3 Life Lessons to Learn from the Ancient Greeks
Everyone wants to be successful in life and always win.
The book “The Odyssey” highlights 3 ways to always be successful in life.
“The Odyssey” was written by Homer in ancient Greece around the year 800 BC. It’s considered to be the greatest story of all time. The main character is Odysseus, and he epitomizes the traits of a hero. Like an action hero, he is always getting out of difficult and life-threatening situations to accomplish his goals in life. In the end, he is never at a loss and always on the winning end.
Three ways to always be successful in in life are:
Cleverness and Cunningness
Duty
Bravery
CLEVERNESS and CUNNINGNESS
Odysseus uses cleverness and cunningness to accomplish his goals and at other times survive. In one situation, he is trying to escape from a giant Cyclops. He uses cunningness towards the Cyclops when the Cyclops asks Odysseus what his name is. Odysseus tells the Cyclops that his name is No Man. When Odysseus blinds the Cyclops, the Cyclops asks for help from his brothers. The Cyclops tells this brothers that “No Man” blinded him, and his brothers do not come to his aid. This cunningness allows enough time for Odysseus and some of his men to escape a deadly situation.
2. DUTY
Multiple times throughout the Odyssey book, Odysseus views his goals in life as a duty. He aspires to get back to his wife and son and treats this goal as a solemn duty that can never be shrugged off. Not getting back to his wife and son would be violating Odysseus’ own values. Odysseus also considered it his duty to protect his home and his nation from invaders and in warfare. Multiple times Odysseus put his life in harm’s way to protect his wife, son and nation. He did this not to receive high praise and remarks, but as a personal moral obligation.
3. BRAVERY
In all situations that arose, Odysseus chose to be brave and confront danger head-on. In warfare, Odysseus was always leading the charge against the enemy. He was a confident leader to his men while facing deadly dangers and incredible odds. No matter how dangerous the situation that Odysseus and his men found themselves in, Odysseus never backed down from a challenge and was always bold.
TAKEAWAYS
Be cunning and clever to get yourself out of difficult situations and get ahead in live.
Treat whatever you really care about in life as though it’s your top duty.
Being successful in life requires bravery in order to go for your big goals in life.
References:
Rouse, W. H. D. (1937). The Odyssey, Signet Classics Printing.