“Remember that it’s not only the desire for wealth and position that debases and subjugates us, but also the desire for peace, leisure, travel, and learning. It doesn’t matter what the external thing is, the value we place on it subjugates us to another…where our heart is set, there our impediment lie.” Epictetus, Discourses,4.4.1-2-15

We are finding out what subjugates and debases the trump.

“Robbers, perverts , killers, and tyrants–gather for your inspection their so-called pleasures!” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 6.34

How long will it take the citizens to put up with the trump’s pleasures,  greed and corruption?

“Remember to conduct yourself in life as if at a banquet. As something being passed around comes to you, reach out your hand and take a moderate helping. Does it pass you by? Don’t stop it. It hasn’t yet come? Don’t burn in desire for it, but wait until it arrives in front of you. Act this way with children, a spouse, toward position, with wealth–one day it will make you worthy of a banquet with the gods.” Epictetus, Enchiridion, 15

The trump republicans didn’t wait for it to reach them but reached across the table and grabbed it out of the Office of Congressional Ethics hands, but the people slapped their hands and gave it back. One small victory. Republicans will never be worthy of a banquet with the gods.

“This is the true athlete-the person in rigorous training against false impressions. Remain firm, you who suffer, don’t be kidnapped by your impressions! The struggle is great, the task divine–to gain mastery, freedom, happiness, and tranquility.” Epictetus, Discourses, 2.18.27-28

Prepare for the coming storm, the trump. We have had ample warnings of what is coming.

“It is quite impossible to unite happiness with a yearning for what we don’t have.  Happiness has all that it wants, and resembling the well-fed, there shouldn’t be hunger or thirst.” Epictetus, Discourses, 3.24. 17

Enjoy the happiness today.