Cost of Glory

Plutarch gives more examples of how to get it right, from Great Leaders of Greece & Rome-Phocion, -Agathocles, -Pericles, -Sulla, -Themistocles,

You know you want to do it. But how? Plutarch offers a few key examples.

Highlights from Rome's Deadliest Conspiracy, the Catilinarian conspiracy.Featuring speeches by Julius Caesar and Cato the Younger.

Get into one of the great moments of history - highlights from Cicero's speech Against Catiline. Featuring a quote or two from the original Latin.

The Conspiracy to overthrow the Roman Republic at the height of its power. Catiline and his associates challenge Cicero and Cato. Rumors were that Crassus and Caesar were involved... Part I: Highlights from Sallust's War with Catiline.ANNOUNCING - New Megaseries: Visions of Caesar. I am beginning an arc on the biographies of all the most prominent of the era of Caesar, including The Man himself. Crassus, Pompey, Cato, Caesar, Cicero, Brutus, Antony.

The Greatest hero of all, Hercules - told by Seneca: Billionaire, Politician, Stoic Philosopher, and... Tragic Playwright.Highlights and power quotes from Seneca's "The Madness of Hercules": in a new, brilliant, poetic translation by one of America's great poets, Dana GioiaGet a copy here: https://amzn.to/42TEUqJ(and support the show thereby)More about Dana Gioia and his work here:https://danagioia.com/

The Finale: Xenophon's Anabasis, book 7 of 7. Highlights for the High Life. In this episode:-Sailing to Byzantium -How to Tame a Mob -Spartan Indecision-Drinking more wine from big horns with dangerous men -Raiding with Thracians -Fire attack at night -How to lose a good friend for good -What all gyms should aspire to be like -The importance of keeping your horse

Highlights from Book 6 of Xenophon's AnabasisIn this episode:-Drinking parties, War Dances -Why every modern gentleman should sacrifice to the gods-How to gracefully decline a promotion -Hercules in Hell-On keeping the Fellowship together-Isolated sheep rustling incident threatens to start an international war -The value of a cool head

Xenophon, Anabasis 5. #1 Highlights for Life Success. In this episode: -Fending off chaos in all its forms -Dealing with a power vacuum -The Source of the Golden Fleece -The BEST way to spend Sacred Funds (Hint: Real Estate) -Artemis and her 7 wonders Temple at Ephesus (cult statue here)-Sampling Local Delicacies (as always) -Pale white children as wide as they are tall-Dreams of city founding-The metaphysical basis of international law-Xenophon, hubris, and soldier punchingDon't forget to follow @costofglory on Twitter for updates and additional takeawaysAlso - Leave a review if you like this!

Top 4 takeaways from the life of Agesilaus. Also, further reading:Plutarch, "On Sparta": https://amzn.to/3Ni3RaO-Cornelius Nepos, Lives of the Great Commanders (trans. Quintus Curtius): https://amzn.to/3AtrqpO-Xenophon, Hellenica: https://amzn.to/41YXmOx -Steven Pressfield, Gates of Fire (historical novel): https://amzn.to/3V0gCsH-Paul Cartledge, Agesilaos and the Crisis of Sparta: https://amzn.to/3L3Wj9d-John Buckler, Theban Hegemony:https://amzn.to/3Lonc98-James Romm, The Sacred Band:https://amzn.to/3L1WoKA-Charles Hamilton, Agesilaus and the Failure of Spartan Hegemony: https://amzn.to/3oDn38PHow to Take Over the World Podcast: Philip of Macedon

Agesilaus, old King of Sparta, faces his final enemy, and greatest foe of all: the Theban commander Epaminondas.MapKey People: Agesilaus, king of Sparta Demaratus, king of Sparta Artaxerxes, King of Persia Epaminondas, Theban Statesman Pelopidas, Theban Statesman Antalcidas Xenophon, the Philosopher-warrior Gryllus, son of Xenophon Nectanebo, Pharaoh of Egypt Menelaus, king of Sparta Key Places: Sparta Thebes Leuctra Athens Corinth Arcadia Mantinea Tegea Elis Achaea Mt. Taygetos Eurotas River Messenia Kalamata Messene Mt. Ithome Pamisos River / Valley Megalopolis Olympia Egypt

Sparta's greatest king, from his grandest moments, to his most challenging setbacks. 394-371 BC.In this episode:-Isolating your enemies-Working through intermediaries-The power of culture-Democracy vs. Oligarchy-personal integrity vs state integrityThanks to our Sponsor, Ancient Language Institute: https://ancientlanguage.com/register-greek/Here's a nice map of ancient Greece Places: Thebes Corinth Athens (in Attica) Argos Sparta/Lacedaemon (in Laconia) AcrocorinthPeloponnese Cadmeia Olynthus Piraeus (Port city of Athens) ElisArcadiaMantinea Olympia Thespiae (in Boeotia) Plataea (in Boeotia) Leuctra (in Boeotia) People: Agesilaus Xenophon Antalcidas (of Sparta) Cynisca (of Sparta) Leontiades (of Thebes) Ismenias (of Thebes) Phoebidas - Spartan Commander Agesipolis - King of Sparta Pelopidas (of Thebes) Epaminondas (of Thebes) Sphodrias - Spartan Commander Cleonymus - son of Sphodrias Archidamus - son of Agesilaus Cleombrotus - King of Sparta

The story of Sparta's greatest king. Sponsors: -The Excellent How To Take Over The World Podcast; -Ancient Life Coach Rome Retreat In This Episode:-Inspiration from a rough childhood-The Spartan youth training system-The Spartan art of consensus building-The Iliadic vision of a Panhellenic King-Getting enemies to finance your war effort-War and Friendship among Greeks and PersiansPeople:AgesilausPompeyKing Archidamus (of Sparta)King Agis (of Sparta)King Leonidas (of Sparta)LysanderAlcibiadesPrince CyrusKing Artaxerxes (of Persia)Xenophon of AthensTissaphernesPlaces:Sparta Peloponnese (Peloponnesus)Athens Mt TaygetosMantineiaThebes (in Boeotia)Aulis (in Boeotia)BoeotiaAsia (Minor) Ephesus Lydia Sardis Phrygia CorinthArgosHaliartus (in Boeotia)HellespontThermopylae Orchomenus (in Boeotia)Cnidus (Knidos)Coroneia (in Boeotia)

Xenophon's Anabasis 4: The best parts of all, with analysis for action.In this Episode:-How to cross a guarded river-The mindset of people who push through massive stress and pain-Distinguishing yourself as middle management-The Sea, The Sea-Lawrence of Arabia, Xenophon admirer-Psychedelic Bees

Apply for the Rome Retreat: https://ancientlifecoach.com/retreatAnnouncing a new partnership!Alex gets interviewed by Ben Wilson of How to Take Over the WorldIn this episode: -What's in store-What Alex is listening to-Why Cost of Glory exists-Why biography is energizing-What the greats, ancient and modern, have in common-The true meaning of Zeal

Xenophon's Anabasis Book 3 - The best highlights, the Power Highlights. For Power Listeners.In this Episode:-The power of public speaking-What Socrates told Xenophon before he left-Xenophon's inner monologue in GREEK-Motivating your managers-Finding resources you didn't know you had-Lost cities of Mesopotamia-Goat and donkey balloons-The Original Kurds?Amazon links (Click, Buy -> Support this show!)David Allen, Getting Things Donehttps://amzn.to/3kIRpoHJocko's Extreme Ownership:https://amzn.to/3SCmnLXLandmark Xenophon's Anabasishttps://amzn.to/3HLGAegOld Penguin Anabasis:https://amzn.to/3HLGAegLoeb Edition:https://amzn.to/3HLGAegKey CharactersXenophonProxenus (+)CheirisophusMithradatesSome Hater from BoeotiaA Rhodian Balloon smithThe CarduchiansPlaces: NimrudNineveh (Mosul)Tigris River

Best highlights, power quotes, and notes from a leadership and adventure classic, Xenophon's Anabasis 2. Featuring:-Deciding who won a battle-How to deceive the wise-The noble and the base among Greek leaders-The hazards of date palm wineAmazon links (Click, Buy -> Support this show!)Landmark Xenophon's Anabasishttps://amzn.to/3HLGAegOld Penguin Anabasis:https://amzn.to/3HLGAegLoeb Edition:https://amzn.to/3HLGAegCharactersCyrus The Younger (RIP)AriaeusPhalinus of PersiaCtesias of CnidosClearchus of Laconia/SpartaXenophon of AthensProxenus of Thebes/BoeotiaMenon of ThessalyTissaphernesAtaxerxes, King of Kings

Best highlights, power quotes, and notes from a leadership and adventure classic, Xenophon's Anabasis 1. Featuring:-How to get people to take real risks on your behalf-How ancient army logistics worked-Love affairs with foreign queens-Hunting the Ostrich-Qualities of good leaders, in Xenophon's opinionAmazon links (Click, Buy -> Support this show!)Landmark Xenophon's Anabasishttps://amzn.to/3HLGAegOld Penguin Anabasis:https://amzn.to/3HLGAegLoeb Edition:https://amzn.to/3HLGAegKey People:Prince CyrusKing ArtaxerxesTissaphernes (satrap)Epyaxa (Queen of Cilicia)XenophonClearchusTissaphernessacred fishbustardswild assesostrichesKey PlacesCiliciaTarsusCunaxa (Battle of)Euphrates RiverPhrygiaLydiaThrace

The moment when someone obscure and untested realizes, in a crisis, that they can handle this. An autobiographical story from someone who was both a great writer and great leader, Xenophon.

Persevere when you are surrounded by enemies, like the other Santa Claus, Saint Basil of Caesarea. A Christmas special, from the Cost of Glory.

A Spartan story about a conspiracy. Whether it's a hostile corporate takeover, a plot to overthrow a president, or a school board coup, how do you make sure your conspiracy doesn't fail? Learn this lesson or be sorry later. Also featuring commentary from Aristotle's Politics.

How do you buy yourself some time when you can't afford to tell people the reason why? A strategy used by a Spartan commander, Dercylidas. Brought to you by the Greek philosopher-historian-warrior Xenophon.

How should we look at the lives of “problematic” great figures? Join us as we join the ancient philosopher Plutarch, in sizing up two incredible men of action. Who wins? Shout out to sources and inspirations: Ancient: Plutarch, life of SullaPlutarch, life of MariusPlutarch, life of SertoriusPlutarch, life of PompeyPlutarch, life of LucullusAppian, Civil WarsAppian, Mithridatic WarsCicero, pro Sexto RoscioSallust, Jugurtha Secondary:Arthur Keaveney (R.I.P.), Sulla, The Last RepublicanTheodor Mommsen, History of RomeGareth Sampson, Collapse of RomeCatherine Steel, The End of the Roman Republic; “Sulla the Orator”Adrienne Mayor, The Poison King

Mass murderer or brilliant patriot? Whatever your take on Sulla, it's worth analyzing the qualities that made him a joy to his friends, and a terror to his enemies.

How do you keep your team together in a civil conflict? Can a country right itself by warring with itself? What are the limits to which one man will go to punish his enemies? In this episode, Sulla’s most famous, or rather infamous, acts as a leader. —People—SullaPlutarchKing Pyrrhus CinnaMetellus PiusMarcus Licinius CrassusCarboGaius NorbanusLucius Cornelius Scipio (Asiaticus)SertoriusGnaeus Pompeius (Pompey)Gaius Marius (Jr.)DamasippusThe SamnitesTelesinusThe LucaniansLucius OfellaSextus Roscius (Amerinus)CiceroCatilineJulius CaesarThe GracchiMetellaMarcus Aemilius Lepidus (consul 78 BC) —Places—ApolloniaEpirusAdriatic SeaItalyDalmatiaCampaniaMt TifataCapuaCapitoline HillPicenumPraeneste (Palestrina)RomeColline GateAntemnae Field of Mars (Campus Martius)Temple of BellonaCircus FlaminiusAmeriaCumae

How does a great commander handle being undermined by his government back home? How should we treat opponents we defeat? And how do we negotiate the best deal when our backs are against the wall and our counterparts know it? In this episode: Sulla goes to Greece, to war against Rome’s arch rival Mithridates of Pontus. Can he hold out against a vastly superior enemy army? And can he weather the escalating crisis in Rome? --People--Sulla, The HeroPlutarch, The NarratorMarius, The ScoundrelSulpicius, The HenchmanCinna, The PoliticianMithridates, The King Aristion, the TyrantArchelaus, The FoeFlaccus, The ReplacementFimbria, The BackstabberApellicon, The Book CollectorAndronicus, The Editor --Places--RomeAthensPiraeusEpidaurusOlympiaDelphiBoeotiaMt ParnassusChaeroneaThebesLivadeiaOrchomenusLake KopaisAsia (Minor)The DardanellesDardanusEuboeaHalae --Divinities--MaBellonaMinervaVenusAphroditeApolloAsclepiusTrophonius

How do we get Fortune on our side? What are the qualities necessary for daring unthinkable, unspeakable acts? When is it justifiable to massacre your enemies? Sulla: A man of contradictions. Enjoyer of dramas and hedonistic pleasures; most successful general of his generation, and one of the greatest of all time. Patriot and champion of the ancient constitution; the Roman responsible for more Roman deaths than perhaps any other man in history. Was Sulla one who broke the Republic? In this episode learn the arts of:-Wisdom-charm-gift giving-deception People:Gaius MariusJugurthaKing BocchusThe Cimbri and TeutonesQuintus Lutatius CatulusThe MetelliAemilius ScaurusMithridates of PontusThe ParthiansQuintus Pompeius RufusManius Aquillius (cameo)Publius Sulpicius Rufus Places:RomeNumidiaGaulCiliciaCappadociaArmeniaEuphrates RiverPersiaParthiaNola

A principle for building exercises to control your anxiety or fear. Favorinus, a philosopher from the time of Plutarch, offers some deft observations about Socrates.

Plutarch offers insight on relating to people above your station

Plato gives some insight in how to undermine your enemies.

How to turn bad luck around. SPOILER: it's not just more effort.Stories of Timotheus and Sulla

What happened after Lysander died? What was his legacy? What can we learn from his life?

Lysander returns from his setbacks at Sparta with a revolutionary plan. He consults the gods about the Spartan Kingship; and some of his own prophecies about Greek geopolitics come true.In this episode: How should protegés treat mentors? How do you change a deeply conservative state? And, as always, what is the cost, for an individual, for a state, of striving for supreme glory?Characters:Alexander Hamilton (cameo)LysanderTissaphernes, Satrap of LydiaThe PythiaAgesilausCyrus the YoungerKing PausaniasThrasyboulus of AthensPlaces:SpartaOracle of DelphiOracle of Dodona, in EpirusOracle of Zeus Ammon (Amun Ra), LibyaEphesusThebesHaliartus

Lysander - The Spartan who took down Athens. In this episode: the dangers of success.How (and why) Lysander installed the notorious "Thirty" at Athens, and how he came to be worshipped as a god. Could Sparta contain such a man?Characters:LysanderSocratesTheramenesCritiasKing PausaniasKing AgisThrasyboulusThe ThirtyThe Mob Key Virtues:PatienceFlexibilityObedienceIndifference to MoneyResilience Key Places:AthensSpartaThebesSamosMiletusDelphi

A Spartan; first Greek honored as a god during his lifetime; destroyer of Athenian naval supremacy. In this episode: his rise to power, how he pulled off the greatest naval upset in Greek history, and WHY he did it. Characters:LysanderSocratesXenophonAlcibiadesPrince Cyrus the YoungerAgesilausKing AgisKallikratidasThe Mob Key Virtues:PatienceFlexibilityObedience Key Places:AthensSpartaEphesusDardanelles / Hellespont

A story about how Socrates reacted when he got publicly shamed.

Harry Truman was a great admirer of Plutarch's lives, and recommended them often. He discusses why.Quotes taken from Miller's oral biography of Truman, "Plain Speaking."

How do we translate the advice Plutarch gives on free speaking, with the example of Pericles, into the world of modern media?

What combination of habits produces both strength and peace? How do we become more sovereign over our lives, over ourselves? With some references from a famous, classic text from Plutarch's works.

Why do we work? How should we spend our leisure? Also, announcing the next biography subjects!

What did Pyrrhus and Marius had in common, what lessons can be drawn for leaders?

A transcript of an article from Antigone Journal. Read the article here:https://antigonejournal.com/2022/03/publius-rutilius-rufus/Rutilius was a side character in the Life of Marius, but deserves his own treatment here. See also his treatment in the book Lives of the Stoics by Holiday and Hanselman, which inspired this essay.

3 Lessons for Leaders from the Life of Marius. Also, what happened after Marius died?

This is the story of how Gaius Marius went from being the Greatest Man in Rome to Public Enemy #1.But Marius, usually master of the political narrative, ended up having his story written by his political rivals. What was the true character of this surprisingly elusive figure?What is worth imitating? What is worth avoiding? Before fully answering these questions, we must understand the details of his story, one of the most dramatic and memorable sequences in all of Plutarch’s lives.On today’s podcast:One way to respond when you’re being underminedThe problem with putting off legitimate political complaints Marius, Drusus, and the beginning of the Social War Sulla, Marius, and the beginning of the Civil War Marius’ harrowing escapeThe prophecy about Marius’ 7 consulshipsThe Bloody Return of MariusLinks:Thanks to our sponsor - ideamarket.io - @ideamarket_io on twitter!Thanks to our guest narrator, Justin Murphy! visit otherlife.co, indiethinkers.org, or @jmrphy on twittter

In this episode, Gaius Marius goes from upstart commander to Third Founder of Rome.Roman writer and historian Sallust said Marius possessed Virtus (“manliness, prowess, virtue” - but, was Marius ultimately a “good man”? In part two of The Life of Gaius Marius, Marius captures Jugurtha, he enlists the help of a prophetess to annihilate an army of Teutones, and triumphs over the Cimbri at the Battle of Vercellae. And how he became six times Roman consul.But in order to reach the top, Marius had to dispatch political enemies, and make alliances with some dubious characters. Was it worth it? Thanks to sponsor ideamarket.io! (@ideamarket_io)On today’s podcast:The power of narrativeHow to commandeer a war from a decorated generalMarius the Military Reformer and StrategistThe battles of Arausio, Aquae Sextiae, VercellaeThird Founder of RomeHow to engineer the downfall of a rivalLinks:ideamarket.io

Hated by many contemporaries, admired by even more - and later Romans, such as the emperor Augustus. “Seven times Consul, Praetor, Tribune of the Plebs, Quaestor, Augur, Military Tribune, Marius waged war against Jugurtha, the King of Numidia and captured him. He annihilated an army of Teutones. He triumphed over the Cimbri…”Gaius Marius, an outsider, an Italian… A story of rising from obscurity to the apex of the Roman hierarchy. How did he do it?And does he deserve the blame for starting the Roman Civil War? Nobody becomes the greatest Roman alive in times of peace. Marius was a young man of incredible ambition and razor sharp perception. He not only noticed the rare opportunities, but he seized them with dogged determination. Even more remarkably, Marius’ achievements didn’t happen until he was an older man. In fact, Marius’ story was practically just beginning when he was age 50. Perhaps yours will too. In this first installment of The Life of Gaius Marius, we learn about the foundations Marius laid in his early life as he positioned himself for greatness. Thanks to sponsor ideamarket.io! (@ideamarket_io)On today’s podcast:Learning the populist game from Scipio Africanus and the GracchiFitting in but staying differentAcquiring a fortune and a reputationEntering Roman politics as an outsiderConciliating RivalsFrom Tribune, to Praetor, to Consul War with Jugurtha

Why did Plutarch write biographies? What does one hope to get out of a biography podcast?

Plutarch reads the Odyssey

A winter message from Plutarch

Plutarch on what the octopus, and the mythic figure Proteus (who King Menelaus met on his way back from Troy) can tell us about friendship.