This day is called February 21, 2024. One of the most valuable things I’ve picked up in the last 5 years by writing this post is my conversations with the most intelligent dead people who’ve ever lived. They’ve provided me with the answers to the questions I’ve wanted to ask. Marcus Aurelius told me that if I can’t control something, I shouldn’t worry about it. Seneca told me that ignorance is the cause of fear. Diogenes told me that the person who is the most content is content with the least. You get the idea. I think it would be valuable for you to spend 5 minutes a day searching and reading quotes. The effects are cumulative and the benefits unlimited. The holidays for today are Card Reading Day, International Mother Language Day, National Grain Fee Day, and National Sticky Bun Day (obvious pick). Now some historical footnotes. On this day in 1431 trial of Joan of Arc for heresy began. On this day in 1848 Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published “The Communist Manifesto” in London. On this day in 1916 the Battle of Verdun began with a German offensive. It became the longest battle (9 months) of WWI with over 1 million casualties. On this day in 1931 Alka Seltzer was introduced. On this day in 1965, Malcolm X was shot dead at the Audubon Ballroom in NYC by Nation of Islam followers. On this day in 1981 on “Saturday Night Live” Charles Rocket is clearly heard saying the word “Fuck”. This is the day in 2014 that President Obama met with the Dali Lama. Today’s dead person is the Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza. He said, “No matter how thin you slice it, there will always be two sides.” “What Paul says about Peter tells us more about Paul than about Peter.” “Reason cannot defeat emotions, an emotion can only be displaced or overcome by a stronger emotion.” “Desire nothing for yourself, which you do not desire for others.” “I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand them.” I’ll end with “What everyone wants from life is continuous and genuine happiness.” Abide.
