Hey, prime members. You can listen to the Daily Stoic Podcast early and add free on Amazon music. Download the app today.

Welcome to the Daily Stoic Podcast where each day we bring you a passage of ancient wisdom designed to help you find strength, insight, and wisdom every day 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 dailystod.com.

It's hard work.

Marcus Aurelius wasn't magically Marcus Aurelius. Cato wasn't born that way.

All their virtues, their Ascidia self-control, their patient wisdom, their commitment to justice, their courage, and critical moments. This didn't just happen. It wasn't some biological freak event.

It was the result of hard work. No one worked harder at being Fred Rogers than Fred Rogers himself. Joanne Rogers, his wife of 51 years once said.

In fact, she made it clear many times in interviews that she didn't want her husband to be seen as some kind of saint. She believed that this was actually an insult to his memory because it obscured just how much effort and intention went in to who he was and what he did.

Perhaps one of the reasons were so quick to ascribe superpowers to people like this, whether it's the Stoics or otherwise, is that it's a way of letting ourselves off the hook.

If we raise them above ourselves, then we excuse ourselves. But in reality, they are no better, no more gifted than us.

Marcus Aurelius had the same strengths and weaknesses we all do, and the same goes for Epochetus. In fact, he had more disadvantages than you do.

They loved virtue and wanted virtue enough. They worked for it.

Even Marcus had to remind himself of this too if it's humanly possible he wrote, know that it's possible for you also. It's true if you want to do the work.

Thanks so much for listening to the Daily Stoke Podcast. If you don't know this, you can get these delivered to you via email every day. Check it out at dailystoke.com slash email.

you