented, but the special characteristic of a great person is to triumph over the disasters and panics of human life."-SENECA, ON PROVIDENCE, 4.1 (“성공은 비천하고 재능이 부족한 사람에게도 찾아오지만, 위대한 사람의 특별한 특징은 인간 삶의 재난과 공황을 이겨내는 것입니다."-세네카, 운명론, 4.1)   Perhaps you know people who've been extraordinarily lucky in life. Maybe they hit the genetic lottery or have skated through classes and careers with ease. Despite never planning, making reckless decisions, jumping from one thing to the next, they've somehow survived without a scratch. There's a saying: "God favors fools."   It's natural to be a bit envious of these folks. We want the easy life too or so we think. But is the easy life really that admirable? Anyone can get lucky. There's no skill in being oblivious, and no one would consider that greatness.   On the other hand, the person who perseveres through difficulties, who keeps going when others quit, who makes it to their destination through hard work and honesty? That's admirable, because their survival was the result of fortitude and resilience, not birthright or circumstance. A person who overcame not just the external obstacles to success but mastered themselves and their ...

"First practice not letting people know who you are-keep your philosophy to yourself for a bit. In just the manner that fruit is produced-the seed buried for a season, hidden, growing gradually so it may come to full maturity. But if the grain sprouts before the stalk is fully developed, it will never ripen. . . . That is the kind of plant you are, displaying fruit too soon, and the winter will kill you."-EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 4.8.35b-37 ("먼저 사람들이 당신이 누구인지 알지 못하게 하는 연습을 하십시오. 잠시 동안 당신의 철학을 스스로 간직하십시오. 마치 열매가 맺히는 방식처럼 씨앗이 한동안 땅속에 묻혀 서서히 자라나 완전히 성숙해질 때까지 숨겨져 있는 것과 같습니다. 하지만 줄기가 완전히 자라기 전에 싹이 트면 결코 열매를 맺을 수 없습니다. 당신도 그런 식물입니다. 너무 일찍 열매를 드러내면 겨울이 당신을 죽일 것입니다." - 에픽테토스, 담화록 4.8.35b-37)   After all you've read, it might be tempting to think: This stuff is great. I get it. I’m a Stoic. But it's not that easy. Just because you agree with the philosophy doesn't mean the roots have fully taken hold in your mind.   Fooling with books so you can sound smart or have an intimidating library is like tending a garden to impress your neighbors. Growing one to feed a family? That's a pure and profitable ...

"Try praying differently, and see what happens: Instead of asking for 'a way to sleep with her,' try asking for 'a way to stop desiring to sleep with her.' Instead of 'a way to get rid of him,' try asking for 'a way to not crave his demise.' Instead of 'a way to not lose my child,' try asking for 'a way to lose my fear of it." -MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 9.40.(6) ("기도를 다르게 시도해 보세요. 그리고 무슨 일이 일어나는지 지켜보세요. 예를 들어, '그녀와 잠잘 방법'을 찾는 대신 '그녀와 잠자고 싶은 욕망을 없애는 방법'을 기도해 보세요. '그를 없앨 방법'을 찾는 대신 '그의 멸망을 갈망하지 않는 방법'을 기도해 보세요. '아이를 잃지 않을 방법'을 찾는 대신 '아이를 잃는 것에 대한 두려움을 없앨 방법'을 기도해 보세요." - 마르쿠스 아우렐리우스, <명상록> 9.40(6))   Prayer has a religious connotation, but in life we all find ourselves hoping and asking for things. In a tough situation, we might silently ask for help; or, after a tough break, for a second chance from above; during a sports game, we might sit on the edge of our seat wishing for some outcome. "C'mon, c'mon, c'mon," we say. "Please..." Even if it is to no one in ...