“In his bestselling work, ‘Courage is Calling,’ acclaimed author Ryan Holiday expounded upon the Stoic argument in favor of leading a daring and fearless life. Now, in the eagerly awaited second installment of his Stoic Virtue series, Holiday reveres the profound influence of self-discipline and pays tribute to those who have harnessed its extraordinary potential.
To attain mastery in any pursuit, the first step is to master oneself—comprising emotions, thoughts, and actions. As General Eisenhower famously asserted, true freedom is the opportunity to cultivate self-discipline. Cicero eloquently referred to the virtue of temperance as the refinement of life itself. Without boundaries and self-control, we not only jeopardize our capacity to realize our fullest potential and safeguard our accomplishments, but we also invite suffering and disgrace. In a world fraught with temptation and excess, this age-old concept holds an even more urgent relevance.
In ‘Discipline is Destiny,’ Holiday draws upon the narratives of historical luminaries who serve as exemplars of self-discipline, including Lou Gehrig, Queen Elizabeth II, boxer Floyd Patterson, Marcus Aurelius, and writer Toni Morrison. He also presents cautionary tales from the lives of individuals like Napoleon, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Babe Ruth. Through these captivating stories, Holiday imparts to readers the profound significance of self-discipline and equilibrium while cautioning against the pitfalls of extravagance and hedonism.
At the core of Stoicism lie four fundamental virtues: courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom. According to Stoic philosophy, everything else emanates from these virtues. ‘Discipline is Destiny’ acts as a guiding light, steering readers towards self-mastery, which serves as the bedrock upon which all other virtues rest. Discipline is prophetic; success cannot be achieved without it, and its absence inevitably leads to failure and discontent.”
