The Daily Stoic - Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Day 6
October 18th - Frenemies
"There's nothing worse than a wolf befriending sheep. Avoid false friendship at all costs. If you are good, straighforward, and well meaning it should show in your eyes and not escape notice"
- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 11.15
Full author note;
It's pretty obvious that one should keep away from the wicked and two-faced as much as possible - the jealous friend, the narcissistic parent, the untrustworthy partner. At first glance, Marcus Aurelius is reminding us to avoid false friends.
But what if we turn it around? What if, instead, we ask about the times that we have been false to our friends? Ultimately that's what Stoicism is about - not judging other people's behavios, but judging our own.
We've all been a frenemy at one point or another. We've been nice to their face - usually because there was something in it for us - but later, in different company, we said how we really felt. Or we've strung someone along, cared only when things were going well, or declined to help even though someone really needed us.
This behaviour is beneath us - and worth remembering the next time we accuse someone else of being a bad friend.
Over my life I've moved away from certain people, who were friends at some point, due to not wanting to be used for any kind of non reciprocated energy exchange of any sort, nor wanting to knowingly play one someones sensibilities for my own gain, for such petty gain at that too.
I think its important that we all find people who's flow of giving and taking energy matches yours, and an honest communication for those times when needed.
Shevacai
npub19u…wgppv
2023-10-18 13:32:23
Author Public Key
npub19ut4lep53ax69ks406zdzxd4zewgg4v3trnyw20lqzck89r33wls3wgppvPublished at
2023-10-18 13:32:23Event JSON
{
"id": "e3745405896aa6ba6361d4b91411e5a3373ef23a8c2262f424d6a48815298b74",
"pubkey": "2f175fe4348f4da2da157e84d119b5165c84559158e64729ff00b16394718bbf",
"created_at": 1697635943,
"kind": 1,
"tags": [],
"content": "The Daily Stoic - Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living\n\nDay 6\n\nOctober 18th - Frenemies\n\n \"There's nothing worse than a wolf befriending sheep. Avoid false friendship at all costs. If you are good, straighforward, and well meaning it should show in your eyes and not escape notice\"\n\n- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 11.15\n\nFull author note;\nIt's pretty obvious that one should keep away from the wicked and two-faced as much as possible - the jealous friend, the narcissistic parent, the untrustworthy partner. At first glance, Marcus Aurelius is reminding us to avoid false friends. \nBut what if we turn it around? What if, instead, we ask about the times that we have been false to our friends? Ultimately that's what Stoicism is about - not judging other people's behavios, but judging our own. \nWe've all been a frenemy at one point or another. We've been nice to their face - usually because there was something in it for us - but later, in different company, we said how we really felt. Or we've strung someone along, cared only when things were going well, or declined to help even though someone really needed us.\nThis behaviour is beneath us - and worth remembering the next time we accuse someone else of being a bad friend.\n\n\nOver my life I've moved away from certain people, who were friends at some point, due to not wanting to be used for any kind of non reciprocated energy exchange of any sort, nor wanting to knowingly play one someones sensibilities for my own gain, for such petty gain at that too.\nI think its important that we all find people who's flow of giving and taking energy matches yours, and an honest communication for those times when needed. ",
"sig": "51d39400224cdc611ab83a40cc85689ec0ac3395053399cbfca962cdfa90819b8585e9f19862608dc785902eee6037a9c64b29760a8ee1f4b780fa13d9c26b52"
}