The Proper Order of Things
Will Durant on how the greatest leaders order their lives and what this has to say about how we can be better parents, teachers, leaders, and citizens.
Hello Bar-Setters,
In his book, The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Time, the great historian Will Durant described the common approach that great leaders throughout time have taken to building their capacity to be great leaders:
The illustrious ancients, when they wished to make clear and to propagate the highest virtues in the world, put their states in proper order. Before putting their states in proper order, they regulated their families. Before regulating their families, they cultivated their own selves. Before cultivating their own selves, they perfected their souls. Before perfecting their souls, they tried to be sincere in their thoughts. Before trying to be sincere in their thoughts, they extended to the utmost their knowledge.
What a great reminder of what is required for great leadership and great impact. It reminds me a bit of Jesus’ timeless analogy in Matthew 7:3-4:
3 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
More on that here:
It is easy to look around and see all the problems of the world and to start swinging at them. This is certainly the track I took as an idealistic young man. As an idealistic 35-year-old, I’m still prone to it. The major problems are so obvious and we all have an opinion on them. However, great things can only be built on a firm foundation.
The wisdom of this quote is simple, but so hard to follow.
To lead people—to be the most influential parent, teacher, or leader—first you have to possess the traits you’d want for others. Your model is what elicits other people’s respect and what ignites the aspirational nature inside of them. Witnessing excellence breeds the desire to become excellent.
More still, in the process of learning, training the mind, training the body, and otherwise cultivating yourself, we are likely to change our objectives and the way we work towards them. As we learn and grow, what seems most important tends to change as well.
Unfortunately this process isn’t always linear. Over and over, I’ve been sabotaged by ego and impatience. In the process, I’ve chased the wrong goals only to wake up one day and realize how far I’ve drifted from where I should be heading.
These painful cycles are the greatest teachers, however.
Amor Fati.
Wherever you are is where you need to be right now.
Whatever happens is the lesson you need to take the next step more intelligently. Better every day.
Carry the fire!
Shane
