210203 What I learned in my studies this morning

Today's Tao:

The more laws and restrictions there are,

The poorer people become. 

The sharper men’s weapons, 

The more trouble in the land. 

The more ingenious and clever people are, 

The more strange things happen. 

The more rules and regulations, 

The more thieves and robbers. 

Therefore the wise one says: 

“I take no action and people behave themselves. 

I enjoy peace and people become honest. 

I do nothing and people become rich. 

I have no desires and people return to the good and simple life. 

From The Daily Stoic: 

“When I see an anxious person, I ask myself, what do they want? For if a person wasn’t wanting something outside of their own control, why would they be stricken by anxiety?”—Epictetus, Discourses, 2.13.1

"Which of you, by worrying, can add one moment to his life?" Matthew 6:27

"...it’s as if we all belong to a religious cult that believes the gods of fate will only give us what we want if we sacrifice our peace of mind." Ryan Holiday, The Daily Stoic, p. 43

THIS is what I must remember at 3 AM... 

From Eric Hoffer, Part III, Unifying Agents:

Leadership 

Boldness, self-confidence, follow through, these are the marks of a Movement's leader. S/He must be willing to do or say anything which will achieve their goals and drive the people.

NB: intelligence and truthfulness are not on the list. 

The quality of ideas seems to play a minor role in mass movement leadership. What counts is the arrogant gesture, the complete disregard of the opinion of others, the singlehanded defiance of the world. Charlatanism of some degree is indispensable to effective leadership. There can be no mass movement without some deliberate misrepresentation of facts. No solid, tangible advantage can hold a following and make it zealous and loyal unto death. The leader has to be practical and a realist, yet must talk the language of the visionary and the idealist.

... 

The daring which is essential to this type of leadership consists as much in the daring to imitate as in the daring to defy the world.

(The True Believer, XIV-91)