The Daily Stoic – "We Have to Care About the Little Guy | A Stoic Reset for Right Now"

Host: Ryan Holiday
Date: January 27, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ryan Holiday explores the Stoic virtue of justice, emphasizing the timeless responsibility to protect and stand up for the vulnerable—“the little guy”—in society. Drawing on historical anecdotes from figures like Cato, Marcus Aurelius, and George Washington, Ryan connects ancient wisdom to modern challenges, proposing practical Stoic strategies for facing chaos, uncertainty, and personal duty. The episode is both a moral call-to-action and a practical guide for listeners seeking steadfastness and clarity amid today’s turbulence.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Caring for the Vulnerable: The Stoic Tradition (00:00–04:14)

• Historical Examples:
  • Cato’s Hatred of Bullies: From childhood, Cato despised bullies, as told through stories from “Lives of the Stoics”—e.g., rescuing a scared child at a birthday party and expressing outrage at Sulla’s dictatorship.
  • Stoic Opponents of Tyranny: The phrase sic semper tyrannis (“thus always to tyrants”) comes from the Stoic tradition of opposing oppression.
• Influence on American Ideals:
  • George Washington modeled himself after Cato, envisioning America as a place where “everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.”
  • Washington championed tolerance, freedom, and hope, aiming to protect “the little guy.”
  • Admitted Imperfections: Both Stoics and Founders fell short, notably regarding slavery, but laid ideals for future generations.
• Justice as a Core Stoic Virtue:
  • Quote:

    “Tyrants, bullies, and jerks are the enemies of justice. They cannot be accepted. They cannot be accommodated.” – Ryan Holiday (03:20)

  • Everyone shares the responsibility to speak up for the mistreated and vulnerable.

2. Stoic Response to Disruption and Change (04:47–16:00)

• Embracing Turbulence: Stoicism is about honest preparation for life’s unpredictability, not avoidance of hardship.
  • Focus on What You Can Control:
    • Epictetus’ Teaching: Separate the things you can control (your attitude, response, desires) from things you cannot (global events, others’ actions).
    • Quote:

      “What Putin does, inflation, tariffs, my mother’s health—none of that is up to me. But…my response to all those things, that is up to me. Who I am is up to me.” – Ryan Holiday (06:00)

• Reading as Preparation:
  • Prefers reading history, philosophy, and books with long-lasting value over chasing breaking news.
  • Churchill’s Advice: Put “a couple thousand years between you and the present moment” to gain perspective.
  • Enduring Wisdom: The lessons of Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and others remain relevant—“the Stoics have endured for 2,000 years…so the chances they’ll become irrelevant in 2026 are very unlikely.”
• Obligation to Do Your Job:
  • Quote:

    “Your most important job is still your job. Like your obligation is still your obligation.” – Ryan Holiday (11:05)

  • Helvidius and Vespasian: The story about standing up for duty, even under threat of death—“Our job is to do our job, which is to be good and also to do the thing we were trained to do…” (12:00)
  • Commitment to duty stands above recognition, pay, and consequence.

3. Impact at Home and Multi-Generational Responsibility (13:30–15:50)

• The Power of Parenting:
  • Personal reflection on trying to raise his kids with intention, citing the influence of his father and grandfather.
  • Daily Dad Project: Ryan writes and curates parenting wisdom for himself, aspiring to shape not just his children, but future generations.
  • Quote:

    “If you are frustrated with the direction of your country…well, one place you can direct that is your own home. It starts at home. So raise your kids right. Raise your kids to make a difference.” – Ryan Holiday (15:05)

4. Journaling for Perspective and Self-Examination (15:50–20:50)

• Stoic Journaling Practice:
  • Historical Stoics like Marcus Aurelius used journaling as “spiritual combat” against confusion and chaos.
  • Quote:

    “If you’re not examining your mind, who is? If you’re not dumping your frustrations out on the pages, like, who are you dumping them on?” – Ryan Holiday (18:10)

  • Encourages listeners to use journaling to gain self-awareness, clarity, and hold fast to personal principles.
• Orwell’s Advice: A journal’s power to “see what’s in front of your nose needs a constant struggle.”

5. Daily Conduct and Stillness Amid Chaos (20:50–end)

• Treating People Well:
  • Despite others’ behavior, you can control your own kindness, patience, and fairness, both in business and daily life.
  • Quote from Marcus Aurelius:

    “We don’t control that, but we control whether we’re like them…” – (22:25)

• Curating Inputs and Prioritizing Stillness:
  • Advocates for creating space for reflection and non-reactivity—finding stillness is essential for insight and well-being.
  • Mentions advice from Randall Stuttman: High-performing leaders cultivate hobbies that involve stillness and introspection (e.g., listening to music, fishing, running).
  • Quote:

    “You don’t control the chaos of the world, but you do control whether you get sucked into it…whether you bring stillness to it.” – Ryan Holiday (26:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Tyrants, bullies and jerks are the enemies of justice. They cannot be accepted. They cannot be accommodated.” – Ryan Holiday (03:20)
• “Our job is to do our job, which is to be good and also to do the thing we were trained to do…” – Ryan Holiday (12:00)
• “If you are frustrated with the direction of your country…one place you can direct that is in your own home.” – Ryan Holiday (15:05)
• “If you’re not examining your mind, who is? If you’re not dumping your frustrations out on the pages, like, who are you dumping them on?” – Ryan Holiday (18:10)
• “You don’t control the chaos of the world, but you do control whether you get sucked into it.” – Ryan Holiday (26:05)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–04:14: The Stoic tradition of standing up for the vulnerable; lessons from Cato, Scipio, and George Washington.
• 04:47–11:05: Applying Stoic principles to chaos and change; focusing on what’s within your control.
• 11:05–13:30: The enduring nature of your duty and personal obligation.
• 13:30–15:50: Multi-generational impact and raising children with intention.
• 15:50–20:50: Journaling as a Stoic practice for clarity and self-examination.
• 20:50–26:05: Treating others well; cultivating stillness and perspective in daily life.

Conclusion

Ryan Holiday’s message is one of persistent justice, self-mastery, and duty—animated by Stoic examples from antiquity to the present. He underscores that while the world’s chaos is not in our hands, the way we conduct ourselves, our care for the “little guy,” and the virtues we embody as parents, professionals, and citizens, always are.

Recommended for:
Anyone seeking clarity in uncertain times, practical philosophical guidance, or inspiration to act justly and with intention.