C

March 10th

FIND YOURSELF A CATO

“We can remove most sins if we have a witness standing by as we

are about to go wrong. The soul should have someone it can

respect, by whose example it can make its inner sanctum more

inviolable. Happy is the person who can improve others, not only

when present, but even when in their thoughts!”

—SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 11.9

ato the Younger, a Roman politician best known for his self-discipline
and for his heroic defense of the Republic against Julius Caesar,
appears constantly throughout Stoic literature—which is interesting because
he didn’t write anything down. He taught no classes. He gave no interviews.
His bold and brave example is what made him such a commonly cited and
quoted philosopher.
Seneca tells us that we should each have our own Cato—a great and
noble person we can allow into our minds and use to guide our actions,
even when they’re not physically present. The economist Adam Smith had
a similar concept, which he called the indifferent spectator. It doesn’t have
to be an actual person, just someone who, like Seneca said, can stand
witness to our behavior. Someone who can quietly admonish us if we are
considering doing something lazy, dishonest, or selfish.
And if we do it right, and live our lives in such a way, perhaps we can
serve as someone else’s Cato or indifferent spectator when they need it.