A Stoic does not use ad hominem attacks because it is beneath them to do so. An ad hominem attack is an attack on someone's character and not the issue at hand. What a less intelligent person will do is refer to a persons' appearance, their past, in order to disregard a current argument. In fact, the person that uses these terminologies are less intelligent because they have nothing to add to a conversation except stupid insults. They in fact want to close it down because they have reached the limit of their understanding and cannot go on any further intellectually.

Why Stoics Do Not Use Ad Hominem Attacks Read More

“I am damaged” is a phrase some people used to express their frustration after failed romantic relationships. However, when a person uses this phrase and actually believes it they set themselves up for failure, do they not? Let’s take a look at the alternatives.

https://maximusmccullough.com/i-am-damaged/

The only reason why you would insult another person is that you are, in fact, insecure. Insults will reveal your weaknesses, they are like a magnifying glass into your soul.  As you go throughout your day, think of how many insults come off your tongue. Write them down and self reflect at a quiet time.

https://maximusmccullough.com/why-people-insult-others/

Your human experience begins and ends with a question mark. To know the answer to that question, You would be willing to do anything and even enslave yourself to concepts and people who claim to know that answer. For the sake of argument, we will call them “Posers” in this article and help you to conceptualize the concepts.

More here Conceptualize The Concepts Fact or Fiction

In this letter, I would like to address “fear”. There seems to be an “instinctual fear” and a “learned fear” does there not? For example, I presume that we are born without fear. I do not believe a baby is in fear of being hungry, I believe they are pissed because of hunger pains and that this is what makes them cry.

Read More About Fear is Learned

https://maximusmccullough.com/fear-is-learned/

So is respect earned and not given? Well, that suggests that you have to work for respect, doesn’t it? This implies that you are not worthy of respect therefore, no one should respect anyone unless they earn it. Isn’t this like the dumbest thing you ever heard?

Respect starts with respecting yourself, no? A person who practices virtue respects themselves because they value themselves. This is a very important point. When you value yourself, then you can value others. If you do not value yourself, then how in the world will you value other people? So value and respect go hand in hand.

Respect Is Earned And Not Given?

You only have one thing left to do in this life, and that is to die. Everything else is a choice! That being said, should it not prompt you to have the best human experience you can? Let it inspire you to let go of any harboring resentment, envy, wants, or desires. Forgive everyone that you feel has cheated you and set yourself free! Most of all, forgive yourself!

https://maximusmccullough.com/you-only-have-one-thing-left-to-do-in-this-life-die/

So my friend is teaching his children that success is being able to afford more material possessions than the people that he surrounds himself with. Is this poison? Of course it is, but humor me with this failed reasoning.

https://maximusmccullough.com/what-is-success