Way of the Peaceful Warrior Dreams, Hopes, and Plans Quotes

After his cafe burns down, Joseph, a former student of Socrates, says it doesn't matter where he goes next. This might seem like wisdom, or it might seem amoral or selfish; however it seems to you, it's a philosophical view that has been around for thousands of years in different flavors… so it deserves a fair hearing.

Even if you aren't Zen Buddhist, it's pretty well accepted that the positive feelings that come when you ace a test or win a trophy are short-lived, and that the key to real, long-lasting happiness lies elsewhere. Dan, as taught by Socrates, goes much further than this, however, to the point of happily saying (elsewhere in the book) such things as, "Nothing could possibly matter."

This is Socrates' advice to Dan when he's picking a career after graduation. It stands in stark contrast to those in history, such as the abolitionists, who have believed what you decide to do in life can actually make a big difference. Socrates says a very few things about practicing kindness, but he never much emphasizes it at all, and he certainly doesn't advocate getting stressed out about other people's plights. It's all about gaining your own happiness by accepting reality pretty much as it is, doing your best, and letting go of dreams, hopes, and plans.