"Where should we practice caution? In the things we control. Where should we practice courage? In the things we don't control."
In 1974, Philippe Petit snuck onto the roof of the Twin Towers. He strung a heavy steel cable between them, a quarter mile in the air. He didn't have a safety net, or even ask the city for permission. He just picked up his balancing pole and stepped out onto the wire.
He stayed up there for forty-five minutes. He walked back and forth. He danced. He even lay down on the cable. When the police finally arrested him, reporters asked him why he did it. He didn't give a grand philosophical answer. He just saw two beautiful towers, and he had to put a wire between them.
Epictetus tells us to completely invert how we use fear. We usually fear the drop. We fear the wind. We fear a million different things we can't actually control. Petit didn't fear the drop. Gravity is a fact. Once he stepped on the wire, the height was entirely out of his control. Courage handles the things you can't control.
He put all of his caution into his own physical choices. He was incredibly careful about where he placed his foot. He checked his balance constantly. He feared making a bad choice. He didn't fear gravity. The leap isn't about ignoring danger. It's about focusing entirely on the mechanics of your own action.
Errors & Corrections
- Don't fear the drop. The drop is just a fact. Gravity will do what it does. You can't control it. Stop worrying about it and worry about your footing instead.
- Don't look down. Looking down takes your eyes off the wire. Look at the exact task right in front of you.
- Don't wait for a net. If you wait for absolute safety, you'll stay on the roof forever. Step onto the wire and trust your preparation.
Applications to Modern Life
Work
You launch your own business. It's terrifying. The market might crash. A competitor might copy you. You can't control those things. Meet them with courage. Put your caution into your daily product quality instead.
Leadership
You lead a team through a massive corporate buyout. Everyone is scared of getting fired. You can't control the new owners. Stop guessing what they'll do. Focus your energy on guiding your team's output today.
Athleticism & Sport
You try a heavy lift for the first time. If you fear the weight, your form will collapse. Accept the weight. Focus your caution entirely on bracing your core and driving through your feet.
Politics
You run a grassroots campaign against a massive incumbent. You can't control their huge budget. Don't worry about it. Focus your caution on knocking on the very next door.
Social Media
You share a deeply personal essay online. You fear the trolls. You can't control the trolls. You only control the honesty of your own writing. Publish the piece and close the app.
Interpersonal Relationships
You propose to your partner. They might say no. You can't control their answer. Put your focus on being the kind of person worth saying yes to.
Maxims
- Fear your own choices.
- Focus on the wire.
In-depth Concepts
Tharsos (Confidence)
The Stoics didn't view confidence as blind arrogance. It's the logical result of knowing you only control your own actions. You can step onto the wire with tharsos because you know you control your feet.
Eulabeia (Caution)
This isn't cowardice. It's a rational watchfulness. You apply eulabeia to your own moral choices to make sure you don't compromise your character or make a fatal misstep.