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Quote by Ryan Holiday

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Ryan Holiday
Ryan Holiday

Ryan Holiday (born June 16, 1987) is an American author, marketer, and advocate of Stoicism. He is best known for his books such as 'The Obstacle Is the Way' and 'The Daily Stoic,' which apply ancient philosophy to modern life. Holiday served as the director of marketing for American Apparel and has written for Forbes, Fast Company, and The New York Observer. His works have sold over 4 million copies worldwide and been translated into 30 languages. Through his books, podcast, and speaking engagements, Holiday promotes Stoic principles to help people navigate adversity, stress, and uncertainty. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his family. more

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“The Mystery of Futile Debate: Why do we engage endlessly in futile political debates? We can argue politics forever, with nary a hint of progress. The likelihood of anyone changing his or her mind as the result of a political argument is negligible, but we debate anyway. Whether on street corners or on "Meet the Press," political discussions go on and on, and are only rarely resolved by polite compromise. It would be astonishing if a presidential candidate were to decide, mid-debate, that the other candidate was right: CANDIDATE: You know, Senator, I never looked at it that way before, but you're actually completely right! Since it's such an important point, I guess I'll just concede the whole election to you right now -- you are definitely the better candidate. Congratulations! If a candidate actually did say something like that, he or she would soon face overpowering citizen anger** -- at having violated the unspoken rule that debates are supposed to be futile. ** Not to mention, a free one-way ticket to a psychiatric institution.”

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“Our political opinions emanate from deep cultural and biological sources...This explains why we get so emotional about politics and why political compromise is generally impossible. When someone criticizes our politics, they attack our very being. Political debate is futile because it is based on the naive premise that we can be convinced by the logical arguments of our enemies to change our inner selves.”

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“Political Wildlife (The Sonnet) Easiest way to study animal behavior without going on safari, is to sit in front of a political debate. Political salesmen are ideal specimen of wildlife in their natural habitat. Listen to all the howling and screaming, Listen to all the brainless twatter. You shall learn a lot about the brutal wild, By watching the cannibals devour each other. In the world of political haftwits, Politics is just "left and right" affair. Where all left and right come to an end, There begins actual human welfare. Partisan world is a loveless world, where popular truth is but a lie. We don't need to lean left or right, it is time, human heart spreads human-wide.”

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“Appena parla di imposte sul capitale, dal centro lo interrompono: «Sul suo capitale!». Al suo primo discorso alla Camera, dopo poco più di trecento parole pronunciate, gli viene ripresentata la colpa della sua ricchezza. «Naturalmente anche sul mio» risponde lesto e beffardo «avete impegnato tanto tempo a capirlo?».”

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“Al dirigente comunista Angelo Tasca, ribadisce: «Lottare a fondo contro il fascismo? D’accordo. Ma in nome di che? Noi vogliamo lottare contro il fascismo in nome della libertà, voi della dittatura. C’è tra noi un dissidio di principio, insuperabile. Appunto perché vogliamo lottare contro il fascismo non possiamo confondere la nostra posizione colla vostra. La vostra fa il giuoco del fascismo. Siete disposti a dichiarare che rinunciate alla dittatura, che siete contro tutte le dittature? Se sì, possiamo senz’altro fare la lista comune; se no, ciascuno deve andare per la propria strada».”

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“While we as people of  God are certainly called to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, that whole "we're blessed to be a blessing" thing can still be kind of dangerous. It can be dangerous when we self-importantly place ourselves above the world, waiting to descend on those below so we can be the "blessing" they've been waiting for, like it or not.”

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