The Daily Stoic This Answers The Great Unanswered Question | Make Honesty Your Only Policy
125 snips
Oct 14, 2025 The discussion opens with the story of Commodus, revealing the pitfalls of leaders ignoring advice. Ryan emphasizes the importance of mentorship and collaboration for wisdom, citing examples like Lincoln's diverse cabinet. Honesty is presented as a core Stoic principle, with insights from Marcus Aurelius on straightforwardness. The conversation touches on balancing candor with temperance and the value of celebrating friends' successes, highlighting how genuine support strengthens virtue.
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Marcus’s Failed Succession Plan
- Marcus Aurelius arranged a council of the best men to advise his son Commodus before he died.
- Commodus rejected their counsel and that refusal helped lead to his disastrous rule and assassination.
Nero’s Rejection Of Counsel
- Nero ignored wise counsel from Seneca and spiraled into delusion and paranoia.
- That pattern mirrors Commodus: leaders who refuse guidance often fail spectacularly.
Wisdom Is A Collective Effort
- Wisdom is not solitary and requires a community of teachers and advisors to see blind spots.
- Leaders who cultivate counsel avoid the pitfalls of pride and narrow experience.
