A few weeks ago we talked about this paralyzing fear—the “preemptive whataboutism” that holds people back from doing the right thing. It’s why we don’t speak up about somebody on our side. Why we won’t take that career risk. Why we don’t see enough real leadership. 

It was Seneca sticking with Nero out of fear that the next emperor would be worse. It’s the right endorsing illiberalism out of fear of left wing illiberalism…it’s the left breaking norms because they fear the right might do the same. 

How do you cut through it? How do you resist the pull of that pathetic, passive logic? With this little reminder from Marcus Aurelius:

Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.

It’s absolutely true. The future might be bad. We never know the unintended consequences of an action. But does this excuse us from doing the wrong thing now? No, it does not. We can handle what the future brings. If trouble knocks, it’ll find us home. Because, as we’ve said, we “have a heart for any fate.”

That’s what was so strange about Seneca’s decision. He’d already survived—expertly navigated, in fact—four other emperors before Nero. What was one more? He had the weapons to do the right thing, to bear the consequences that would have come from it. He just talked himself out of using them. 

Don’t do that. You’re better. You’re well-armed. You got this.

P.S. This was originally sent on April 8, 2021. Sign up today for the Daily Stoic’s email and get our popular free 7-day course on Stoicism.