Tag: Lives of the Stoics

Better Left Unsaid

Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism, is credited with saying you have two ears and one mouth for a reason (Ryan Holiday, Lives of the Stoics, p. 9)

We should listen twice as much as we talk.

We often talk when we should listen, to try to prove how smart we are.

Just because you’re talking doesn’t mean you are saying anything worthwhile.

“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” – Mark Twain

Some things are better left unsaid.

When you are talking you are not learning.

We often listen to respond.

We would be better off listening with intent of understanding the other person.

We can’t be learning and talking at the same time.

Placeholder

Remember when your ego begins to takeover no matter your station in life or position in the hierarchy you are just a placeholder. Everyone is replaceable. Someone is always ready to fill your shoes.

“Knowing that he was only a placeholder helped Marcus [Aurelius] prevent his position from going to his head.” -Ryan Holiday, Lives of the Stoics, p. 291.

Does that mean we shouldn’t take our positions seriously? No. It means like Marcus Aurelius we shouldn’t let it go to our head.

We should do our job to the best of our ability, not for recognition but because it is our duty. We should be humble. It is humbling to realize, if we leave, someone will be right behind you to fill your role.

When it is time to leave, and there will always be a time to leave, you should leave your position better off than when you arrived.