Blood & Ink: Thursday

"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” 

— Plato, The Republic

This quote smacked me…

At some stage of an individual’s awakening, they begin to wrestle with the important opportunity to take total responsibility for their lives. 

This is an important moment. Step up to the plate. Take charge of your health, wealth, and happiness.

Something I’ve been wrestling with is: how does this apply to politics?

Everyone complains that politics is useless. That politicians are spineless, corrupt morons – and yet, the very people who would make excellent leaders, who could inspire people and return us to cultures of greatness, avoid politics like the plague.

I don’t believe it is an accident that so many people we remember from ancient history were directly involved in politics, or closely adjacent to it.

• Marcus Aurelius: the last great emperor of Rome.
• Leonidas: King of Sparta.
• Tu Fu: one of the greatest Taoist poets, was a political advisor in his day-to-day life.
• While not directly politicians, every religious avatar (Jesus, Buddha, Lao Tzu), caused massive political waves in their time.
• Alexander the Great: led the greatest empire of all time.
• Socrates: put to death for how much he impacted politics.
• Diogenes: visited and respected by Alexandar the Great.
• The Founding Fathers of the US.

We need great political leaders. They shape the chapters of history, inspire the masses, and live an example for us to strive toward. To say the pursuit of politics is fruitless is part of the problem. 

Is everyone meant to be a politician? No. I’m pretty happy with where Elon Musk is right now in the entrepreneurial world.

Your entire life is political. Every action you take and decision you make is a vote for how things should be, for the world you want to see.

Avoiding politics rescinds your power,
Eric Brown.