Justice is agreeing that certain things are natural and right and should be preserved and cherished. Injustice is allowing our darker nature to overwhelm our sense of what is just. We should always be mindful to support our natural sense of justice at all times.
People that do ill in the world do so because they are deprived of the truth. It doesn’t matter if they have chosen this path because of some fault in themselves that they can’t control or they are simply blind through lack of education or ignorance. These people can’t be brought to the truth through logic. Our only path is to be gentle and gracious toward them, allowing them to see the truth by example.
No one controls us, nor should we allow anyone else to control us. I like the saying, “in a free country, your freedom to swing your fists ends where someone else’s nose begins.” That means you have to be strong enough to live your life while also being strong enough to let everyone else live theirs. Even when you disagree with the choices someone else is making, the choices are theirs, not yours.
Getting angry is a weakness. We should be guided by gentleness, especially for those who would otherwise make us angry. Never let the people around us determine our course.
Are you committed to anything? What are you committed to? How are your values expressed by what you are doing? If all you are guided by is your ambition, you are simply wandering through life.
The answer to why you did the right thing is always, because it is the right thing. There is no need to seek credit for doing good. Seeking credit for do good diminishes your soul.
Train your mind with humility. Assuming you have the answer and acting without study and reflection often leads to wrong choices.
You don’t need to shout about your good deeds, just move quietly on to the next one. You are the only person that truly needs to notice your work.
Don’t put off the work you know you should be doing. Keep it simple and do it with passion. When it comes to discussing your work, be clear in your conversation. It doesn’t hurt to speak in complete sentences either…
Take care of your own improvement day-by-day. This entails a willingness to engage in self-reflection each day. Honestly assess what you have done and what you need to do today to make you ready for tomorrow.
Learn to love that which you are good at. Cherish those things and strive continuously to improve those skills. If you learn to love those things, they will be your refuge.
Philosophy is not only for the spirit, it is also for the ordinary life. The more you understand yourself and your responsibility, the better you are able to live a good life. Philosophy can deliver you to that end. Do not think that philosophical study is above you.
Accept the responsibility for your life’s outcome and you will be better able to steer your ship to the proper shore. This is accomplished by having self-respect.
Read and study to live. Acquiring knowledge is the true calling of every person. That is what separates us from the beasts and brings us true happiness.
Sometimes it’s hard to get out of bed in the morning. Remember this, you are rising to do your work. That thought alone can bring you joy and inspiration. Get rid of the snooze button. We can only be of service to ourselves and others when we are moving.
It’s not easy. Do good, even if it requires hard work. Don’t be afraid to do what is hard.
Your job is to keep the flame of goodness in you alive, today and everyday. If other people fail to keep the goodness in them alive, that’s on them. As long as you take care of your flame, the world is a better place.
It’s how you look at it. Do you “have-to”, or do you “get-to”. For the stoic, it is the latter. Out of “get-to” comes enlightenment.
To find our duty is our obligation. Once found, we must follow it. No shirking, no shrinking. This holds true in every phase of our life.
We all have a purpose and we are all interconnected. So every action is part of a larger consequence, a larger reality. The most important purpose? To do good and be wise in every undertaking.
This needs to be read at the beginning of every day.
Think of adversity as presenting opportunity. Every impediment we encounter is an opportunity for growth. (Even though it is hard to look at it that way.)
Watch what you are saying to justify your actions. Excuses are just that. You become who you are through effort and practice and actions.
Self criticism is good and it can be revealing, but that’s where it should end. Don’t beat yourself up. Self-loathing is self defeating.
How you handle even minor upsets in life reveals a great deal about you. In fact, it reveals everything.
If things aren’t going for you the way you’d like, think about trying something different.