Ben Wilson

and uh and we get on the wrong topic like i might corner you and go on for 20 30 minutes okay that's a vice of mine but of course it's also what i do professionally and so like if i eliminated that from my nature would i be as good of a podcaster probably not

and uh and we get on the wrong topic like i might corner you and go on for 20 30 minutes okay that's a vice of mine but of course it's also what i do professionally and so like if i eliminated that from my nature would i be as good of a podcaster probably not

So it's a counterintuitive thought, but what if you could find your greatest strength in your life, your biggest differentiator, by seeking out your biggest flaw and asking yourself, okay, what is the other side of the coin from this weakness? On that same note, he says, we do not despise all who have vices, but we do despise all who have not virtues. Okay, and I think that's very true.

So it's a counterintuitive thought, but what if you could find your greatest strength in your life, your biggest differentiator, by seeking out your biggest flaw and asking yourself, okay, what is the other side of the coin from this weakness? On that same note, he says, we do not despise all who have vices, but we do despise all who have not virtues. Okay, and I think that's very true.

Ultimately, whether you have some vices is irrelevant. Everyone does. You will never become great by minimizing your vices down to nothing, right? Finding all your weaknesses and your foibles and just focusing on that until you're a completely polished stone and you have no weaknesses. That's not how it works.

Ultimately, whether you have some vices is irrelevant. Everyone does. You will never become great by minimizing your vices down to nothing, right? Finding all your weaknesses and your foibles and just focusing on that until you're a completely polished stone and you have no weaknesses. That's not how it works.

Rochefoucauld tells us you become great by having virtues, by having talents, skills, things you are great at. Okay. So I think that's an important point that it's not the lack of vices that that makes a person interesting and worthwhile. It is having great virtues. Just one more quote from Rochefoucauld that illustrates the same point.

Rochefoucauld tells us you become great by having virtues, by having talents, skills, things you are great at. Okay. So I think that's an important point that it's not the lack of vices that that makes a person interesting and worthwhile. It is having great virtues. Just one more quote from Rochefoucauld that illustrates the same point.

He says, moderation cannot claim the merit of opposing and overcoming ambition. They are never found together. Moderation is the languor and sloth of the soul, ambition, its activity and heat. Okay. So, um, Yeah, like just being moderate and never kind of getting out of hand is not a path to a great soul.

He says, moderation cannot claim the merit of opposing and overcoming ambition. They are never found together. Moderation is the languor and sloth of the soul, ambition, its activity and heat. Okay. So, um, Yeah, like just being moderate and never kind of getting out of hand is not a path to a great soul.

Ambition is finding that element of your nature that is maybe prone to vice and a little wild, but has greatness within it. All right, some other great maxims from Rochefoucauld. He says, we have more strength than will, and it is often merely for an excuse we say things are impossible. All right, I love that. As Napoleon says, impossible is a word found only in the dictionary of fools.

Ambition is finding that element of your nature that is maybe prone to vice and a little wild, but has greatness within it. All right, some other great maxims from Rochefoucauld. He says, we have more strength than will, and it is often merely for an excuse we say things are impossible. All right, I love that. As Napoleon says, impossible is a word found only in the dictionary of fools.

You must reject the entire idea of impossible. Speaking of Napoleon, Rochefoucauld also writes, fortune turns all things to the advantage of those on whom she smiles, which reminds me, of course, of another Napoleon quote. He said, all great events hang by a single thread. The clever man takes advantage of everything, neglects nothing that may give him some added opportunity.

You must reject the entire idea of impossible. Speaking of Napoleon, Rochefoucauld also writes, fortune turns all things to the advantage of those on whom she smiles, which reminds me, of course, of another Napoleon quote. He said, all great events hang by a single thread. The clever man takes advantage of everything, neglects nothing that may give him some added opportunity.

The less clever man, by neglecting one thing, sometimes misses everything. So, again, the idea here, fortune or luck always smiles on you if you prepare for everything. Fortune favors the bull. You make yourself lucky through action, through vigilance, and as Napoleon says, by neglecting nothing. And then I'll wrap up with two more quotes.

The less clever man, by neglecting one thing, sometimes misses everything. So, again, the idea here, fortune or luck always smiles on you if you prepare for everything. Fortune favors the bull. You make yourself lucky through action, through vigilance, and as Napoleon says, by neglecting nothing. And then I'll wrap up with two more quotes.

One is similar to an idea we've already talked about, but he says, it is only people who possess firmness who can possess true gentleness. In those who appear gentle, it is generally only weakness, which is readily converted into harshness. And that is... Very true.

One is similar to an idea we've already talked about, but he says, it is only people who possess firmness who can possess true gentleness. In those who appear gentle, it is generally only weakness, which is readily converted into harshness. And that is... Very true.

You will find no more harsh and cruel people than those who are truly weak and have just been waiting for their opportunity to flip it on others. This is a similar idea to what we touched upon earlier, but so many people condemn the Napoleons and Caesars of the world, thinking that they are so much more virtuous because they would never commit such evil acts of violence, when in reality...

You will find no more harsh and cruel people than those who are truly weak and have just been waiting for their opportunity to flip it on others. This is a similar idea to what we touched upon earlier, but so many people condemn the Napoleons and Caesars of the world, thinking that they are so much more virtuous because they would never commit such evil acts of violence, when in reality...