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I took my foot off the gas because it's become clear most Americans don't care and won't care until its too late.
My only hope now is it doesn't get too bad before I'm dead.
How "bad," it is, can also be a function of your POV.
Even if there is rioting in the streets, disease, war, and starvation all around you, even if you are suffering from hunger, pain, homelessness, even torture and imprisonment. . .
The strongest minds, and those with iron wills, in history, have been those with a steely outlook.
Epictetus (/ˌɛpɪkˈtiːtəs/;[3] Greek: Ἐπίκτητος, Epíktētos; c. 50 – c. 135 AD) was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was born into slavery at Hierapolis, Phrygia (present day Pamukkale, Turkey) and lived in Rome until his banishment, when he went to Nicopolis in northwestern Greece for the rest of his life. His teachings were written down and published by his pupil Arrian in his Discourses and Enchiridion.
Epictetus - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
A collection of wise quotes from the three most notable stoic thinkers: Marcus Aurelius, Seneca and Epictetus. The trio lived during the times of ancient Rome and became avid scholars of philosophy, with stoicism being their primary focus and guide for life. Thousands of years later their teachings remain intact and still ring true, applicable to the challenges we face today.
Aurelius had the burden of managing the largest empire the world had ever seen as the emperor of Rome. He would go on to have a prosperous rule for 20 years and went down in history as one of the great rulers.
Epictetus who was born a slave asked his master for permission to study. He was granted this right and went on to teach philosophy in Rome.
Seneca who was a successful financial clerk and writer found himself exiled for adultery. He was later hired to tutor a young boy called Nero who would become a tyrannical emperor of Rome. Nero later had Seneca execute himself for allegedly conspiring against him. A claim that was most likely untrue.
Each of these men faced great challenges in their lives and were able to navigate them through the philosophy of stoicism.