The Daily Stoic

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers: How To Be Content - The Problem of Passion Pt. 1

Nov 27, 2022

Guest Stephen Harrison, a leading authority on the poet Horace, shares insight into the pursuit of contentment in our materialistic world. He emphasizes the importance of balancing passion with personal well-being, drawing from Horace’s poetry. The discussion explores the interplay between love and contentment, advocating a pragmatic approach to youthful desires. Harrison highlights Horace's humorous take on love and life, revealing how ancient wisdom can guide us toward greater satisfaction in modern relationships.

18:19

Episode guests

Stephen Harrison

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Passion vs. Contentment

7min

Finding Balance: Navigating Passion and Contentment

3min

The Contrast of Heroism and Domesticity in Love Poems

5min

The Irony of Love in the Odes

3min

For many people, happiness is associated with contentment: being around family, enjoying work, having enough. But what are the secrets to obtaining a contented life in a world of materialistic excess and personal pressures?

One of Rome's greatest and most influential poets, Horace (65-8 BCE) shared his wisdom about this question in his writings. In How to Be Content, Stephen Harrison, a leading authority on the poet, provides fresh, contemporary translations of poems from across Horace's works that continue to offer important lessons about the good life, friendship, love, and death.

In this episode Ryan presents an excerpt of that book which specifically focuses on the idea of passion, and how the drive to obtain more and more can come between us and the good life.

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