Maxims From Three Wise Men

The Daily Stoic for November 19th, “Maxims From Three Wise Men”, has three quotes for the price of one. 🙂

“For any challenge we should hold three thoughts at our command: ‘Lead on God and Destiny, To that Goal fixed for me long ago. I will follow and not stumble; even if my will is weak I will soldier on.’”

—CLEANTHES

“Whoever embraces necessity count as wise, skilled in divine matters.” 

—EURIPIDES

“If it pleases the gods, so be it. They may well kill me, but they can’t hurt me.” 

—PLATO’S CRITO AND APOLOGY

Today’s stoic meditation actually asks us to apply these three quotes on tolerance, flexibility, and acceptance, and actually pretend that everything that happens today, good or bad, has been specifically willed for us.

Applying The Maxims From Three Wise Men

The main premise behind that exercise is accepting that our fate or destiny are controlled by a greater higher power, may it be god, nature, or any other deity or natural phenomena.

I actually don’t think that’s necessary. In fact, I find it counterproductive. When you do that, you are “delegating” in that entity whatever happens to you. It’s like saying: “ok, I’ll accept that, it’s the will of …” or “ok, I’ll accept that, it’s just the master plan nature has prepared for me”.

So in my view, all you need to do is to accept that nature is chance. I think that’s more related to the Asian culture and some philosophies such as Hinduism. But you don’t really need to wrap it in a beautiful package.

If you accept that the universe does not need to be fair, or rightful, or even “good”, you don’t need something -or someone- to blame for the things that happen to you. Daily events stop being part of a “plan” and instead just “happen”. And why not?

I think I never needed that feeling of “meaning” or a “higher entity” protecting or guiding me, even when it hurts. Obviously, that’s a very personal point of view, and yours may be completely different. But I believe that accepting that random nature of the universe helps more than delegating our fate in an external being.

Conclusion

Today’s Daily Stoic, “Maxims From Three Wise Men”, discusses three quotes on tolerance, flexibility, and acceptance, but using an external “higher” entity in control of our fate. I don’t really think that entity is necessary.

What are your thoughts? Do you think this “random” nature of the universe is scary, or illogical, or void? Share them with us in the comments below!