Overview of There Will Always Be People Who Don’t Get It | Daily Stoic (feat. Hasan Minhaj & Ryan Holiday)
This episode mixes a short Daily Stoic meditation—about doing what’s right even when others don’t understand—with an excerpt from a longer conversation between Ryan Holiday and Hasan Minhaj. The clip features a playful Stoic-quote identification game (some quotes were intentionally Kanye West lines), then moves into a substantive discussion of why Stoicism resonates today, how it fills gaps left by family/religion/school, and the distinction between genuine Stoicism and its stripped-down, aggressive reinterpretation often called “broicism.”
Key takeaways
- Stoicism isn’t about being liked; it’s about doing what’s right (courage, discipline, justice, wisdom).
- Not everyone will understand or support principled action—and that’s expected. Historical Stoics (Cato, Thrasia, Rutilius Rufus) were often misunderstood or labeled obstinate.
- Stoicism appeals because it offers practical, rational guidance for living well and dealing with setbacks—something many people don’t get from school or modern institutions.
- Its popularity often spikes when societies feel unstable (ancient Rome, Renaissance, modern crises).
- “Broicism” is a common misappropriation: taking Stoic discipline and resilience while discarding the moral obligation to others. That turns Stoicism into a toolkit for selfish or sociopathic behavior.
- Stoics and Christianity overlap on cardinal virtues, but Stoicism argues from reason and practical outcomes rather than divine reward/punishment.
- Historical Stoics were imperfect and sometimes contradictory; recognizing that nuance matters when applying Stoic ideas today.
Topics discussed
- Opening Daily Stoic reflection: historical examples of principled figures who weren’t understood (Cato, Thrasia, Agrippinus, Rutilius Rufus).
- Hasan Minhaj–Ryan Holiday segment:
- Quote-identification game mixing Stoic quotes and Kanye West lines (humor + testing Stoic literacy).
- Why Stoicism resonated with Hasan: fills a gap in moral and emotional guidance not provided by family/church/school.
- The intellectual/rational character of Stoic ethics vs. religious exhortation.
- Stoicism’s appeal to elites historically and to broader audiences today.
- Broicism vs. authentic Stoicism (the loss of the “common good” element).
- How to read the past: admire Stoic ideals while acknowledging real-world contradictions in ancient figures.
- Brief sponsor mentions (Quince, DuckDuckGo/Duck.ai, Bleacher Report, TurboTax).
Notable quotes and lines
- “There will always be people who don’t get it.” (theme)
- “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” — Marcus Aurelius
- “If you do something easy in pursuit of pleasure, the pleasure goes by quickly, but the shame endures. If you do something hard in pursuit of something good, the labor passes quickly, but the good endures.” — Musonius Rufus (quoted in the conversation)
- “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be—be one.” — Marcus Aurelius (used to illustrate Stoic practice over talk)
- Chrysippus idea referenced: if you want to follow a mob, you won’t become a philosopher.
Practical implications / action items
- Focus on the four cardinal virtues: courage, discipline, justice, wisdom. Don’t ignore justice/concern for others.
- Don’t wait for universal approval—act on what you believe is right.
- Be skeptical of simplified Stoic soundbites used to justify selfish behavior; ask whether a Stoic practice serves the common good.
- Read primary Stoic texts (Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, Musonius Rufus, Seneca) but read them critically—acknowledge historical context and contradictions.
- If interested in the full conversation and the playful quiz, listen to Hasan Minhaj’s podcast episode (Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know) where the full interview is available.
Who should listen / read this episode
- People curious about practical philosophy and resilience.
- Listeners wanting a brief, accessible take on why Stoicism matters today and how it can be misused.
- Fans of Hasan Minhaj or Ryan Holiday who want a blend of humor and substantive philosophical discussion.
(Note: the episode excerpt is short—this summary highlights the key exchanges and arguments; the full Hasan Minhaj interview contains the complete conversation and broader context.)