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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 good life.

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.

If trouble knocks, let it find you home.

Kato did not want a civil war. Julius Caesar probably thought that if he marched on Rome, Kato's opposition would evaporate. He was mistaken.

James Garfield didn't want a civil war either. As the South ratcheted up their aggression in the 1850s, Southern fire eaters assumed that the North would compromise.

As they had time and time again, they weren't counting on resistance like the kind they found in man like Garfield and Lincoln and Julius Caesar's grant.

Of course, I deprecate war. Garfield famously said later in life, but if it is brought to my door, the bringer will find me home.

In this way, it perfectly captures the Stoke approach not just to war but to life. Marcus Aurelius had no interest in spending his reign fighting battles, but when they came, he was ready.

James Stockdale had no interest in being a prisoner of war, but when fate knocked on his door, he answered.

Sennaka clearly would have preferred to die naturally of old age like every other person. But when Nero's goons came with their death sentence, he did not run away.

He rose to the occasion and gave the performance of his life.

Who wants to be cheated on? Who wants to get cheated by a business partner? Who wants their town to be poorly run?

Who wants a fight to break out while they're eating dinner with their family? Nobody wants these things, but that doesn't stop this trouble from showing up.

The question is not whether you like these things or whether you want them to happen. The question is when they do happen, how will they find you?

Do you want to get the chance to die?

No.

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