Thoreau - I Have Heard No Bad News

***

 

My actual life is a fact, in view of which I have no occasion to congratulate myself; but for my faith and aspiration I have respect. It is from these that I speak. Every man’s position is in fact too simple to be described. I have sworn no oath. I have no designs on society–or nature– or God. I am simply what I am, or I begin to be that. I live in the present. I only remember the past, and anticipate the future. I love to live. I love reform better than its modes. There is no history of how bad became better. I believe something, and there is nothing else but that. . . . I know that the enterprise is worthy– I know that things work well. I have heard no bad news. 

 

The excerpt is from the first letter to Blake, dated March 27, 1848.

 

Walden by Thoreau resource

 

 

Meditation 101: A Beginner's Guide Animation

Anne Dufourmantelle Argues for Risk Taking to Live Fuller Life Dies Taking Unnecessary Risks

Anne Dufourmantelle, a notable French philosopher, who in her body of work strongly advocated risk taking to apparently live a more fulfilled life, has died taking unnecessary risks trying to save two children from drowning.

I guess she set a poor example for her strain of philosophical reasoning for not only her attempt was unsuccessful in itself as she failed to save the children (children were saved but not by her but by life guards) but also she could not save herself as she risked her own life and the risk proved too much.

I guess she managed to disprove her own philosophy by dying more that she was able to argue it whilst living.

Not that her dying is bad (or good) in itself because we don't know what death or dying is. 

 

It could even be that death is the pinnacle of everything and something to be much desired or even actively sought after... but then again it may be not.

 

Who knows? 

Those who may know aren't here to tell.

VreMax: Manual of Epictetus

VreMax: Manual of Epictetus: A good read on stoics' philosophy... and not too heavy either -- the Manual of Epictetus aka Enchiridion -- epic! And it's free too...

VreMax: Manual of Epictetus

A good read on stoics' philosophy... and not too heavy either -- the Manual of Epictetus aka Enchiridion -- epic! And it's free too... very appropriately.

Link:

The Enchiridion - By Epictetus - Translated by Elizabeth Carter


More links can be found in that wikipedia entry.

Manly Health and Training, With Off-Hand Hints Toward Their Conditions

Velsor, Mose (Walt Whitman). "Manly Health and Training, With Off-Hand Hints Toward Their Conditions," ed. Zachary Turpin. Walt Whitman Quarterly Review 33 (2016), 184-310.

Like the person you are alone with

Sharing something off twitter

pic.twitter.com/QDmYmiJ3Cu
— Life Tips (@BestProAdvice) July 21, 2014

VreMax: Like the person you are alone with: Sharing something off twitter pic.twitter.com/QDmYmiJ3Cu — Life Tips (@BestProAdvice) July 21, 2014

You can try.

However liking yourself may be a sin.

In Orthodox Christianity, for example, you are not supposed to like yourself at all.