Ryan Holiday

We can tell from the statues, they were in good shape, they were handsome, they were strong.

They tried to take care of themselves.

And so that's what we're gonna talk about today.

Not just what the Stoics would warn us against as far as some of these extreme and dangerous behaviors, but what they would tell us about being beautiful, about attraction, and about being your very best self.

There's nothing wrong with beauty or being beautiful.

But Epictetus said that beauty wasn't in our genetics.

It was in our choices.

He said, if your choices are beautiful, then you will be beautiful.

Okay, so what does he mean by that?

We are the product of our choices.

And by that, I think he means that beauty can't be separated from the process, from the regiment that creates it.

I think what he's saying here is like a woman might be stunningly beautiful at first glance, but if those looks are a result of vanity and self-obsession and endless and endless and endless amounts of time primping in the mirror, you'll actually turn out to be an unattractive person when you get to know her.

if your muscles are a result of steroids or neglecting your other responsibilities in life if your physique is a result of starving yourself or actively harming yourself if you are selfish and fragile and superficial then you are ugly even if it manifests itself in some kind of temporary physical attractiveness

I was thinking about this this morning.

I was supposed to get a haircut.

I would like my hair to look good rather than bad.

I'm a little shaggy right now, but I had some other responsibilities that I had to take care of today.

And I thought, you know what?

Do I want to be rushed around?

Do I want to be in a bad mood?