Chapter 32
When Death Becomes the Ultimate Exit Strategy
THAT WE ARE TO AVOID PLEASURES, EVEN AT THE EXPENSE OF LIFE I had long ago observed most of the opinions of the ancients to concur in this, that it is high time to die when there is more ill than good in living, and that to preserve life to our own torment and inconvenience is contrary to the very rules of nature, as these old laws instruct us. [“Either tranquil life, or happy death. It is well to die when life is wearisome. It is better to die than to live miserable.” —Stobaeus, Serm. xx.] But to push this…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Values Under Pressure
Think of a time when you felt pulled in different directions - maybe between a job opportunity and family time, or between fitting in and standing up for someone. Write down what you were being asked to choose between, then identify what value was most important to you in that moment. How did recognising that core value help clarify your decision?
Consider:
- •Crisis doesn't create your values - it reveals them
- •The choice that feels hardest often protects what matters most
- •Sometimes saying no to good things protects what's essential
Journaling Prompt
Write about a decision you're facing now where you feel torn. What would happen if you could only protect one thing that matters to you? What does that tell you about your true priorities?
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