The Cost of Winning

Topic by fixthem_flythem

Fixthem_flythem

Home Forums Philosophy The Cost of Winning

This topic contains 10 replies, has 10 voices, and was last updated by Fixthem_flythem  fixthem_flythem 1 year, 7 months ago.

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #828015
    +7
    Fixthem_flythem
    fixthem_flythem
    Participant
    89

    I subscribe to the Daily Stoic. I try to practice it like religion, even though it says not to because that would be unreasonable.

    In light of my own past circumstances, and the ones naturally coming up I found myself feeling punished for being successful. However, in true stoic-fashion bemoaning my problems doesn’t make them better so I resolved to pick my damn-self up and realize that whatever is going on, is just going on and it’s temporary. Then this came across….

    “It was today in Central Belgium some 203 years ago that the more than 100,000 crack British, Dutch, Belgian, and Prussian troops defeated a resurgent Napoleon and his army of 72,000 for the last time in the Battle of Waterloo. It was a magnificent victory, one that finally put France’s explosion of violence, destruction, and ambition to an end. And yet the now immortal words uttered by Wellington as his crowning achievement developed on the battlefield in front of him were simply, “There is nothing so bad as a battle won except a battle lost.”

    This comment was in part a deprecation of the horrors of war. Wellington had lost a lot of friends in that battle (and saw some 48,000 soldiers on both sides killed or wounded). But it was also a comment that captures a larger Stoic theme—that great victories, accomplishments, and honors take a toll. Seneca would point to successful people with their mansions, their lofty perches in public life, the hard-won fame of their name, and remind his friends that these things were not free. No, he said, they come at the cost of life.

    Not quite literal life as it did in Wellington’s case, but close to it. The fortune of a lawyer, Seneca would want us to remember, came from long hours arguing in courtrooms—hours away from their family, away from philosophy, from serving the common good. The power of a politician comes from the hours spent in backrooms making deals and assembling coalitions of supporters often solely for personal gain and ego. Seneca himself knew this all too well, he knew what his power and influence had cost him. And of course, spending the time and losing is hardly to be preferred to spending the time and winning—that was Wellington’s point. A battle won is better than a battle lost…but only by so much.

    It’s far better—and something we each need to think about today with our bitter turf wars and grandiose ambitions alike—to make sure every battle that can be avoided is avoided. Do we need to chase this or that just because other people are? Must we accept an opportunity simply because it’s offered? Is competition a sign that’s something is valuable or not? Why am I fighting over this? Do I need to be?

    Because sometimes the only thing close to as bad as not getting what you wanted is getting everything you ever wanted.”

    Wow. I said. F~~~ing wow. That captured the foundation of what I was thinking “what the hell did I do to deserve such treatment?” Then it dawned on me “you are as successful as you are because you incurred a debt. A debt to yourself and to the others who supported you. This is the debt being called due.”

    As bleak as it is, from the other side of the fence people are always going to want what they don’t have or think they can get from you because they think they are losing the battle if they don’t have everything they want. Taking you down for being successful is the only way they can do it. However, the comfort in this is knowing that they will never be happy with everything and you can be happy with nothing.

    Happy MGTOW’ing guys. I don’t know you, but I love you.

    If it floats, flies, or fucks, it is cheaper to rent....

    #828027
    +2
    MarketWatcher
    MarketWatcher
    Participant

    However, the comfort in this is knowing that they will never be happy

    That is the golden realization here. THEY WILL NEVER BE HAPPY!

    Great topic.

    #828040
    +1
    MACHO
    MACHO
    Participant

    Wise words fixthem_flythem. Words that if heard and followed can lead to great joys!

    the only thing close to as bad as not getting what you wanted is getting everything you ever wanted.”

    Wow. I said. F~~~ing wow. That captured the foundation of what I was thinking “what the hell did I do to deserve such treatment?” Then it dawned on me “you are as successful as you are because you incurred a debt. A debt to yourself and to the others who supported you. This is the debt being called due.”

    the comfort in this is knowing that they will never be happy with everything and you can be happy with nothing.

    You must own a better Crystal ball than I
    #828045
    +1
    It'sallbs
    It’sallbs
    Participant

    It depends how you define winning.

    http://www.leavemeansleave.eu

    #828049
    +2

    Homer’s Iliad has a very similar theme to your post. In the ninth year of the war, Achilles refuses to participate in the fighting as a form of revenge against Agamemnon, who dishonored him. When the Greeks are pressed against their ships, Patroclus dons Achilles’ armor to drive back the Trojans, but is killed by Hector. In a rage, Achilles rejoins the battle and defeats Hector, winning the honor and glory that had previously been denied to him. However it came at the cost of the life of his closest friend.

    In the end, Achilles sees that what he had before the war was better than what he won during the war.

    Great post, and check out the Iliad if you haven’t read it.

    Women are better at multitasking? Fucking up several things at once is not multitasking.

    #828076
    +2

    Anonymous
    38

    For me enjoying the present as well as building for the future is the golden middle. It’s a lot easier to do being MGTOW. Not for me living a miserable existence for a ‘secure’ future.

    #828091
    +4
    Clint england
    clint england
    Participant
    341

    Chase what you want not what others want. Work alot or work a little. It’s up to you….

    Great post!

    #828124
    +2

    Anonymous
    18

    I rather pay in sweat and labour and earn gains from such sacrifice than to go on an eternal journey of rationalizing why those who possess more, do more must not be happy.

    Win or lose – finding contentment within goes part ways from learning indifference toward the success or failures of others.

    As you have it losers look for other losers to fulfil ‘at least not *insert blank*’ while successful people always aim for the higher fruit. Both ways do not guarantee contentment beyond immediate pleasure of gratification.

    #828126
    +3

    Anonymous
    7

    Compared to my siblings I am very successful. Compared to others maybe not some much.

    Lets compare me to my twin as we are the same age.

    Me: Three days after H.S. graduation I was on a plane for boot camp.
    Him: Was drinking whisky, smoking pot and banging fat bitches.

    Me: My military service was cut short due to an illness. When I got out I went back to school.
    Him: Was drinking whisky, smoking pot and banging fat bitches.

    Me: In my late 20s I was given some really good career advice and I took that advice and back to school I went.
    Him: Was drinking whisky, smoking pot and banging fat bitches.

    Me: I’m now in my late 40s and for all intents and purposes I am semi-retired. I work part-time NOT b/c that is the only work I can find, I work PT b/c I want too.
    Him: Is drinking whisky, smoking pot and banging a fat bitch. All the while complaining about how bad his life is and how I had it lucky.

    So back to OP, like you I get a lot of resentment from family b/c I am seen as successful and their lives are s~~~. They have been punted.

    #828288
    +1
    Harpo-My-"SON"
    harpo-my-“SON”
    Participant
    2410

    Great topic and so true.
    I have had everything taken from me but the thing
    most important. (MY FAITH)
    The product of my faith is the spirit of my father
    who is now in heaven.

    With the use of my flesh he shall dance on his own
    marker at the Fort Smith National cemetery.
    Happy to be born again in his son’s flesh.

    When my flesh dies, I wish for a stoic
    epitaph. something like this maybe:

    “Here lays the body of the son of a man,
    who chose let his father’s spirit live again.
    He is gone on to live in heaven now.
    Who the f~~~ cares anyhow?”

    Love and respect to all

    I was bound to be misunderstood, and I laugh at those who misunderstand me. Kind mockery at the well intentioned, but unfettered cruelty towards those would be prison guards of my creative possibilities. This so as to learn as much from misunderstanding as from understanding. Taking pleasure in worthy opponents and making language fluid and flowing like a river yet pointed and precise as a dagger. Contradicts the socialistic purpose of language and makes for a wonderful linguistic dance, A verbal martial art with constant parries that hone the weapon that is the two edged sword of my mouth.

    #829172
    Fixthem_flythem
    fixthem_flythem
    Participant
    89

    I love you guys. Thanks for the reads and replies.

    If it floats, flies, or fucks, it is cheaper to rent....

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.