The Strength of Contempt

“As Cicero says, we hate gladiators if they are quick to save their lives by any means; we favor them if they show contempt for their lives.” —SENECA

Question

• Do you agree with this sentiment about the gladiators?

• What do you value more – comfort and safety, or living with unwavering purpose?

• Can you think of anyone who embodies this fearless contempt for death?
  
  

Simple Explanation: This quote reveals a complex side of human nature. We instinctively respect those who defy expectations and risk everything for a principle or cause, even if it risks their physical safety.

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Deep Dive This concept resonates with Stoic philosophy, where virtue and living according to nature are paramount. As Marcus Aurelius states in Meditations, "...Death and life, success and failure, pain and pleasure, wealth and poverty, all these happen...indifferently to the good and bad alike." A Stoic focuses not on mere survival but on the quality of their actions. It's in defiance, in standing firm against injustice or hardship, that we demonstrate our true strength and worth.

Applicable Situations

• Facing fear of public speaking or other uncomfortable endeavors.

• Deciding whether to stay in a safe but unfulfilling situation.

• Confronting injustice, even if it brings personal risk.
  
  

Action Items

• Reflect on what you would be willing to risk everything for.

• Identify smaller ways to demonstrate courage and conviction daily.

• Research historical figures who embodied a fearless spirit for inspiration.
  
  

Modern Connections Movies like Gladiator and Braveheart explore this theme of heroism in the face of death. We also see this in real-world activists, whistleblowers, and even athletes who dedicate themselves entirely to a cause beyond self-preservation. Think of revolutionaries or social reformers who willingly face danger for their beliefs.

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