Ben Wilson

This motivation occurs mostly on a subconscious level. So I think philosophers themselves are maybe not aware of the reason for what they do, but Rochefoucault is able to see straight through this because he is the rich playboy aristocrat and therefore doesn't need to justify himself.

This motivation occurs mostly on a subconscious level. So I think philosophers themselves are maybe not aware of the reason for what they do, but Rochefoucault is able to see straight through this because he is the rich playboy aristocrat and therefore doesn't need to justify himself.

He writes, quote, the contempt of riches in philosophers was only a hidden desire to avenge their merit upon the injustice of fortune by despising the very goods of which fortune had deprived them. It was a secret to guard themselves against the degradation of poverty. It was a back way by which to arrive at that distinction, which they could not gain by riches. Okay?

He writes, quote, the contempt of riches in philosophers was only a hidden desire to avenge their merit upon the injustice of fortune by despising the very goods of which fortune had deprived them. It was a secret to guard themselves against the degradation of poverty. It was a back way by which to arrive at that distinction, which they could not gain by riches. Okay?

And, you know, I've known a lot of academics in my life, and I think there's a lot of truth. That's all I'll say. I think there's a lot of truth in what he said. Similarly, he writes of the weak and impotent who praise their own virtue. Quote, "...no one should be praised for his goodness if he has not strength enough to be wicked."

And, you know, I've known a lot of academics in my life, and I think there's a lot of truth. That's all I'll say. I think there's a lot of truth in what he said. Similarly, he writes of the weak and impotent who praise their own virtue. Quote, "...no one should be praised for his goodness if he has not strength enough to be wicked."

All other goodness is but too often an idleness or powerlessness of will. All right? And how many of us do this? Men who boast of their faithfulness when in truth, no woman would ever pursue them. Men who tut that power corrupts when they have never had any opportunity to have power anyway. So that is one of my top takeaways from the philosophy of Rochefoucauld. Be honest with yourself.

All other goodness is but too often an idleness or powerlessness of will. All right? And how many of us do this? Men who boast of their faithfulness when in truth, no woman would ever pursue them. Men who tut that power corrupts when they have never had any opportunity to have power anyway. So that is one of my top takeaways from the philosophy of Rochefoucauld. Be honest with yourself.

Be painfully, brutally honest with yourself. Rudely honest. Make it hurt. You know, to a point verging on cynicism, which is what he often did. You drag everything through the mud and view it in its worst light, not because cynicism itself is good, but because removing the veneer exposes the true beauty underneath.

Be painfully, brutally honest with yourself. Rudely honest. Make it hurt. You know, to a point verging on cynicism, which is what he often did. You drag everything through the mud and view it in its worst light, not because cynicism itself is good, but because removing the veneer exposes the true beauty underneath.

There's a pretty good example of this, I think, in the latest season of the HBO show White Lotus. There are these three women who go on vacation together, three blonde women, all in their 40s, who grew up together.

There's a pretty good example of this, I think, in the latest season of the HBO show White Lotus. There are these three women who go on vacation together, three blonde women, all in their 40s, who grew up together.

And they're all smiling and pretending like everything is fine, when in reality, they're gossiping behind each other's backs, betraying each other, and there are all these fractures and differences between them that are exposed. Some of them are going after the same guy, and one of them hooks up with him. Okay.

And they're all smiling and pretending like everything is fine, when in reality, they're gossiping behind each other's backs, betraying each other, and there are all these fractures and differences between them that are exposed. Some of them are going after the same guy, and one of them hooks up with him. Okay.

And so it gets so bad, there finally is a breaking point, huge blow up in the friend group. And for a while, it looks like the rest of the vacation is going to just be ruined. And then one of the friends gives the speech at breakfast. She says, quote, I've just been so sad all week.

And so it gets so bad, there finally is a breaking point, huge blow up in the friend group. And for a while, it looks like the rest of the vacation is going to just be ruined. And then one of the friends gives the speech at breakfast. She says, quote, I've just been so sad all week.

I just feel like my expectations were too high or I just feel like as you get older, you have to justify your life and your choices. And when I'm with you guys, it's just so transparent what my choices were and my mistakes. I have no belief system. Well, I mean, I've had a lot of them. Work was my religion for forever, but I definitely lost my belief there.

I just feel like my expectations were too high or I just feel like as you get older, you have to justify your life and your choices. And when I'm with you guys, it's just so transparent what my choices were and my mistakes. I have no belief system. Well, I mean, I've had a lot of them. Work was my religion for forever, but I definitely lost my belief there.

And then I tried love, and that was just a painful religion, just made everything worse. And then even for me, just being a mother, that didn't save me either. But I had this epiphany today. I don't need religion or God to give my life meaning because time gives it meaning. We started this life together. I mean, we're going through it apart, but we're still together.

And then I tried love, and that was just a painful religion, just made everything worse. And then even for me, just being a mother, that didn't save me either. But I had this epiphany today. I don't need religion or God to give my life meaning because time gives it meaning. We started this life together. I mean, we're going through it apart, but we're still together.