(독서) Daily Stoic-12월 19일 HUMAN SCALE

"Both Alexander the Great and his mule-keeper were both brought to the same place by death-they were either received into the all-generative reason, or scattered among the atoms." -Marcus AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 6.24 ("알렉산더 대왕과 그의 노새지기 모두 죽음을 통해 같은 장소로 가게 되었다. 그들은 모두 생성의 이성 안에서 받아들여졌거나, 원자들 사이로 흩어졌을 것이다." - 마르쿠스 아우렐리우스, 명상록 6.24)   In a world that is in many ways becoming more and more unequal, there aren't many truly equalitarian experiences left. When Benjamin Franklin observed that "in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes," he couldn't have known how good some people would get at ...

"Death lies heavy upon one who, known exceedingly well by all, dies unknown to himself."-SENECA, THYESTES, 400 ("모든 사람이 너무나 잘 알고 있지만, 자신도 모르는 채 죽는 자에게 죽음은 무겁다."- 세네카, 티에스테스 400)   Some of the most powerful and important people in the world seem to have almost no self-awareness. Although total strangers know endless amounts of trivia about them, celebrities-because they are too busy or because it hurts too much-appear to know very little about themselves.   We can be guilty of the same sin. We ignore Socrates's dictum to "know thyself"-often realizing we have done so at our peril, years later, when we wake up one day and ...

"I tell you, you only have to learn to live like the healthy person does... living with complete confidence. What confidence? The only one worth holding, in what is trustworthy, unhindered, and can't be taken away-your own reasoned choice."-EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 3.26.23b-24 ("나는 여러분에게 말합니다. 여러분은 단지 건강한 사람이 살아가는 방식대로 살아가는 법을 배우기만 하면 됩니다. 완전한 자신감을 가지고 살아가는것입니다. 어떤 자신감일까요? 오직 믿을 만하고 방해받지 않으며 빼앗길 수 없는 것에 대한 자신감입니다. 그것은 바로 여러분 자신의 이성적 선택입니다." - 에픽테토스, <담화집>, 3.26.23b-24)   As the Stoics say repeatedly, it's dangerous to have faith in what you do not control. But your own reasoned choice? Well, for now that is in your control. Therefore it is one of the few things you can have confidence in. It's the one area of health that can't suddenly be given a terminal diagnosis (except for the one we all get the day we're born). It's the only one that remains pristine and never wears down-it's only the user who ...

"This is the mark of perfection of character- to spend each day as if it were your last, without frenzy, laziness, or any pretending." -MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 7.69 ("조급함이나 게으름, 가식 없이 하루하루를 마지막인 것처럼 보내는 것, 이것이 바로 완벽한 인격의 표식입니다." - 마르쿠스 아우렐리우스, 《명상록》 7.69)   The Stoics didn't think that anyone could be perfect. The idea of becoming a sage-the highest aspiration of a philosopher-wasn't realistic. This was just their Platonic ideal.   Still, they started every day hoping to get a little closer to that mark. There was much to gain in the trying. Can you actually live today like it is your last day? Is it even possible to embody completeness or perfection in our ethos ...

"Soon you will die, and still you aren't sincere, undisturbed, or free from suspicion that external things can harm you, nor are you gracious to all, knowing that wisdom and acting justly are one and the same."-MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 4.37 ("곧 당신은 죽게 될 것입니다. 그런데도 여전히 진실하지 않고, 평온하지 않으며, 외부의 것들이 당신에게 해를 끼칠 수 있다는 의심에서 자유롭지 않습니다. 또한 지혜와 정의롭게 행동하는 것이 하나라는 사실을 알면서도 모든 이에게 친절하지 않습니다." - 마르쿠스 아우렐리우스, 명상록 4.37)   From what we understand, Marcus wrote many of his meditations later in life, when he was suffering from serious illnesses. So when he says, "Soon you will die," he was speaking frankly to himself about his own mortality. How scary that must have been. He was staring at the real possibility of death and not liking what he saw in these last minutes.   Sure, he'd accomplished many things in his life, but his emotions were still the cause of discomfort, pain, and frustration. He knew that with his limited time left, better choices would provide relief.   Hopefully, you have a lot more time left-but that makes it even more important to make headway while you still can. We are unfinished products up until the end, as Marcus knew very well. But the earlier we learn it, the more we can enjoy the ...