Welcome to the Daily Stoic Podcast, designed to help bring those four key stoic virtues,

courage, discipline, justice, and wisdom into the real world.

As the founders signed the Declaration of Independence, they knew that this wasn't some

painless petition. This wasn't some minor political stand. No, they knew that this wasn't some painless petition. This wasn't some minor political

stand. No, they knew as they wrote that they were mutually pledging their life, fortune,

and sacred honor. It was a cause they were willing to give everything for, even die for.

This idea of sacred honor, a full commitment, is worth considering today here on

Memorial Day as we honor and think about those men and women who died while serving in the United

States Armed Forces. Because here in the modern world, it's never been easier to jump on a bandwagon

with a hashtag or post a picture. It's never been easier to jump on a bandwagon with a hashtag or post a picture. It's never

been easier to spout off on this argument or that one. It's also never been more common to declare

oneself a victim of cancel culture or of persecution when one undergoes even the slightest

consequences for their actions. People stormed the United States Capitol because

they were angry about losing a free and fair election, and even so they tried to invoke the mantle

of the founders. Not only were they wrong and evil, but then they whined like babies when they were

maced by officers who really were pledging their lives to defend democracy.

The Stoics knew about pledging one's life, liberty, and sacred honor.

Thrasia and Helvidius, as I tell in lives of the Stoics, they gave everything in their

defiance of Nero.

Cato committed everything to preserve the Roman Republic.

Rutilius Rufus lost his job, his home, his standing in Rome, rather than participate in corruption.

They didn't take these stands lightly, nor did they attach themselves frivolously to whatever the mob was angry about at the moment.

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