H is for Happiness: "Contentment by Plutarch" (Translated by Moses Hadas)

 10-264

Other H words: Habit, History, Honor, Hypothesis

Summary: Do the things that make your life better.

Bonus: It's time for bed, this video might go with the reading, whatever. Top 1 Anime Deaths.

Commentary: I could really use more contentment in my life, so I went with this for tonight. Might go fishing this weekend, that's a good contentment activity.

I have put together notes on contentment which I had made for my own use, in the conviction that what you desired was not a polished literary composition but something that would be serviceable and helpful.

I feel like this is a very contentmentful was of writing. 

Next time someone makes fun of you for rehearsing your argument in your head, tell them Xenophon and Plutarch recommend it:

It is the same with arguments which are specifics for the passions: sensible people should rehearse them before the passions arise to have them in stock for greater effectiveness.  

His first major tip for contentment is to go do stuff. Specifically, good stuff. 

Timorous and seasick voyagers imagine their plight would be eased if they transferred from a sloop to a merchantman and then from a merchantman to a warship; but their efforts are futile because they carry their bile and their squeamishness with them.

I love everything about this.

Plato likened life to a game of dice, where we must make an advantageous throw, and then make proper use of whatever falls. The first of these, the advantageous throw, is not in our discretion; but to receive what fate allots properly, to assign each item a place where what we like will do most good and what we dislike least harm—that is our function if we are wise. Men who approach life without craftsmanship and intelligence are like sick people who can tolerate neither heat nor cold; prosperity elates them and adversity dejects them. They are perturbed by either lot, or rather by themselves in either lot, and no less in so-called prosperity than in the other. 

At this point, I'm just gonna quote this whole piece. I like a lot of things about this:

1. It acknowledges the role (roll!) of things outside our control in the quality of our lives. (Later identified as a small part, also good.)

2. It frames making the best of what life gives us as a responsibility.

3. I like the use of "craftmanship" here. Being a good craftsman in any regard is underrated. It's become almost an insult in some cases.

4. People who are upset about everything are usually actually upset about themselves.

"Well done, Fortune! You have driven me to Stoicism.” That's a T-shirt.

Honestly, I could quote about half this piece. It's great. It says all the same things optimistic platitudes say, but backs them up with reasoning. 5/5, must read for anyone. First one for this challenge, and only the 3rd or 4th overall.