“You want to do the pentathlon, or to wrestle? Look at you arms, your thighs, inspect your loins” (sec 29) Make your choice according to your situation. One thing I finally agree with Epictetus, we can´t follow instincts when taking choices is in the line. We or at least I evaluate every possible outcome before choosing. I can’t´ become an athlete with my body even if I wanted to so I naturally don´t become an athlete. But with my brains I can become a lawyer or something that requires more thinking than moving. I have to make choices every day, and sometimes I do not have the time to think and analyze everything so I make an educated guess, and almost always I get the outcome I was hopping.
Surprisingly I found another thing in common with Epictetus, I have to work for the things I want. One thing I can´t stand is spoiled people, if you want something get it yourself. “You must be disciplined, keep a strict diet, stay away from cakes.” (sec29) I liked this quote particularly because of the cake part it made me laugh but mostly because it explains if you want to be in a marathon you have to be disciplined and do it yourself. Our actions depend on none else but us. If I want to be skinny I stay away from the cake, like I do. The cake mention was interesting for me because is something teenage girls tend to worry excessively about weight so I could analyze that Epictetus is directing to everyone, making me contradict what I had said before about this handbook being on mindless fools who try to become leaders. This Handbook provides a life style, that regardless to what I said I still would not follow it.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)

This entry feel haphazard. Try making smoother connections. I like you're ending but the last two sentences have some technical issues. Have a look:
ReplyDeleteThe handbook can be a way of life. Not one I would like to follow.