Author: Quintus Curtius

The Monkey Atop The Ship’s Mast, And How To Deal With Him

Quintus Curtius Thought , , , ,

A nineteenth-century volume of nautical lore provides the following story of a strange incident at sea.  In 1818 there was a ship—its name is not recorded by the tale’s author—on its homeward voyage from Jamaica to Whitehaven, England.  One of the passengers was a young mother with her infant child, who was only several weeks old.  One day, the ship’s captain saw something on the horizon, and offered his spyglass to the mother, so that she might for herself see what it was.  She wrapped her child in her shawl and placed it carefully on the seat where she had been sitting.

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Special Kindle Discount Sale: Limited Time Only, From March 16 To March 19

Quintus Curtius Current News , , ,

In response to requests by students and instructors who want them for classroom use and recreational reading, Fortress of the Mind Publications will be offering, for a limited time only, a special discount sale on all of Quintus Curtius’s translations in Kindle format.  All of them are fully annotated, with commentary and indices.  They are the only existing translations of these classics that are both faithful to the originals, and yet readable as works of literature for a modern audience.  Simply look, and compare.

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The Complete Lecture Series On “Stoic Paradoxes” And “On Moral Ends”

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In 2015 and 2018, I made a series of podcasts discussing Cicero’s Stoic Paradoxes and On Moral Ends.  In response to continuing interest and questions, I thought it would be useful to provide all the links to these lectures in one place.  Having all of them consolidated can be a real convenience, and I want to do everything I can to assist students and general readers.  The most benefit can be gained from these podcasts if listeners also have the texts of my translations of these works.

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Having Too Many Choices, And Falling Into Ruts (Podcast)

Quintus Curtius Podcast , ,

A reader has some questions about some possible choices in his life.  We comment on this, and talk about: (1) how having too many choices can inhibit progress; (2) why you should focus on internals, and not externals; (3) why character and determination are all-important; and (4) how you need to shock yourself out of the self-imposed ruts you can very easily slip into.

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The Humor And Wisdom Of Ibn Sabir Al-Manjaniki

Quintus Curtius Literature, Thought , , ,

Ibn Sabir Al-Manjaniki’s full name was Abu Yusuf Ibn Sabir Ibn Hauthara Al-Manjaniki; we note it here for completeness, and will not repeat it again.  He was also known in some circles by the surname Najm Al-Din, which means “star of religion.”  He was born  in Baghdad in January 1159, and spent his early life there.  He is nearly unique in having achieved enduring fame in two completely separate disciplines:  military engineering and poetry.

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“Why Do I Feel Regret?” (Podcast)

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A reader asks why he feels pangs of regret for not yet being married and having a family.  I respond by explaining that (1) everyone’s path is different; (2) if you really wanted to do it, you would do it; (3) the real reason for your regret is a deeper one, and lies elsewhere, and (4) you should focus on being the best version of yourself you can be, by holding yourself accountable every single day.

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Sooner Or Later, Everyone Must Take A Side

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The Athenian statesman and lawgiver Solon is said to have enacted an unusual law in 594 B.C.  The essence of the law was that, in times of civil conflict or crisis, every citizen had to take one side or another.  Neutrality was not an option; one could not “sit on the sidelines” and wait things out.  Anyone doing so would run the risk of being declared an outlaw (atimos), and might have his property confiscated.

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Getting Your Mind Right (Podcast)

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Are you holding yourself accountable every day by living a good life, a productive life?  Are your actions congruent with your words? We talk about that slime bag mentality, how it holds you back, and how those little voices in your head can lead you down the path of vices.  There are no shortcuts, no days off, no letups.  You need to be putting in work, and not retreating one inch.  Ever.

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The Tomb Of The Scipios

Quintus Curtius History

When one considers the veneration that the ancient Romans had for their ancestors, it seems incredible that the tomb of the Scipios—one of the city’s most illustrious families—should be shrouded in such neglect and mystery.  And yet this is precisely the case.  One senses that the family and the city endured a bitter divorce, from which each emerged with an implacable hostility to the other; Rome never forgave the family’s recalcitrance, and punished it with a sullen historical silence.

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The Sources Of Anger (Podcast)

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In this podcast we talk about the origins of anger, and how to manage your anger issues.  It’s not a time for sugar-coating things, and telling you what you want to hear.  Most anger can be traceable to one or more of these factors:

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