Quintus Curtius

Our society seems to be producing more dirtbags than ever before. They're everywhere, and they love to seek out people to take advantage of. We discuss how to spot a dirtbag, and how to deal with the common games (the "dirtbag shuffle") that dirtbags love to play. The only person who cares about you is you, and knowing a few key points will help you protect yourself from their games.

When you are faced with a serious problem or issue, you need to spring into action to deal with it. Anyone who "sleeps on his rights," and thinks the problem will go away by ignoring it, is in for a rude awakening. The "dirtbag shuffle" never works in the real world. Legal rights, once constructively waived, can be very difficult to reassert later. This is the basis of the legal theory of laches.

As individuals and as a society, we are steadily losing our long-term memories. Endless stimulation and "choices" have nearly turned us into the protagonist in the film "Memento," whose memory-loss condition puts him at the mercy of others' manipulations. Rote memorization--unfairly maligned by modern educators--has its merits and deserves a reconsideration.

One big frustration we can experience in life is having unrealistic expectations. We can want people to behave in ways that are just not within their desires or capabilities. What is the best way to deal with this? We use the example of the humanist Petrarch's strained relationship with his son.

This podcast is a reading and commentary on Julius Caesar's speech found in Sallust's "Conspiracy of Catiline." Caesar's address to the senate made important points about the value of precedent, leniency, and how abuses of power can follow from seemingly good intentions.

We deal with two reader questions in this podcast. The first one is about mentors and mentorships. The second question concerns career advice for someone who's feeling a bit down about his current situation.

A recent news article talks about how young, unemployed urban Greeks are leaving the city to return to agricultural work in the countryside. It's part of a wider economic trend that has a lot of positive features.

My book "Sallust: The Conspiracy Of Catiline and The War Of Jugurtha" is now available for purchase. In this podcast, I read the book's foreword.

A reader who is a teacher is troubled by the fact that one of his teenage students firmly believes in in fascist government. The teacher seeks advice on how to deal with this situation. He relates this situation to similar experiences he had as a soldier in Afghanistan when he was dealing with local villagers.

A former NKVD agent describes a meeting with Joseph Stalin and the special assignment he was given. We reflect on the fact that power and glory are fleeting, and that they can vanish faster than most people believe.

A reader wonders whether nature or nurture is more important in shaping our identities. The answer, of course, is complicated. We give some details. I close by reading the epilogue to my book "Thirty-Seven."

A reader from Italy writes to say he is frustrated and angry with the deceit and fraudulence of a certain political figure on the world stage. We explain why it is best to take a detached, philosophical view of such men, since experience shows that they eventually bring about their own ruin. What matters is to be a man of substance, not a man of straw, a hollow man. We close by reading T.S. Eliot's immortal poem, "The Hollow Men."

Two different readers ask questions from their own personal experience: 1. One man is trying to overcome feelings of discomfort when ordering his men to go places where they may face certain harm. 2. Another man is trying to deal with a boss whose passive-aggressive comments may mean trouble for him.

When your back is against the wall, you need to fight back however you can. Don't ever allow society or other people to denigrate you. Sometimes the best way to get people to listen is to force them to listen.

I've written before on the extreme social dangers that come about from excessive concentrations of wealth in the hands of a few. A very important series of articles by Robert and Pamela Bunker in Small Wars Journal has taken this idea one step further: they have identified the current vast income disparities as a form of insurgency warfare. This condition--in all its forms--they call the plutocratic insurgency. This podcast discusses some of their conclusions, and asks readers to ponder the implications of this insidious form of warfare on social health.

I recently saw the documentary "Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster." The film shows the group trying to keep itself together in the wake of band tension, personal issues, and creative deadlock. How these problems are confronted and solved make this a film very much worth watching. We discuss some of the lessons learned.

I received a great email the other day from an accomplished ex-military man who is currently enrolled in a higher degree program at a major US university. He wanted to know my thoughts on these questions: Why did you chose to become a civilian? Would you consider yourself patriotic? Is it possible to be a great general in this modern military that has been ravaged by regressive liberalism? What can a younger man do to affect positive change in today's society?

This summer I will be releasing a new book. It is an annotated edition of Sallust's great historical works "Conspiracy of Catiline" and "War of Jugurtha." It is a fully annotated and illustrated edition, specifically designed for those with no prior exposure to the subject matter.

Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States, is generally considered to have been a dismal failure as chief executive. Less well known is the fact that he was a brilliantly successful organizer of humanitarian projects around the world before he became president. His career illustrates the principle that no man is capable at everything. As leaders we should focus on evaluating character and talent, and seek to find the right person for the right job.

Russia was torn apart by civil war from 1917 to 1922. On one side were the Bolshevik communists (Reds) and on the other were the Russian nationalists (Whites). How were the Reds able to win the military struggle? We explore some answers.

I recorded this podcast a few days ago but was only able to upload it today. We talk about some impressions from brief visits to Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Mexico.

I visited Key West a few days ago and had a chance to see the retreat of former president Harry Truman. The experience generated some thoughts and observations.

Stephen Kotkin's masterful biography of Joseph Stalin has a very keen analysis of the outbreak of the First World War. I discuss some of the relevant points made. We draw some general conclusions from these lessons.

Some comments on the H2 Sierra folding knife. This recording accompanies the written review of this knife that appears on my site on December 3, 2016.

What is homesickness, and how can it be dealt with? What does the word "saudade" mean in Brazilian Portuguese? We discuss these subjects and some related issues.

A reader asks whether I like Cicero more than other writers, and wants to know my opinions on Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. This leads to larger questions about feeling kinship with certain writers. This podcast was brought to you courtesy of delta2alpha.com

A recent experience reminded me that we should not be too quick to judge others. We really don't know all the struggles or burdens that the other man may have in his background. This is why we should try, whenever possible, to look at things from others' perspectives.

In its character and results, the 2016 U.S. presidential election was perhaps the most incredible contest since the fragmented 1860 election. Donald Trump's coming challenges, though, may be the greatest test of his life.

A reader explains that he often struggles with confidence and self-esteem issues. We offer some suggestions and perspectives. The truth is that while no one has all the answers, some techniques have proven to be effective.

When we see a friend is hurting, is it better to try to console him, or to ignore his problem?

Is it better to be feared or loved? This famous question is more nuanced than people think, and was addressed specifically by Cicero in "On Duties" as well as by Machiavelli in his "Prince" and "Discourses." Yet there has been much oversimplification and misunderstanding on this subject. We also discuss whether Stoicism lends itself to passivity and fatalism.

A reader asks for some travel advice for a young guy in his 20s who has never done much traveling before. In an unrelated question, we discuss why it's not a good idea to look for sympathy from your woman when you're feeling down or depressed.

Out of some recent emails, I've extracted five lessons that are worth remembering.

The question here is: "How do I avoid burnout?" But--as is often the case--I sense a hidden question lurking below the surface here that deals with isolation and loneliness. We discuss some answers.

So-called "experts" and pundits will always try to pigeon-hole you. They will try to categorize you as they see fit, in order to make themselves feel good. If you are pursuing your passions or mission, you'll notice people trying to "put you in your place." Some alleged expert will likely try to cut you down. Don't listen to them, and don't be intimidated by their perceived air of authority. The man in the arena is the one who drives history. It is not the critic or the hater. Do what you need to do, and keep moving forward. We go into more detail in this podcast.

A recent article on NPR claims to be mystified by the exodus of men from the workforce. Men seem to be dropping out of society in record numbers. Does NPR correctly identify the reasons? Or is there a spiritual crisis in masculinity?

We deal with a few questions received from readers. 1. What are the differences between wisdom and intelligence? 2. Is the educational system becoming more commercialized? 3. Is modern education too commercial? 4. I left a bad employment situation and don't really know how to feel about it. What should I do?

A reader is annoyed that someone is trying to tell him how he should approach and think about his parental responsibilities. This person is appears to be crossing lines of decorum, but I suspect there is more to the story here.

We discuss a moral problem that arose in Japanese prison camps in the Second World War. We discuss how the same moral issue is relevant today, and what Cicero's response to it would have been. What duty is owed to our fellow man? When does the pursuit of self-interest go too far?

We often get the impression that the world is in chaos, and that the proverbial sky is falling down. Yet our perceptions are distorted by factors that we often fail to appreciate. We discuss some of them.

A reader has a high-powered job and functions well in it. But he's worried that he's too indecisive in his personal life. We suggest some things to consider.

When choosing or pursuing a career, should we base our decision on "idealism" or on "practicality"? What is the balance between doing what you love and what can earn you a living? And how do we find this balance? We explore some answers.

We address the following reader questions: 1. Are men becoming "infantilized" in today's society? 2. What is the difference between a "loser" and someone who is just going through a rough period? 3. Do women "dislike" male self-improvement?

"On Duties" deals with a very large number of topics. One of the most important unifying threads of the book is the idea of "greatness of soul." What is it? Why is it relevant? Note: The second passage I discuss is "On Duties" I.44 (I accidentally gave the incorrect citation number in the podcast).

Two questions are dealt with in this podcast. One reader has a question about procrastination. Another reader has an interpretation question about a passage from "On Duties."

A reader is concerned that he may be setting expectations and goals for himself that are not in accord with reality or practicality. He is wondering if he should make adjustments, but does't really know if he's just at a sticking point, or if he should change course altogether. I offer four suggestions for him to think about.

A 23-year-old reader in a European country is undecided what career path to take. He has narrowed down his choices training in art or training in law. But he's not sure which one is best for him. I offer my own thoughts, and then some thoughts gleaned from my translation of Cicero's "On Duties" (which is now available on Amazon.)

My new book, "On Duties," is the most explanatory, readable, and well-organized translation of Cicero's classic that is available in English, and perhaps in any language. I provide the three reasons why this is so. I also discuss the great theme running through the book: the idea of greatness of spirit. What is greatness of spirit, and why is it important?

A reader notes that the previous generations failed to prevent the corruption and decay afflicting the US in the modern era. How did this happen? The short answer is that wealth and ease breed laziness and corruption. Tune in for more details.

A young man from Australia writes that he feels a general malaise and depression, and finds it difficult to get motivated. I offer some blunt talk to put things in perspective. I also provide some specific guidance on how he can break out of his old patterns.