Character Is Fate

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1:05I got an amazing night's sleep last night. One, because my six-year-old fell asleep in the car at like six o 'clock and he transferred him from the car seat to the bed and it stuck, which is just magic. So he's in bed way earlier than normal. But I sleep really well every night because I have a 8Sleep Pod 5 Ultra, which is 8Sleep's best product. I've used 8Sleep for many years now. And it's just totally transformed how I sleep, made me sleep better, made my wife sleep better. It's amazing. So basically, Eight Sleep is this topper that goes over your mattress. It can heat and cool both sides separately.

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2:36Welcome to the Daily Stoic podcast, where each day we bring you a passage of ancient wisdom designed to help you find strength, insight, and wisdom in everyday life. Each one of these passages is based on the 2 ,000-year-old philosophy that has guided some of history's greatest men and women. For more, you can visit us at dailystil.com.

3:03Character is fate. How did Hadrian know that Antoninus would be a worthy mentor to Marcus Aurelius, that he could be trusted as a standing emperor? He knew because he had glimpsed into Antoninus' character. We're told the story of Hadrian watching Antoninus help his elderly stepfather up a flight of stairs. He didn't know anyone could see. It wasn't a performance. It wasn't virtue signaling, as we call it today. It was actual virtue, kindness, decency, respect. And it was these same traits that Antoninus brought to his 20 years as Marcus's guardian and to the Roman people as their leader. The reason that justice, which is the theme of the new book, Right Thing Right Now, which you can pre-order right now, dailystoic.com slash justice, the reason this is such a critical part of stoicism is that it goes to character.

3:53What good is courage if the person acting with it is not a good person? You could have a brilliant mind, but if you don't have a moral compass, it may bring you to ruin. Character is fate, the stoic said. It determines our destiny. Hero or Nero, our personal integrity decides. Our sense of justice is our trajectory. Our moral compass is precisely that, a compass that directs us, prevents us from getting lost. And now, more than ever, we're constantly being told how to think, how to act, who to support. We need direction through that thicket of noise. And as the Stoics are keen to always remind us, that direction comes from within.

4:30If an action or utterance is appropriate, then it's appropriate for you, Mark Sturelius writes. Don't be put off by other people's comments and criticisms. If it's right to say or do it, then it's the right thing to say or do. And he says, if it's not right to do or say, do not do it. Anyways, that's the aim of the new book, Right Thing Right Now, which is all about cultivating good character, good values, and then, of course, doing good deeds. And I'm really proud of the stories in it. We've got Harry S. Truman and Susan B. Anthony, Marcus Aurelius. We've got civil rights leaders. We've got gay rights leaders.

5:07We've got people from ancient history, people from modern history. but what they all have in common is good character. And it's our character that we have to stand by the strength of our convictions, not to be swept up in the mania or paranoia of the day, to live free from doubt and shame. And if you haven't pre-ordered it yet, I know I'm talking about it a lot, but it would mean a lot to me if you could pre-order the book. You can grab it right now at dailystoic.com slash justice. You can get signed numbered first editions. You can get a signed page from the manuscript. You can even have dinner with me where we can talk about a bunch of the ideas in the books.

5:41Grab that now at dailystoic.com slash justice. And I can't wait to hear what all of you think. It's coming out really, really soon. The earlier you pre-order, the more it helps authors. So I'll say that again, dailystoic.com slash justice for the new book, Right Thing, Right Now.

6:13The world is full of tours. But you don't choose a Toyota truck to follow the beaten path. You choose it to find the places in between. The detours, where each adventure pulls you toward the next. And wrong turns turn out right. So why would you ever take a tour when you could take a detour? Toyota Trucks. My family owns a 2023 Toyota 4Runner, and honestly, it's my favorite vehicle that I've ever owned. Around town, it's smooth and reliable, but where it really shines is on our trips into the backcountry. We've taken it on backpacking adventures to Colorado and New Mexico, loaded it up with gear, and never had to think twice about whether it could handle the terrain.

7:01That's what Toyota Trucks are built for. Off-road confidence, rugged durability, and the freedom to explore. Toyota has a long history with the outdoor community, and they're committed to helping more people get out there and experience what nature has to offer. From remote trails to scenic byways, Toyota Trucks empowers you to take the detour, roam freely, and discover places that still feel wild and untouched. And they're not just making great trucks, they're working to expand access to adventure so more people can connect with the outdoors and pass that passion on to the next generation. Discover your uncharted territory.

7:31Learn more at toyota.com slash trucks slash adventure dash detours. That's toyota.com slash trucks slash adventure dash detours.