The Daily Stoic - This Is the Most Powerful Force on Earth

Episode Date: June 12, 2020

Over and over again, the Stoics remind us how weak we are compared to the force of nature and the whims of nature. Why get angry at the world, Marcus asks—quoting Euripedes—as if the world would notice? Seneca pokes fun at Claudius and his absurd delusion to immortalize himself. His impotent declaration of war against the sea and command to his soldiers to attack the waves with their swords. ***If you enjoyed this week’s podcast, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps with our visibility, and the more people listen to the podcast, the more we can invest into it and make it even better.Sign up for the Daily Stoic email: http://DailyStoic.com/signupFollow @DailyStoic:Twitter: https://twitter.com/ryanholidayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanholiday/Facebook: http://facebook.com/ryanholidayYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/dailystoicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey, prime members, you can listen to the Daily Stood Podcast early and add free on Amazon Music. Download the app today. Hi, I'm David Brown, the host of Wondery's podcast business wars. And in our new season, Walmart must fight off target. The new discounter that's both savvy and fashion forward. Listen to business wars on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. music or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to the Daily Stoic. For each day we read a short passage designed to help you cultivate the strength, insight, wisdom necessary for living the good life. Each one of these passages is based on the 2000-year-old philosophy that has

guided some of history's greatest men and women. For more, you can visit us at dailystowach.com. This is the most powerful force on earth. Over and over again, the Stokes remind us how weak we are compared to the force of nature and the winds of nature. Why get angry at the world that Marcus asks, quoting Eropides, as if the world would notice?

Seneca pokes fun at Claudius and his absurd delusion to immortalize himself, his impotent declaration of war against the sea and his command to his soldiers to attack the waves with their swords. Nature exerts her own power as Seneca writes in his letters and makes her presence known even to the strongest. It doesn't matter what you think,

doesn't matter what you say. It doesn't matter how well laid your plans are or how powerful you become. Nature is more powerful. She put Alexander and his Mule driver in the same ground in the end, as Marcus said, she will humble you too. You may feel powerful. You may be young and in peak physical shape.

You may buy into that Silicon Valley techno optimism about radical life extension. You may be crammed in a big city where nature's exertions are out of sight, out of mind. You may think your work is gonna mean your immortality, but it won't. Nothing ever will. Senica would have loved the photo

that you may have seen online of a tree trunk swallowing a tombstone. Nature is an undefeated, unstoppable force. We will never come close to overpowering her. She is not only breaking down our physical bodies with each passing day, but when we breathe our last, she will devour even our memories and our monuments.

Human life is fragile and fleeting, and the world is a merciless series of changes and extinctions. We are born to perish. How does the earth find room for all the bodies buried in it since the beginning of time? Marcus Aurelius asked, and then he answered, through change and decomposition absorbed into the logos

from which all things spring, and so make room for new rivals. Accept that, live well while you can. Thanks for listening to the Daily Stoic podcast. If you could leave us a review in iTunes, it helps a great deal. And of course, if you know anyone who had benefit from these messages, please spread the word. Thanks. is please spread the word. Thanks. Hey, Prime Members, you can listen to the Daily Stoic early and ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the Amazon Music app today, or you can

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