The Daily Stoic - An Important Reminder To Do The Right Thing

Episode Date: February 12, 2019

Our newest Daily Stoic coinSummum Bonum is an expression from Cicero, Rome’s greatest orator. In Latin, it means “the highest good.” And what is the highest good? What is it that we are supposed to be aiming for in this life?To the Stoics, the answer is virtue. If we act virtuously, they believed, everything else important could follow: Happiness, success, meaning, reputation, honor, love. The Stoics didn’t claim this path was easy, or that it would always be recognized or appreciated by those closest to us, only that it was essential. And that the alternative—taking the easy route or the shortcut even if unethical or immoral—was considered only by cowards and fools. As Marcus Aurelius writes in Meditations,“Just that you do the right thing. The rest doesn't matter. Cold or warm. Tired or well-rested. Despised or honored. Dying...or busy with other assignments.”To the ancients, if we let virtue lead the way, every step we take will be safe. In Greek mythology, Arete was the goddess of virtue. The model for us to follow—the embodiment of this idea of doing and living right. This idea is the inspiration for our newest Stoic-inspired medallion. The Summum Bonum medallion.[Buy Now]The front of the coin features an iconic rendition of Arete in Ephesus:The back shows Marcus’s simple reminder:“Just that you do the right thing. The rest doesn’t matter.”The phrase is ringed, as if by sentries protecting this essential truth, by Marcus’s reminders that virtue is the answer in all circumstances. Cold or warm. Tired or well-rested. Despised or honored. Dying or Busy. See 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 Stoke podcast early and add free on Amazon music. Download the app today. Welcome to the Daily Stoke. For each day, we read a short passage designed to help you cultivate the strength, insight, wisdom necessary for living the good life. insight, wisdom necessary for living 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 dailystowick.com. Important reminder to do the right thing. Some of Bonham is an expression from Cicero, Rome's greatest order. In Latin, it means the highest good. And what is the highest good? What is it that we're supposed to be aiming for in this life? To the Stoics, the answer is virtue. If we act a virtuously, they believed,

everything else important could follow, happiness, success, meaning, reputation, honor, love. The Stokes didn't claim that this path was easy, or that it would be recognized always or appreciated always by those closest to us, only that it was essential. And that the alternative, taking the easy route or the shortcut, even if an ethical or immoral, was considered only by cowards and fools. As Marcus Arelius writes in meditations, just that you do the right thing, the rest doesn't matter, cold or warm, tired or well-rested, despised or honored, dying or busy with other assignments. To the ancients, if we let virtue lead the way every step we

take will be safe. In Greek mythology, Eritre was the goddess of virtue, the model for us to follow, the embodiment of this idea of doing and living right. This idea is also the inspiration of the newest, daily, still inspired medallion, and I hope you'll check it out. It's one I've been really excited to carry with me the last couple of weeks since I got the first one.

On the front, there's the image of Arate, the goddess of virtue. And the back, it has Marcus' reminder, just that you do the right thing, the rest doesn't matter. And then the phrase is wringed, almost like centuries protecting this essential truth by the reminders that virtue is the answer in all circumstances, whether it's cold, that it's warm, whether we're tired or well rested, despised or honored, dying or busy.

And our goal in creating this medallion, like all the other ones, is that you can have it in your pocket and feel the weight. And remember that no matter the circumstances, no matter how dire or negative or straightforward or scary things seem, you know the answer. Stoicism has given you an answer, and in this case, the answer is virtue. And it's supposed to be this token that prompts us to do what we know in our hearts is right, even if every incentive or interest pulls us away from that.

We live in a world that's a wash-in corruption and selfishness. There's cruelty and pain. We need virtue now more than ever. We need heroes. We need those who will stand up for the common good no matter the circumstances. And I think more importantly we need you to be one of those people. And so the coin is formed around that call to action. It's for you to carry with you everywhere you go so that you may never forget to answer when that call comes. I hope you check it out. You can go to the Daily Stoic store. It's our newest one, Somum Bonum. And look forward to seeing the photos that you all take

with you and your new medallion. Enjoy. on music app today, or you can listen early and add free with Wondery Plus in Apple podcasts.