MAMARCUS AURELIUSPRACTICAL STOICISM · DAILY DISCIPLINE Ask Marcus

Field method from the Emperor's Notebook · 4–6 min

Two Roads

Picture the easy road and the demanding road before choosing.

This leaf names the pressure, preserves the exact ancient source, and shows the sequence before you enter it privately.

Use when: temptation, procrastination, decision

Open the App
PurposeSee when this exercise is useful.
SourceCheck the exact primary-text locator.
ActivityFollow the guided steps in the app.

The sequence

How this field method proceeds

  1. 1
    Read the frame

    Xenophon preserves the choice offered to Hercules: an easy road promising immediate pleasure, and a demanding road on which good things are earned through worthy action.

  2. 2
    Name the situation

    What real fork is in front of you?

  3. 3
    Run the exercise

    Picture the pleasant, easy road. Follow the repeated actions and where they lead. Picture the effortful, honourable road. Follow its repeated actions and where they lead.

  4. 4
    Make a choice

    Which road will you take?

  5. 5
    Choose the next action

    What is the first action on that road?