John Vespasian

Michel de Montaigne’s biography (3 of 5): dealing with chronic illness
https://johnvespasian.com/michel-de-montaignes-biography-dealing-with-chronic-illness/

Michel de Montaigne’s biography (2 of 5) his momentous decision
https://johnvespasian.com/michel-de-montaignes-biography-his-momentous-decision/

Michel de Montaigne's biography, part 1 of 5, his early years
https://johnvespasian.com/michel-de-montaignes-biography-his-early-years/

I didn’t become a hardcore realist because life became harder.
I became one because two philosophers forced me to question almost everything I believed.
Their names are Kant and Schopenhauer.
For years, I believed the world worked the way I had been told.
And I did what I had been told to do.
Work hard.
Be kind.
Stay positive.
Expecting that, eventually, everything will work out.
But life started testing those beliefs.
Again and again.
At first, I thought that reality was broken.
Then I realised that my expectations were broken.
That’s where Kant enters the story.
Kant argued that we never experience reality exactly as it is.
That our minds don’t simply observe the world—that they shape the way we perceive it.
That idea fascinated me.
It made me realise that what we call “reality” is always filtered through our own minds.
But then I read Schopenhauer.
Schopenhauer accepted Kant’s insight, yet he asked a more practical question.
Even if our understanding is limited, how can we thrive anyway?
That question changed my life.
Schopenhauer encouraged me to focus on practical solutions.
And the more I did, the more I noticed uncomfortable patterns.
People don’t always reward honesty.
Hard work doesn’t always lead to success.
Logic doesn’t always defeat emotion.
Fairness isn’t built into reality.
Schopenhauer wasn’t surprised by any of this.
He believed human beings are seldom driven by pure reason.
The more I watched people, the stronger I believed Schopenhauer was right.
Then I found myself returning to Kant.
If Kant was right that our minds filter reality, then I had to ask another question.
How many of my disappointments came from reality itself…
…and how many came from stories I keep telling myself?
That realisation hit me hard.
Maybe reality wasn’t constantly letting me down.
Maybe my expectations were.
Schopenhauer would smile at my conclusion.
He believed much of our suffering comes from wishful thinking.
The moment I stopped arguing with reality, life became much easier.
And I focused on finding the patterns that lead to success and happiness.
That’s probably the biggest lesson Schopenhauer taught me.
Reality reveals itself through patterns that are seldom obvious.
And Kant taught me something equally important.
Before judging the world, I should first check my own beliefs.
Together, Kant and Schopenhauer changed the way I think.
Kant made me question what I know.
And Schopenhauer made me realistic about the world.
That combination transformed the way I make decisions.
I’ve learned to judge people by what they do repeatedly.
Actions reveal patterns and patterns reveal the truth.
Ironically, the more I embraced Schopenhauer’s ideas, the more optimistic I became.
Not because I expect life to be fair.
But because I stopped expecting achievements to be quick and easy.
The better I understand reality, the more effective I become.
Kant led me to question my assumptions.
And Schopenhauer taught me to face reality.
And that’s how I became a hardcore realist.
If you are interested in applying rational ideas in all sorts of situations, I recommend my book “The 10 Principles of Rational Living.”
https://johnvespasian.com/schopenhauer-how-i-became-a-hardcore-realist/

For the longest time, I thought I needed more information.
Another book.
Another podcast.
Another productivity system.
I kept searching because I believed clarity was something I would eventually stumble upon if I just learned enough.
But the opposite happened.
The more information I collected, the more overwhelmed I became.
No wonder that many other people also feel overwhelmed.
We live in a world where we’re constantly told to consume more.
More advice.
More opinions.
More courses that promise to change our lives.
But after a while, we realise that we cannot put all those inputs together.
That’s exactly where I found myself.
Then I came across an idea from Aristotle that completely changed the way I think.
It’s called syllogism.
The name sounds complicated, but the idea is fairly simple.
A syllogism is a chain of reasoning.
It starts with a general observation.
Then you add a specific fact.
And the conclusion follows naturally.
For example, take the general observation: All humans are mortal.
Then we add a specific fact: Socrates is a human.
Therefore, we conclude that Socrates is mortal.
The conclusion is not just a guess.
It is not just an opinion.
It is a solid truth that follows from the premises.
When I understood that, I started asking myself some difficult questions.
Why was I not making all my decisions this way?
Why was I not using logic to give shape to my life?
Instead, I was using emotions and pretending they were logical.
My emotions prevented me from thinking logically —- they made me turn in circles.
As a result, I failed to seize opportunities that made me uncomfortable.
And then I told myself that the circumstances were not auspicious.
Do you see what was happening?
I was not thinking logically — I was not using syllogisms.
I was allowing my emotions to control me, pretending that were logical
Many people do this all the time.
They mistake their emotions for evidence.
So I decided to change my approach.
Whenever I faced an obstacle, I stopped asking, “How do I feel?”
And I started to ask “What do I have to do to solve this problem?”
Then I built a syllogism.
Like every worthwhile skill, syllogisms require practice.
And since I wanted to master the skill,
I started to practise consistently.
Sometimes I did not like the conclusion that came from thinking logically.
But I pushed myself to accept what is true.
And that proved incredibly beneficial for my effectiveness.
Because I no longer had to wait for the right emotions.
I only had to ask whether my conclusion was logical or not.
Over time, I noticed something else.
Whenever I felt confused, the problem was not in my logic.
The problem was in one of the premises, or in both of them.
The problem is that I had accepted wrong assumptions.
For instance, I had wrongly assumed that success must happen quickly.
And that failure means that the game is over.
And that everyone else is doing great.
Once I challenged those assumptions, my conclusions also changed.
That’s when I realised something I’ll never forget.
Clarity is about starting with better premises.
That’s what Aristotle understood more than two thousand years ago.
If we start with true facts, then our conclusions will be true.
That’s why, whenever I feel stuck, I check my premises.
For instance, what do I believe to be correct that it isn’t?
Or what do I believe to be true that it isn’t?
And when I find the mistake, I correct it and draw the right conclusion.
When I use Aristotelian logic, my conclusions become clear.
And my actions become more effective.
That’s how I found total clarity thanks to Aristotle.
If you are interested in applying rational ideas in all sorts of situations, I recommend my book “The 10 Principles of Rational Living.”
https://johnvespasian.com/aristotle-how-i-got-total-clarity/

What is the key to a fuller, happier, and more meaningful life?That’s the question Arthur Schopenhauer asked.While other philosophers focused on changing the world, Schopenhauer focused on something even more important: understanding human nature.He believed that once we understand what truly drives us, we can make wiser choices.We can enjoy life more deeply.We can avoid wasting our time chasing things that never satisfy us.At the heart of his philosophy is a powerful idea.Beneath all our thoughts lies a universal energy he called the Will.It is the energy that pushes us to grow, explore, create, love, achieve, and continually seek something better.It is the engine behind every human ambition.The problem is that this force never stands still.As soon as we reach one goal, it encourages us to pursue another.First, we just want to graduate.Then we want the perfect career.Then we want greater recognition.Then we want to buy something we’ve wanted for years…But soon, something newer catches our attention.Schopenhauer teaches us that there is nothing unusual about this.It is simply part of being human.And once we recognise this pattern, something remarkable happens.We can decide to stop chasing the next achievement, the next purchase, or the next milestone.And instead, we can focus on enjoying the journey itself.This is one of Schopenhauer’s greatest lessons.Life becomes richer when we appreciate what we already have.Schopenhauer also reminds us that we don’t have to react to every impulse that enters our minds.Every day we experience some measure of frustration, fear or ambition.But we don’t have to let those emotions decide our next move.The more aware we become of our inner world, the more freedom we gain.Instead of acting automatically, we begin choosing deliberately.That simple shift can help us build the kind of life we genuinely want.Schopenhauer believed that human thriving comes from mastering ourselves.And perhaps his most inspiring lesson is this:A meaningful life is not measured by how much we crave.It is measured by how deeply we experience what we do and what we have.He encouraged us to slow down and appreciate beauty.To lose ourselves in great music, literature, and art.To spend time reflecting instead of constantly rushing.And cultivate compassion, because understanding others helps us understand ourselves.Quiet moments allow us to step outside the race and reconnect with what truly matters.Ironically, when we stop chasing happiness, we begin discovering it in the present.Today, Schopenhauer’s philosophy feels more relevant than ever.In a world that constantly tells us to do more, he reminds us that happiness starts with self-understanding.When we understand our desires, we become wiser and more focused.We can still dream, achieve, and grow.But we no longer need to chase our next goal.Perhaps that is Schopenhauer’s greatest lesson:The fullest life is the one in which we truly understand ourselves.And that’s what enables us to enjoy every step of the journey.If you are interested in applying rational ideas in all sorts of situations, I recommend my book “The 10 Principles of Rational Living.”https://johnvespasian.com/schopenhauers-philosophy-in-three-and-a-half-minutes/

What if I told you I found the answer to self-improvement… from someone who lived over 23 centuries ago?
Not through a morning routine.
Not through productivity hacks.
Not through manifestation.
Not through positive thinking.
Aristotle completely changed the way I think about becoming more effective.
The biggest lesson I learned is this:
I don’t need to become successful at first.
I just need to become the kind of person who naturally creates success.
For a long time, I thought that success and happiness was something I’d eventually find.
But Aristotle saw it differently.
He believed that success and happiness are not something we stumble upon.
They are the result of living effectively.
Every decision I make is shaping the person I’m becoming.
When I keep a promise to myself, that’s a step forward.
When I choose to exercise instead of making excuses, that’s another step forward.
When I create something meaningful, that’s another step forward.
My character is simply the sum of those steps.
The insight that really changed me is this:
I don’t become successful and happy by waiting until the circumstances are perfect.
I become successful and happy by doing what needs to be done, day by day, even when it’s difficult.
The same is true for any sort of goal in life.
For good health.
For financial independence.
For having great friends.
These aren’t qualities I was born with.
They’re the results of little steps taken day by day.
It’s like learning to ride a bicycle.
At first, every movement takes conscious effort.
Eventually, it becomes second nature.
Aristotle believed character develops the same way.
So whenever I feel tempted to complain, I always ask myself one simple question:
“What kind of person am I becoming little by little?”
If I want to be healthier, am I choosing the right kind of meals?
If I want to be more creative, am I practising my skills every day?
If I want to get more things done, am I working effectively?
I’ve realised I don’t need to look for miracle solutions.
All I need to do is to take one step at a time, day by day.
Aristotle also taught me that reason should guide my life—not my impulses.
My emotions are real and I listen to them, but my reason remains in charge.
That’s the difference between drifting and intentionally shaping my life.
Whenever I catch myself waiting until things are perfect, I remember Aristotle.
We don’t become more effective because of one decision.
We become more effective because of hundreds of small steps we take, day after day.
Over time, those steps become my character, and my character shapes my future.
If you are interested in applying rational ideas in all sorts of situations, I recommend my book “The 10 Principles of Rational Living.”
https://johnvespasian.com/how-i-put-aristotles-ideas-into-practice/

“Why do we have to learn this? We’ll never use it.”
Most of us have asked that question at some point.
When we’re sitting in a classroom, studying history, literature, philosophy, or a language we don’t think we’ll ever speak, it can feel like a waste of time.
We want practical skills.
We want something we can use immediately.
And it’s easy to believe that everything else is just useless information.
But here’s something worth considering: the knowledge that seems the least useful today often becomes the most valuable tomorrow.
Take Montaigne.
As a child in sixteenth-century France, he received an unusual education.
His father believed that learning should shape the mind, not simply prepare someone for a profession.
Instead of focusing only on practical training, he surrounded his son with books, ideas, languages, history, and philosophy.
He even arranged for Latin to become his first language, immersing him in the wisdom of the ancient world from an early age.
To many people, that probably looked impractical.
There were no guarantees that such an education would lead to wealth or success.
There were no obvious career advantages.
It would have been easy to dismiss it as time wasted.
But something remarkable happened.
As the years passed, all those different subjects came together.
History gave Montaigne perspective.
Literature deepened his empathy.
Philosophy taught him careful thinking.
Rhetoric strengthened his communication.
Each discipline reinforced the others.
They became more powerful together than they could ever have been alone.
The same is true for us.
General education doesn’t simply fill our heads with facts.
It teaches us to think.
We begin to notice patterns that other people overlook.
We learn to connect ideas.
We become better at solving problems.
The greatest breakthroughs come from connecting ideas.
That’s why it matters to have a general education.
Because we never know which idea will become the missing piece.
Montaigne didn’t become influential because he memorised facts.
He became influential because he learned to think independently.
A solid general education was the foundation of his success.
Today, we live in a world that rewards immediate results.
If something doesn’t seem useful right away, we’re tempted to dismiss it.
We constantly ask ourselves, “How will this help us right now?”
But the most valuable knowledge might not reveal its value overnight.
It grows little by little.
One idea leads us to another idea.
One lesson from history helps us understand today’s problems.
One philosophy class improves our decisions.
Each lesson may seem insignificant on its own.
But together, they help us understand the world.
So the next time we’re tempted to say, “This is useless,” let’s remember this:
We are building our minds.
We are learning to think sharp.
And the broader our minds become, the more opportunities we will see that other people fail to notice.
That is the purpose of a general education.
And that’s a great lesson to learn from Montaigne.
If you are interested in applying rational ideas in all sorts of situations, I recommend my book “The 10 Principles of Rational Living.”
https://johnvespasian.com/montaigne-why-i-love-useless-knowledge/

What if the biggest obstacle in our lives isn’t a lack of talent…
Or lack of intelligence…
Or lack of opportunity…
What if it’s something much quieter…
Passivity.
I main, not making a decision.
Not trying to get things done because of fear of failing.
Just… doing nothing.
There are wonderful excuses for passivity.
Waiting for the perfect moment.
Waiting until we feel confident.
Waiting until we know enough.
Waiting until we’re finally ready.
The philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer believed that much of human behaviour is not driven by conscious reason.
Instead, we’re pushed by deeper forces that operate beneath our awareness.
We like to think we’re making rational choices, but often, our minds are simply protecting us from discomfort.
That’s why passivity feels logical.
That’s why overthinking feels productive.
That’s why delaying action feels responsible.
Our brains are incredibly good at inventing reasons to do nothing.
We tell ourselves that: “We need more research.”
Or that “We will start next week.”
Or that “The timing is not right.”
The excuses sound plausible because they keep us comfortable.
But, as Schopenhauer argued, comfort has a price.
Most of us do not get stuck in life because we make one catastrophic mistake.
We get stuck because we avoid the actions that could change everything.
Think about it.
How many books never get written.
How many businesses never get started.
How many conversations never happen.
Just because we remain passive.
We often imagine that successful people have confidence before they act.
But confidence tends to come after taking action.
Even when people do not feel completely ready to launch a business.
Or to publish their first video.
Or to seize the opportunity that could change their lives.
But they do it anyway.
Readiness is often an illusion.
Action creates clarity.
Action creates momentum.
Action creates confidence.
Schopenhauer recognised that many people drift through life, pulled by habit instead of purpose.
We tend to choose the familiar over the meaningful, even if we know that the familiar is holding us back.
And that’s exactly why passivity is so dangerous.
Because it feels safe.
It feels comfortable.
It whispers, “We can always do it tomorrow.”
Until tomorrow becomes next month.
Then next year.
Or some day that will never come.
Passivity compounds.
But so does action.
One email.
One workout.
One conversation.
One video.
One decision can change our lives.
The people who change their lives are not necessarily the most talented.
They are the ones who overcome passivity.
Because passivity is the real bottleneck.
But the solution is easy.
All we need to do is to take one imperfect step.
And then another.
And another.
If you are interested in applying rational ideas in all sorts of situations, I recommend my book “The 10 Principles of Rational Living.”
https://johnvespasian.com/schopenhauer-passivity-is-the-bottleneck/

I learned to get things done faster…
But the surprising part is that I didn’t do it by adding more hours to my day.
I didn’t wake up earlier.
I didn’t try to multitask.
I didn’t use complicated productivity systems.
What I did is to change the way I think.
For a long time, whenever I faced difficult problems, I made the same mistake.
I looked at all the issues at once.
I would think:
“How am I going to solve all of these problems?”
“How long is this going to take me?”
”Where do I even start?”
And the bigger the problem I faced, the slower I became.
Then I discovered the ideas of Michel de Montaigne, a writer and thinker from over 400 years ago.
What fascinated me was that Montaigne had a completely different approach to solving problems.
He didn’t try to find quick answers.
He just tried to understand things sequentially, one aspect at a time.
And I realised that this was the reason I was wasting so much time.
I was not struggling because of lack of effort.
I was struggling because I was addressing too many issues at the same time.
The first thing I learned from Montaigne was to focus on the most threatening aspect of the problem.
Instead of asking:
“How do I fix all my problems?”
I started asking:
“What is the specific issue I need to solve right now?”
I stopped looking at the woods and focused on the tree next to me.
If I was facing super complex problems, I didn’t think about everything I needed to do.
I just asked:
“What is the action that will address the most severe threat?”
In this way, I can focus on doing just one thing.
One email.
One decision.
One conversation.
One small improvement.
And something interesting happened.
The big issues that felt overwhelming started becoming manageable.
I learned that progress comes from solving small aspects of the problem, one at a time.
The second thing I learned was to identify the most threatening aspect of problems.
Before, I naturally looked to solve the aspect that I found most annoying.
But Montaigne showed me the value of challenging myself.
So I started asking:
“What if my assumption is wrong?”
“What aspects of the picture am I missing?”
“What aspects are the most threatening?”
This changed the way I solve problems.
When I challenge myself, I identify the critical aspects of problems much faster.
I avoid wasting time.
And I get things done much faster.
The third thing I learned was that better questions get things done faster.
I used to ask questions like:
“Why is this happening to me?”
“Why is this so difficult?”
“Why can’t I get this done?”
But those questions kept me stuck.
Now I ask:
“What is the next step?”
“What do I have to do exactly?”
Those questions change my mindset.
They move me from frustration to action.
And that is the biggest lesson I learned from Montaigne.
Getting things done faster is not simply about speed.
It is about thinking clearly.
When I ask better questions, I find better solutions.
When I break big challenges into smaller steps, I make progress faster.
High productivity is not about doing more things.
It is about doing the right things in the right order.
So now, whenever I feel overwhelmed, I remember this:
Don’t fight the entire battle at once.
Understand the problem.
Break it down.
Ask better questions.
Because the fastest way forward is thinking better.
If you are interested in applying rational ideas in all sorts of situations, I recommend my book “The 10 Principles of Rational Living.”
https://johnvespasian.com/montaigne-i-learned-to-get-things-done-faster/