3 Surprising Ideas From History’s Greatest Thinkers

In ancient Rome, when a general returned victorious from battle he was thrown a parade. All of Rome came out to cheer on the magnificent general — men would shout his name, women would throw themselves at him and he could be and do as he pleased. He was adored, revered and applauded by every Roman for his brilliant achievements.

Imagine that. Five hundred thousand people cheering you on, as your cruise through the parade thrown in your honor, in the capital — nay the greatest city in the world.

How would that make you feel?

If you’re anything like me, you’d feel on top of the world.

You’d feel as if you were a God.

You’d feel like nothing could ever harm you, and that you were immortal.

And that is exactly why the victorious general would have a slave walking behind him, whispering in his ear. What slave told him, are three words that every Stoic knows by heart.

The three words is the first lesson:

1. Memento Mori

Remember that you are mortal. Remember that life is brief. Remember that things come and go.

Emperors, rich men and slaves all used these words to thrive. The words embody a key idea from Stoicism, namely that…