The Daily Stoic - Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Day 36
November 17th - Judge Not, Lest...
"When philosophy is wielded with arrogance and stubbornly, it is the cause for the ruin of many. Let philosophy scrape off your own faults, rather than be a way to rail against the faults of others."
-Seneca, Moral Letters, 103.4b-5a
From the Author:
"Remember, the proper direction of philosophy - of all things we're doing here - is focused inward. To make ourselves better and to leave other people to that task for themselves and their own journey. Our faults are in our control, and so we turn to philosophy to help scrape them off like barnacles from the hull of a ship. Other people's faults? Not so much. That's for them to do.
Leave other people to their faults. Nothing in Stoic philosophy empowers you to judge them - only to accept them. Especially when we have so many of our own."
First is to acknowledge we have faults, then is to explore the breadth and depth of them, then to recognise how they affect your and those around you.
If we can do these things through questioning ourselves, even to dark places, and giving completely honest answers to ourselves, and breaking down that pride that we have of self-perfection, then we can heal, or scrape the barnacles off.
One of the biggest faults that many may have is hypocrisy; holding others to standards that we don't hold ourselves to. Whether it's consciously or subconsciously, we will always forgive ourselves before others, if it allows us to absolve ourselves of blame. Which is another fault, along with judgement, that many have, or find themselves falling for.
Take responsibility for your journey, but not another's. Have humility and patience while others start what you are already underway on.
Shevacai
npub19u…wgppv
2023-11-17 15:38:26
Author Public Key
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2023-11-17 15:38:26Event JSON
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"content": "The Daily Stoic - Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living\n\nDay 36\n\nNovember 17th - Judge Not, Lest...\n\n\"When philosophy is wielded with arrogance and stubbornly, it is the cause for the ruin of many. Let philosophy scrape off your own faults, rather than be a way to rail against the faults of others.\"\n\n-Seneca, Moral Letters, 103.4b-5a\n\nFrom the Author:\n\n\"Remember, the proper direction of philosophy - of all things we're doing here - is focused inward. To make ourselves better and to leave other people to that task for themselves and their own journey. Our faults are in our control, and so we turn to philosophy to help scrape them off like barnacles from the hull of a ship. Other people's faults? Not so much. That's for them to do.\nLeave other people to their faults. Nothing in Stoic philosophy empowers you to judge them - only to accept them. Especially when we have so many of our own.\"\n\nFirst is to acknowledge we have faults, then is to explore the breadth and depth of them, then to recognise how they affect your and those around you. \nIf we can do these things through questioning ourselves, even to dark places, and giving completely honest answers to ourselves, and breaking down that pride that we have of self-perfection, then we can heal, or scrape the barnacles off.\n\nOne of the biggest faults that many may have is hypocrisy; holding others to standards that we don't hold ourselves to. Whether it's consciously or subconsciously, we will always forgive ourselves before others, if it allows us to absolve ourselves of blame. Which is another fault, along with judgement, that many have, or find themselves falling for.\n\nTake responsibility for your journey, but not another's. Have humility and patience while others start what you are already underway on. ",
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