The Daily Stoic for September 13th. Protecting Our Inner Fortress From Fear.
“No, it is events that give rise to fear—when another has power over them or can prevent them, that person becomes able to inspire fear. How is the fortress destroyed? Not by iron or fire, but by judgments… here is where we must begin, and it is from this front that we must seize the fortress and throw out the tyrants.”
EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 4.1.84-86;87A
Ryan Holiday’s September 13th entry really emphasizes what a Stoic’s principle is.
It struck me because this is something that I am also practicing now, one way or another. And as usual, the focus of the Stoics is from within. From things that can be controlled. This chapter also shares the same theme.
The Stoics believed that each person has the concept of the Inner Citadel. This fortress protects our soul. On the outside, we are indeed vulnerable. We can be hurt physically, have a certain illness that prevents us from doing things, but our inner citadel, our inner fortress, is impenetrable.
The author did share this “but history teaches us that impenetrable fortresses can still be breached, if betrayed from the inside.” It actually does make sense. If the citizens inside the walls, for any reason (greed, fear, etc) chose to betray from within and open the gates to let the enemy in, the fortress now is vulnerable.
The same thing and concept could actually be applied to us. Other people can choose to hurt us physically, ailments can affect us, but if our mind is so strong that we can choose to not let it get to us, our fortress would be impenetrable.
But if we allow these conditions to affect us, then we are betraying ourselves and we are letting the enemies get inside.
We all have strong fortresses within us. Let us not betray it.