Tag: Art of living
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Misconceptions about Chi energy and Taoism
Wouldn’t it be great if we could improve our lives by using esoteric Taoist tricks? I mean, doing a special exercise that makes us super-strong, or repeating some Tao Te Ching quote that makes us extraordinarily perceptive. Indeed, it would be great if we could achieve our goals with no effort, no investment, and no…
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Risks in Seneca’s art of living
The writings of Seneca are so persuasive that readers can be tempted to put them into practice before having a clear idea of the consequences. If they follow Seneca’s advice to the letter, I fear that they could get themselves in trouble. Interpretation is a necessary step between the philosophical ideals presented by Seneca and…
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Inconsistencies in Seneca’s art of living
Despite the overall soundness of his ideas, Seneca incurred important inconsistencies. His wisdom or “art of living” needs rectifications to avoid potentially lethal risks. Let us point out those inconsistencies and see how to address them. Three centuries before Seneca, Cleanthes (330-230 BC) had enunciated a crucial tenet of Stoicism: “People who conform to the…
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Seneca and the art of living
In contrast to most Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers, Seneca remained highly consistent between his writings and his own life. I am referring specifically to his life in Corsica, where he had been exiled by Emperor Nero (54-68 AD). Seneca’s wisdom or “art of living” has maintained its value through the centuries because it responds…
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Michel de Montaigne’s key lesson on the art of living
The biographies of great individuals teach us many lessons, but I am always seeking the common thread between them. In the case of Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592), it requires some work to figure out the key lesson. Montaigne’s essay titled “On the inequality amongst us” is conveying the key lesson from his life, namely, that…
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Michel de Montaigne’s art of living quietly
In our century, the protection of privacy has acquired crucial importance. I cannot even count the number of celebrities that have seen their life disrupted because a journalist has intruded in their privacy. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) was aware of the dangers associated with popularity. He also knew the financial advantages that one can draw…
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Michel de Montaigne and the art of living
When I analyse the biography of great individuals, I always focus on one question: What did they do to become great? My objective is to figure out exactly what they did differently than everybody else. The difference is what counts. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) made it particularly clear that he wanted to differentiate himself from…
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Recent Posts
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