Leave Yourself Alone

"We began to inhibit, control and organize our immediate impulses, so that we could stop interfering with other people and our future selves."

- Jordan Peterson.

Real Biblical Meekness

Biblical Meekness never meant weakness and cowardice. It derives from a Greek word used to describe a well self controlled horse. He had the potential to run you over, or rein and kill you with his hooves, if he so chooses. But he is in control of his wild impulses. He is the master of those impulses, rather than mastered by them. I love how Jordan Peterson put it in this interview. when asked about "The Meek will inherit the earth." He actually captured the essence of the Greek word in modern language very vividly.

"Meekness.... those who have swords and know how to use them, but choose to keep them sheathed will inherit the earth." - Jordan Peterson Oz Talk: Jordan Peterson.

Sheathing swords, I think we all agree, is always the best option of all.

Those Who Avoid Philosophy Wear Themselves Out In Useless Pursuits

"Next our freeborn lad ought to go in for a course of what is called general knowledge, but a smattering of this will be sufficient, a taste as it were (for perfect knowledge of all subjects would be impossible); but he must seriously cultivate philosophy. I borrow an illustration to show my meaning: it is well to sail round many cities, but advantageous to live in the best. It was a witty remark of the philosopher Bion, that, as those suitors who could not seduce Penelope took up with her maids as a pis aller, so those who cannot attain philosophy wear themselves out in useless pursuits. Philosophy, therefore, ought to be regarded as the most important branch of study. For as regards the cure of the body, men have found two branches, medicine and exercise: the former of which gives health, and the latter good condition of body; but philosophy is the only cure for the maladies and disorders of the soul. For with her as ruler and guide we can know what is honourable, what is disgraceful; what is just, what unjust; generally speaking, what is to be sought after, what to be avoided; how we ought to behave to the gods, to parents, to elders, to the laws, to foreigners, to rulers, to friends, to women, to children,......  that we ought to worship the gods, honour parents, reverence elders, obey the laws, submit ourselves to rulers, love our friends, be chaste in our relations with women, kind to our children, and not to treat our slaves badly; and, what is of the greatest importance, to be neither over elated in prosperity nor over depressed in adversity,  nor to be dissolute in pleasures, nor fierce and brutish in anger. These I regard as the principal blessings that philosophy teaches. For to enjoy prosperity nobly shows a man; and to enjoy it without exciting envy shows a moderate man; and to conquer the passions by reason argues a wise man; and it is not everybody who can keep his temper in control."

Plutarch. Plutarch's Morals. 1st Century Greek Philosopher, Roman Citizens, and Priest of Apollo and Guardian of the Oracle of Delphi,