"First, honor the immortal gods, as set down by the law, and revere the oath."

The Golden Verses of the Pythagoreans 1-2

"Come now, take courage, the race of men is divine."

The Golden Verses of the Pythagoreans 63

“There’s nothing better in the world, Cyrnus, than a father and mother who care for the holy law.” Theognis, Elegies 131–132

In The Republic (435e–441e.), Plato formulates the tripartite, or three-part, theory of the human soul. To explain the theory, he compares souls to nations. Nations, he says, consist of three major classes: the ruling class, the fighting class, and the working class. The ruling class is the government and is traditionally led by a king. The military and police comprise the fighting class. Merchants, farmers, and all those who work for a living make up the third class. Likewise, the human soul has three major “classes”: rational, spirited, and appetitive.

"Clothes that are made clean and bright become soiled again by use, but the soul being once purified from ignorance remains splendid forever." The Similitudes of Demophilus 25

“God has no place on the earth more suitable to his nature than a pure and holy soul.” The Pythagorean Sentences of Demophilus 44

“Never take confidential counsel, Cyrnus, with a bad man when you would accomplish an important matter, but seek the counsel of the good, Cyrnus, even if it means much labor and a long journey.” Theognis, Elegies 69–72

“Sickness is an impediment to the body, but not to the will, unless will itself wishes it to be. Lameness is an impediment to the leg, but not to the will; and say this to yourself with regard to everything that happens. For you will find it to be an impediment to something else, but not truly to yourself.” Epictetus, The Handbook 9

"Do not fiddle with a good life, but rather keep it undisturbed; but you should stir the evil life till you ease it into safety." Theognis, Elegies 303–304

“If you love me and the heart within you is loyal, do not be my friend in word only, with heart and mind turned contrary; either love me with a whole heart, or disown me and hate me in open quarrel. Whosoever is in two minds with one tongue, he, Cyrnus, is a dangerous comrade, better as foe than friend.” Theognis, Elegies 87–92

Tonight is a full moon in Leo.

"Even though one takes a fancy to roam, wisdom has large and spacious retreats: we may investigate the nature of the gods, the fuel which feeds the constellations, or all the varied courses of the stars; we may speculate whether our affairs move in harmony with those of the stars, whether the impulse to motion comes from thence into the minds and bodies of all, and whether even these events which we call fortuitous are fettered by strict laws and nothing in this universe is unforeseen or unregulated in its revolutions. Such topics have nowadays been withdrawn from instruction in morals, but they uplift the mind and raise it to the dimensions of the subject which it discusses ..." Seneca, Letters 117

“If one praises you so long as he sees you, but speaks ill of you behind your back, such a friend, for sure, is not a very good friend—the man whose tongue speaks fair but whose mind thinks ill. But I would be friends with him who seeks to know his friend’s temper and bear with him like a brother. And you, friend, consider this well, and someday hereafter you will remember me.” Theognis, Elegies 93–100

“Never make the bad man your friend, but flee him ever like a harbor full of rocks.” Theognis, Elegies 113–114

There is an understandable impulse to defend classical spirituality (and Platonism in particular) from naysayers, but I recommend denying this impulse.

Our community is quite small, and we are ordinary people with jobs, families, etc. Thus, our resources are severely limited.

It is therefore in our strategic interest to focus our energy as efficiently as possible. Arguing with people who are never going to agree with us is a waste of our limited resources.

Our energy is much more productively utilized by targeted research and outreach. The reality is that traditional Platonism as a spiritual practice is not yet well understood and is virtually unknown outside of niche Internet circles. Addressing those two issues are of paramount importance.

Yes, it's fun to "own" them in arguments, but it is not a good use of our energy right now. There will likely come a time for high profile public defense, and at that time we will easily crush the ankle biters, but that time, I suggest, is not now.

Please consider picking a high priority research topic and focusing your energy on that instead. In the long run, that will be many times more impactful than arguing with someone who won't and, in some cases, can't understand you.

- CWT Admin

“Do not demand that events should happen as you wish; but wish them to happen as they do happen, and you will do well.” Epictetus, The Handbook 8