Chapter 52
When Less Is More
OF THE PARSIMONY OF THE ANCIENTS Attilius Regulus, general of the Roman army in Africa, in the height of all his glory and victories over the Carthaginians, wrote to the Republic to acquaint them that a certain hind he had left in trust with his estate, which was in all but seven acres of land, had run away with all his instruments of husbandry, and entreating therefore, that they would please to call him home that he might take order in his own affairs, lest his wife and children should suffer by this disaster. Whereupon the Senate appointed another to…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Dependencies
List five things you spend money on regularly that you could live without. For each item, identify what dependency it creates (time, maintenance, storage, etc.) and what freedom you might gain by eliminating it. Then choose one to experiment with cutting for a week.
Consider:
- •Consider both obvious expenses (subscription services) and hidden ones (convenience foods, impulse purchases)
- •Think about the time and mental energy each expense requires, not just the money
- •Notice which items you defend most strongly - those might be your biggest dependencies
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when having less money actually gave you more freedom or forced you to discover something valuable about yourself. What did that experience teach you about the relationship between resources and autonomy?
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