210212 What I learned in my studies this morning

Today's Tao:

If you would guide the people, you must serve with humility. 

If you would lead them, you must follow behind. 

In this way when you rule, the people will not feel oppressed; 

When you stand before them, they will not be harmed. 

The whole world will support you and will not tire of you. 

Because you do not compete, 

You will not have competition.

From The Daily Stoic: 

Stoicism helps me to control my emotions. It helps me to use them to serve me rather than my serving them.

Sometimes, however, I need to ask myself, "Is what I am putting myself through is worth it?" and make it a conscious choice to continue or to make a change. 

 

“Keep constant guard over your perceptions, for it is no small thing you are protecting, but your respect, trustworthiness and steadiness, peace of mind, freedom from pain and fear, in a word your freedom. For what would you sell these things?”—Epictetus, Discourses, 4.3.6b–8

From Eric Hoffer, Part III, Unifying Agents:

Suspicion 

We've covered hatred, imitation, persuasion and coercion, leadership and action as unifying factors within a Movement. Now we get to the last of the list: suspicion. 

Given today's social atmosphere, and the gov't's efforts to convince us that fear of our neighbors is right and proper — "If you see something, say something.", "Report Thanksgiving gatherings of too many people.", and other directives to spy on and inform the 'Authorities' about your neighbors, family, and friends — this section ought to be particularly enlightening. 

The awareness of their individual blemishes and shortcomings inclines the frustrated to detect ill will and meanness in their fellow men. Self-contempt, however vague, sharpens our eyes for the imperfections of others.... the air is heavy-laden with suspicion. There is prying and spying, tense watching and a tense awareness of being watched. The surprising thing is that this pathological mistrust within the ranks leads not to dissension but to strict conformity. Knowing themselves continually watched, the faithful strive to escape suspicion by adhering zealously to prescribed behavior and opinion. Strict orthodoxy is as much the result of mutual suspicion as of ardent faith.

Mass movements make extensive use of suspicion in their machinery of domination..... Fear of one’s neighbors, one’s friends and even one’s relatives seems to be the rule within all mass movements. Now and then innocent people are deliberately accused and sacrificed in order to keep suspicion alive. Suspicion is given a sharp edge by associating all opposition within the ranks with the enemy threatening the movement from without..... It is the sacred duty of the true believer to be suspicious. He must be constantly on the lookout for saboteurs, spies and traitors.

(The True Believer, XIV-100)