DeepSummary
Ryan Holiday, the host of The Daily Stoic podcast, shares a talk he gave at ACL Live, where he discussed the Stoic virtue of justice and how it applies to business decisions. He recounts a situation where he had to decide whether to continue manufacturing books in Belarus, which was complicit in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, or find a new manufacturer despite the higher cost. Ultimately, he chose to prioritize ethical behavior over profit.
Holiday emphasizes that true principles come at a cost and that businesses should consider their ethical obligations, not just what is legally permissible or profitable. He cites examples of companies like CVS stopping cigarette sales and Queen Elizabeth adhering to COVID protocols during her husband's funeral, contrasting them with leaders who prioritized their own interests over ethical conduct.
Holiday argues that the Stoic philosophy encourages doing the right thing now, not postponing ethical behavior until after achieving wealth or success. He encourages leaving places better than we found them and fulfilling our true responsibility of being good, even when it involves difficult decisions that may impact the bottom line.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The Stoic philosophy encourages prioritizing ethical conduct and being a good person over merely pursuing financial success or worldly achievements.
- True ethical principles come at a personal cost or sacrifice, rather than just paying lip service to virtuous ideals.
- Individuals and businesses should strive to uphold higher moral standards, rather than simply following the letter of the law or societal norms.
- Ethical leadership involves putting the greater good and ethical obligations above self-interest or personal gain.
- Doing the right thing is a continuous responsibility, not something to be postponed until after achieving wealth or success.
- Individual ethical decisions can have a broader positive impact on society when people strive to 'leave places better than they found them'.
- The virtue of justice encompasses fairness, honesty, truthfulness, and ethical conduct in both personal and professional spheres.
- Stoicism offers a philosophical framework for navigating difficult ethical decisions and upholding virtuous principles, even in challenging circumstances.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “The right time to do the right thing is right now.“ by Ryan Holiday
- “The fact that you are allowed to do something doesn't mean that you should do it. The fact that everyone does it that way doesn't mean it's right.“ by Marcus Aurelius
- “It's not a principle unless it costs you.“ by Ryan Holiday
- “Leave this place better than you found it.“ by Hollywood Henderson
Entities
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Episode Information
The Daily Stoic
Daily Stoic | Wondery
6/23/24
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