The Beginning of Philosophy

On knowing that you missed the mark

Someone once said:

To feel shame is to approach courage.

Shame for the Stoics involves failing to live up to our ideal. When we feel it, we notice the difference between who we are and who we could be.

Seneca approvingly quotes Epicurus who said:

Awareness of wrongdoing is the starting point for healing.

Moral Letters, 28

I’m not talking about being shamed by others – but the internal recognition that we’ve missed the mark.

The question is what happens next.

Will it be a moment for courage – will you take the risk to close the gap? Or continue in your ways?

The emotion isn’t just an opportunity for bravery, there’s also the risk of cowardice.

You could wallow in shame. Or simply make the rift between your real and ideal self wider.

Another way to put this is: will you transform the emotion into self-pity or self-respect?

To feel shame is to face a choice.

The Stoic style of exhortation is useful because it is always meant to serve as motivation between the ideal and the actual – to do your best.

Give me courage to meet hardships; make me calm in the face of the unavoidable.

Seneca, Moral Letters 49

Always forward looking – and courageous. Another translation of the Epicurus line:

The knowledge of sin is the beginning of salvation.