We're a long way away from the old days. When people held themselves to certain standards. When politicians believed in something. When people believed in something greater than themselves.
As Binx Bolling says in The Moviegoer (a wonderful Stoic novel you can grab at The Painted Porch), "the Age of Catos is gone." It felt that way then, when Walker Percy was writing in 1961, and it feels that way now. But the funny thing is, it probably felt that way even in Cato's time, that the age of his great-great-grandfather Cato the Elder had passed. In fact, we know that Cato the Elder felt that way…two centuries before Christ. It always feels like the traditional values are slipping away…
Maybe they are. Maybe they aren't. It doesn't really matter because we have a vote: We can decide to live up to those ideas and ideals. We can decide to be honorable and to operate with integrity. We can decide to believe. We can decide to be good. We can decide to stand up for what's right.
And when we do this, you know what? We are proving that the loss is not yet final. We are proving that the Age of Catos is not over. We are proving that someone still cares. We are keeping the flame alive. We are carrying the fire.
As Aunt Emily tells Binx in the The Moviegoer, "A man must live by his lights and do what little he can and do it as best he can. In this world, goodness is destined to be defeated. But a man must go down fighting. That is victory. To do anything less is to be less than a man."
So? Actually we decide. To do what we can. And to keep going, even when it feels like goodness is losing.
Skillshare is more than a library of classes, it's a place to practice, create, and connect. Learn from world-class illustrators, designers, and entrepreneurs while building skills you can actually use. You'll create real projects, receive thoughtful feedback, and meet peers who share your creative goals. Take classes anytime, at your own pace, and turn curiosity into consistent action.
Whether you're exploring a new hobby or sharpening your professional edge, Skillshare helps you learn by doing, and advance your career.
No comments:
Post a Comment