Legend has it that Marcus Aurelius wept when he was told he’d be emperor of Rome. He was a studious man who preferred spending time with his books. But he’d always moved in noble and imperial circles. He knew very well the nastiness, sycophancy, and … Continue readingFind balance when your life collapses: with Marcus Aurelius
I’ve become a huge dork about figure skating lately. I got especially obsessed with the Japanese skater Yuzuru Hanyu. A while back—and not long ago, either—he broke 19 records and won the Olympics two times in a row. And he did a lot of other … Continue readingHave a slice of humble pie, from Marcus Aurelius
“So learn from this and understand true values. I who tell you have wintered into wisdom.” Hrothgar is one of the main characters in the epic poem Beowulf. He’s king of the Danes, and he’s a pretty cool guy. He builds a great hall where … Continue readingDon’t fall prey to pride: with Hrothgar king of the Danes
Machiavelli was a politician and author in the 15th-16th century. These days, his name is synonymous with manipulation, deceit, and villains gleefully plotting evil deeds while tapping their fingertips together. Much of that reputation is due to his book, The Prince. He wrote it for … Continue readingWhy the Starks could never win: with Machiavelli
“Injustice is a kind of blasphemy. Nature designed rational beings for each other’s sake: to help—not harm—one another, as they deserve. To transgress its will, then, is to blaspheme against the oldest of the gods.” That’s our pal Marcus Aurelius. Let’s talk about what he … Continue readingInjustice is blasphemy: with Marcus Aurelius
We tend to think of love as a good thing, regardless of the circumstances. But I’m not sure Plato would have agreed. Or at least, he might not call everything we label “love” by that name. In his famous dialogue, The Symposium, Plato explores concepts … Continue readingHow to recognize true love: with Plato
The Roman Senate was a highly esteemed political body of educated patricians, most of whom were rich. At some points during Rome’s history, like the early Empire, they also served as a court and judged high-profile criminal trials. But the Senate—as august and revered as … Continue readingDamn The Man! with Cicero
Ecbert was King of Wessex in the early 9th century. He defeated his neighbors, Mercia and Northumbria, and was (for a while, at least) the wide-ruler—bretwalda—of the Anglo-Saxon lands. Unifying this part of England gave Ecbert the strength to fight off the Vikings. (For a … Continue readingOwn your mind with Ecbert, bretwalda of Anglo-Saxon lands
Some conversations are going nowhere, but going there politely. Maybe the other party is more interested in you, than you are in them. Maybe it’s just small talk that never builds into anything bigger. You have to be the one to end that conversation. You … Continue readingMarcus Aurelius’s advice for dealing with vindictive jerks
Last month, I wrote about how Ambrose of Milan—beloved Catholic saint, doctor of the Church, and one of the main forces behind outlawing every religion in the Roman Empire except for Catholicism—was kind of an antisemite. (But the Jews weren’t special or anything. He was … Continue readingSaint Ambrose was kinda antisemitic (part 2)