All This In A Nutshell

The Daily Stoic

Daily Stoic | Backyard Ventures

Education, Daily Stoic, Society & Culture, Stoic, Stoicism, Self-improvement, Business, Stoic Philosophy, Philosophy, Ryan Holiday

4.6 • 4.7K Ratings

🗓️ 4 February 2019

⏱️ 3 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Near the end of the Eisenhower Administration, the speechwriter James C. Humes was asked to help the president write a short address. After submitting a draft, Humes was called to Eisenhower’s office to discuss. As soon as he stepped into the room, he could tell that Eisenhower had a problem with what he’d written.

“What’s the QED* of this speech?” Eisenhower said to him with only a little patience.

Humes was confused. “QED,” he said, “what’s that?”

“Quod Erat Demonstrandum,” Eisenhower barked. “Don’t you remember your geometry? What’s the bottom line? In one sentence!”

Eisenhower was a brilliant man, but a simple and a straightforward one after years in the Army. He didn’t have time to beat around the bush and so he didn’t put up with rambling or equivocation. He wanted his speeches to have a point and he wanted everyone who worked for him to know the message.

This is a good lesson for anyone and everyone when it comes to communication. (You may remember our earlier email: If It’s Not Simple, It’s Bullshit). Don’t dress things up more than they need to be. Don’t hedge. Don’t distract. Be blunt. Tell the truth. Speak plainly.

But what if we had to apply Eisenhower’s test to Stoicism itself? What’s the QED of this philosophy we’re studying? Well, that’s good for everyone to think about today. Can you describe Stoicism in a sentence?* Could you actually offer a good definition if somebody asked you about it? Spend some time thinking about that.

Even better, don’t just ponder what Stoicism is about, what are you about? What defines you? What do you stand for? What’s your bottom line? In one sentence!

*Here’s our QED for Stoicism: A Stoic believes they don’t control the world around them, only how they respond--and that they must always respond with courage, temperance, wisdom, and justice.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to the Daily Stoke podcast early and add free on Amazon music. Download the app today.
0:13.6	Welcome to the Daily Stoke. For each day, we read a short passage designed to help you cultivate the strength, insight, wisdom necessary for living the good life.
0:23.3	Each one of these passages is based on the 2000 year old philosophy that has guided some of history's greatest men and women. For more, you can visit us at DailyStoic.com.
0:37.3	All this in a nutshell, near the end of the Eisenhower administration, the Speed Trider James C. Humes was called to help the president write a short address.
0:47.3	After submitting a draft, Humes was called to Eisenhower's office to discuss. As soon as he stepped in the room, he could tell that Eisenhower had a problem with what he'd written.
0:58.3	What's the QED of this speech, Eisenhower, said to him with only a little patience. Humes was confused.
1:04.3	QED, he said, what's that? Quad, erot, demonstrandum, Eisenhower barked. Don't you remember your geometry? What's the bottom line in one sentence?
1:15.3	Eisenhower was a brilliant man, but a simple and straightforward one after years in the army. He didn't have time to beat around the bush, and so he didn't put up with rambling or equivocation.
1:28.3	He wanted his speeches to have a point, and he wanted everyone who worked for him to know the message. This is a good lesson for anyone and everyone when it comes to communication.
1:40.3	You might remember our earlier email on, if it's not simple, it's bullshit. The point is don't dress up things more than they need to be. Don't hedge, don't distract, be blunt, tell the truth, speak plainly.
1:55.3	But what if we apply Eisenhower's test of stoicism itself? What's the QED of this philosophy we're studying? Well, that's good for everyone to think about today.
2:07.3	Can you describe stoicism in a sentence? Could you actually offer a good definition if somebody asked you about it? Spend some time thinking about that.
2:18.3	Even better, don't just ponder what stoicism is about, what are you about? What defines you? What do you stand for? What's your bottom line in one sentence? Think about that.
2:32.3	And our QED for stoicism is simply this. A stoic believes that they don't control the world around them only how they respond, and that we must always respond with courage, temperance, wisdom, and justice.
2:48.3	Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on iTunes or your favorite podcast app. And if you don't get the Daily Stoke email, go to dailystoke.com slash email.
3:02.3	Hey, prime members, you can listen to the Daily Stoke early and add free on Amazon music. Download the Amazon music app today, or you can listen early and add free with Wondering Plus in Apple podcasts.

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