Two Ways to Win, One Way to Lose. · Blood & Behavior Newsletter

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Two Ways to Win, One Way to Lose.

Alexander to Diogenes "I am Alexander, King of Men. I can give to you anything you desire. Gold, rubies, lands and women. These are mine to bestow. What would you have?"

Diogenes to Alexander "Well, I want you to get outta my way - you're blocking my Sun!"

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I've read this story before, but I only understood it recently.

Suffering comes from desire. Diogenes had no desires, so he had no suffering.

This is why Alexander says to his men after the exchange with Diogenes "If I were not Alexander, I would wish to be Diogenes"

My interpretation: There are two ways to win.

Victory Condition #1 (Diogenes): Reduce your desires to the bare minimum and you reduce your suffering to the bare minimum. Achievement doesn't matter because time washes away all accomplishment anyways..

Victory Condition #2 (Alexander): Don't even try to reduce desire; instead aim for excellence. Embrace the Will to Power. You will suffer greatly, but you will achieve more.

So which one is correct?

Answer: pick one!

I believe that both options are good answers to the question of "What makes a good life?"

The wrong answer is the wide valley in between these two peaks.

The valley of mediocrity.

Most people neither have the endurance and sheer will to pursue excellence, nor do they have the humility to accept the impermanence of all things material.

They are ambitious enough to suffer, but not ambitious enough to make it worth it.

Their humility is sufficient to dull their agency, but they lack the courage to renounce their worldly desires.

Are you Alexander, or are you Diogenes?

Pick one, and go all in.

Lux in Tenebris,

Full Video: https://youtu.be/kPDQ9kagTSE?si=U5Az3J1Wqor9y4kc

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