Overview of It’s Always Going To Be One-Sided
This short Daily Stoic episode argues that choosing virtue often means acting into a one-sided world where others cheat, lie, or play unfairly — and that’s always been the case. The Stoic response: keep your principles because (1) they’re the only thing you truly control, and (2) abandoning them only proves your cynics right and degrades your character. Virtue isn’t promised as a path to worldly success, but it’s the way to live with integrity and avoid shame.
Key points and takeaways
- History shows corruption and unfairness are perennial (examples: Cato, Rutilius Rufus).
- The Stoic answer to others’ bad behavior is twofold:
- Focus on what you control (your actions and character).
- Refuse to validate cynics by abandoning your principles.
- Virtue is primarily about living with yourself, not about guaranteed success in politics or business.
- Honesty may cost you in outcomes but prevents shame, secret-keeping, and the risk of being exposed.
- Being principled protects you from moral degradation even when it costs you materially or socially.
Notable quotes and references
- Paraphrase of Marcus Aurelius (Meditations): “This is really the only way we can be harmed — when we let the actions of others affect our character.”
- From the host: “Being honest, holding yourself to account, can hold you back, sure, but it also holds you back from shame.”
- Historical figures cited as exemplars: Cato and Rutilius Rufus — examples of people who suffered for integrity.
Practical action items
- Daily reminder: distinguish between what’s in your control (your judgments and actions) and what’s not (others’ behavior).
- Commit publicly or privately to a specific principle (e.g., honesty in billing, fairness in hiring) to reduce drift.
- When tempted to compromise, ask: “Am I proving them right by doing this?” — if yes, step back.
- Use honesty to avoid the cumulative burden of secrets and fear of exposure — it’s a long-term safeguard for peace of mind.
- Seek and celebrate examples of integrity to normalize costly virtue in your circle.
Context & resources
- Book referenced: Right Thing Right Now (part of the Virtue series) — available signed at store.dailystoic.com.
- Sponsor: Quo (business phone system) — offer mentioned: try free + 25% off first six months at Quo.com/dailystoic.
Bottom line
Virtue won’t always win in the marketplace or politics, but it’s the only reliable way to avoid moral injury and live with yourself. Choosing to be principled is less about short-term advantage and more about preserving character.