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January 1
Day 1/365: Epictetus on patience
Welcome to The Stoic Ledger, a daily money meditation from one of the stoic sages.
1/365: Epictetus on patience
“No great thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.” — Epictetus. Discourses. Book 1, Chapter 15.
Epictetus’ analogy about the fig mirrors the journey of building wealth. Just as a fig requires time to blossom, bear fruit, and ripen, growing our money demands patience and discipline.
Attempting to rush wealth accumulation often leads to suboptimal decisions, like risky and unsuitable investments. True money growth, like the natural maturation of fruit, comes from consistent effort across time—a form of financial endurance.
Nature cannot be hurried in producing the fig. So to with wealth, we must trust the process and focus on the long-term over immediate gratification.
Like the fig, we must nurture the right conditions for success. A fig tree needs care, the right environment, and consistent attention to flourish; similarly, our money requires intentional planning and mindful cultivation.
Wealth is not just the end goal but a culmination of thoughtful decisions, much like the ripe fig is the result of seasons of growth.
Epictetus reminds us to be patient, for time carries the weight.
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