The ancient world had all the same natural events that we have now. Earthquakes. Lightning. Tornados. Volcanoes. These things were unexpected, terrifying, disruptive and often deadly.
Today, many parts of America will experience a solar eclipse—in this instance, a uniquely rare phenomenon since the proximity of the moon to the Earth will increase the duration and totality of the eclipse. But like the others we mentioned, this natural event happened in Greece and Rome, too. Imagine what it must have been like for the world to suddenly go dark!
In The Obstacle is the Way and in Courage is Calling, there is a story about Pericles, the famous Athenian statesman and general. During a naval mission in the Peloponnesian War, his fleet of 150 ships was thrown into disarray by an eclipse which they believed might be an evil portent. To illustrate that they had nothing to worry about, Pericles threw a cloak over a man. Are you scared now, he asked. No, the man said. "What do you care if the cause of darkness differs?"
Another time, in the face of a fearful storm, Pericles grabbed two large rocks and smashed them together. What do you think thunder is, Pericles said to his men, but clouds doing the same thing?
The truth is that most of the things we fear are rooted in similar ignorance. If you don't know what a tornado is or what's behind an earthquake, it may well seem like the wrath of a vengeful god. But once you learn about tectonic plates or atmospheric pressure, it's not quite so scary. It can still hurt you, of course, but you'll be both better prepared and less likely to take it personally.
When Seneca said he pitied the man who had never been knocked down or bloodied by life, this is what he was referring to. When the Stoics strove to be more than 'pen-and-ink philosophers,' this was why. They knew that you had to be exposed to things, to places, to people, to phenomenon. Otherwise, you'd be afraid of them. You wouldn't understand. You couldn't draw analogies. You couldn't explain or help reassure others.
We are afraid of what we don't understand. We are vulnerable to what we can't grasp. This is why science and history and good ole' personal experience are so essential. They make us wiser but also braver. Because now we know, and once we know, then we can know what to do. We can know how to prepare, or in the case of today's eclipse, how to appreciate and enjoy a beautiful and fleeting moment (which, as a reminder, you should not stare directly at it!).
P.S. There is no good or bad to the practicing Stoic, only perception, and you control perception. The Stoics believed each obstacle we faced could be transformed into an opportunity, a process which Ryan Holiday details in The Obstacle Is The Way (we have premium leatherbound editions of the book, too!). As we mentioned a couple days ago, the Stoics also viewed courage as the virtue of knowing what to fear and not to fear. If you want to learn how to spot the difference in your own life, check out Courage is Calling, the first book in the Stoic Virtues series. These books and more are available over at the Daily Stoic store. Grab your copy today!
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