Quintus Curtius

There are times when a leader must deliver a sharp rebuke to someone in order to get him or her back on the right track. It is a technique that has to be used carefully, as it is not appropriate for every situation. We relate an anecdote in which the holy man Athanasios of Athos used it effectively.

We then turn to some irreverent fun, with a reading of some of the tweets of the G Manifesto (on Twitter: @MichaelPorfirio).

This podcast is the third and final lecture in a series of three on my translation of Cicero's "On Moral Ends." In this lecture, we focus on the fifth and final book of "On Moral Ends," which deals with the somewhat eclectic philosophy of Antiochus of Ascalon.

The speakers in book V, Cicero and Marcus Piso, debate Antiochus's views and tussle over whether his conception of the Ultimate Good is better, or worse, than the Ultimate Good proposed by the Stoics and Epicureans. Can wisdom and virtue stand alone, or do other "goods" matter too? What do we really need for a happy life?

This podcast, the second in a series of three, discusses the highlights of books III and IV of Cicero's "On Moral Ends." In these two books, Cato and Cicero aggressively debate the merits of Stoicism and its conception of the Ultimate Good. The discussion takes place at Tusculum, Italy, a place that was extensively photographed by the translator in preparation of this work.

When reading books III and IV, ask yourself what you think of the points raised by the disputants. How does Stoicism compare with Epicureanism, in your view?

This podcast is the first of a series of three podcasts that will discuss Cicero's treatise "On Moral Ends." I have just published an illustrated, annotated translation of this work and wanted to introduce readers to the book's major concepts and arguments.

This podcast discusses the following subjects:

1. The origin and purpose of the work

2. The main ideas of, and arguments for, the Epicurean philosophy

3. The flaws and criticisms of Epicureanism

After reading books I and 2 of "On Moral Ends," ask yourself what your own opinions are of Epicureanism, and Cicero's criticisms of it. Are they justified, or unjustified?

A reader tells how he had a very good mentor when he was young. As an older man, he now wants to be a mentor to a young person, but is not sure of the right way to go about it. We offer some suggestions.

My new, original translation of Cicero's "On Moral Ends" is now available. This podcast describes the unique features of the book, what it is about, and why it is important.

We discuss the importance of continuing to move forward, no matter what happens, and no matter how many bad things happen to you. Everyone's luck changes for the better sooner or later, and you have to be in the game when it happens.

We compare and contrast the experiences of Nikki Sixx of the rock band Motley Crüe with that of television personality Anthony Bourdain.

We close by reading a few tweets from the G Manifesto.

A reader asks about how he should handle a limitation he believes he has. We respond by telling him an anecdote, and drawing the appropriate lessons from it.

We close on a humorous note by reading some recent tweets by the G Manifesto.

In this podcast we cover travel tips and impressions learned from my recent trip to Athens. The following areas are covered:

Useful suggestions (Shoes, hotel, suitcase, money, etc.)

Suggested itineraries

Impressions of the country

Food

Language tips if you don't know Greek

Prices

The virtues have been a force promoting social cohesion and stability for thousands of years. As a society becomes more wealthy, it tends to neglect these virtues. The consequences are deeply destructive: loss of social cohesion, indiscipline, greed and moral corruption. History suggests that such societies become ripe for disorder, even collapse.