Ordinary Faces

In one of the most watched videos on the Daily Stoic YouTube Channel this week, Ryan Holiday talks about one of the oldest ideas in all of art and philosophy—memento mori—and why we should constantly keep in mind that we are mortal:

“When you realize that as you are killing time, time is killing you—it changes your relationship with your life itself. That’s what Memento Mori is supposed to do. It’s not supposed to be morbid or depressing or paralyzing. It’s supposed to be the exact opposite: it’s supposed to be clarifying, it’s supposed to give you priority, it’s supposed to give you perspective, it’s supposed to help you realize how important the second in front of you right now is.”

Watch the full video: Why Facing Death Is The Key To Success

PODCAST TAKEAWAY OF THE WEEK:

In one of the most listened to episodes of the Daily Stoic podcast this week, Ryan Holiday talks to Professor Jennifer Baker about her approach to teaching Stoicism at the College of Charleston, the parts of Stoicism many people struggle with, and the Stoic approach to buying a car:

“Once you get a nice car, you become a ‘nice-car-guy.’ And then you have less freedom—you’re embarrassed to get in a normal car, you look around to see if anyone sees you or you just say no to the ride. And you don’t want an impressive car because you don’t want to be impressive for the wrong reasons.”

Listen to the full episode: Jennifer Baker on Stoicism in Academia

WHAT RYAN HOLIDAY IS READING:

“Talk, without effort, is nothing.”

— Ain’t I A Woman by Sojourner Truth

YOUR STOIC WEEKEND REMINDER:

Persist and resist.

“If anyone would take these two words to heart and use them for his own guidance and regulation,” Epictetus says, “he will be almost without sin and will lead a very peaceful life. These two words are persist and resist.”

Persist and resist. Have the courage and perseverance to keep moving toward what is good, and the self-control and awareness to resist what is bad. These are the ingredients for living a good life.

(For more on this idea, watch this video!)

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