Explore the wisdom of Emperor Hadrian and his approach to raising Marcus Aurelius, emphasizing the importance of instilling values of hard work and self-reliance instead of spoiling children with wealth.
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Quick takeaways
Parents should adopt a Spartan attitude towards wealth, teaching their children the values of hard work and self-reliance.
Success and affluence should not corrupt or spoil children, but rather be used to teach them the importance of gratitude and the value of hard work.
Deep dives
Being Spartan with Wealth
The podcast episode discusses the importance of adopting a Spartan attitude towards wealth as a parent. It shares the story of Emperor Hadrian and his succession plan, highlighting how Antoninus Pius, who adopted Marcus Aurelius, had a generous nature but maintained a frugal approach to personal finances. Despite being the heir to wealth and power, Marcus had to work hard and earn his keep. This upbringing taught him values of hard work, persistence, and self-reliance, which he later reflected on in his journal. The podcast emphasizes the need for parents to avoid spoiling their children and instead set a great example of how wealth and success can be used responsibly.
Avoiding Corruption and Spoiling
The episode underscores the importance of not letting success and affluence ruin children. It shares how parents should demonstrate to their kids that material advantages and gifts do not have to corrupt or spoil them. Instead, parents should show their children that they are made better by their privileges and teach them the values of hard work, self-reliance, and not taking things for granted. The podcast encourages listeners to be a great father by adopting these principles and provides daily meditations inspired by ancient wisdom, psychological research, and the experiences of everyday dads to support them in their parenting journey.
"The emperor Hadrian never had a son so he devised a very specific succession plan. He adopted a fifty-one-year-old man named Antoninus Pius on the condition that he adopt Marcus Aurelius. He thought this would provide for five years of training for Marcus—instead Antoninus lived and instructed for twenty three.
You might think that being a prince-in-waiting for that long, being the heir to the richest and most powerful man in the world would ruin a person. It ruined Caligula. It ruined Nero. It’s ruined the children of plenty of people in positions of far less privilege."
Why didn't it ruin young Marcus Aurelius? Ryan explains, in today's Daily Dad Podcast.
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