Quintus Curtius

In this podcast, I read some of the recent great tweets I've noticed from small accounts on Twitter. Small Twitter accounts are a refreshing break from the contrived foolery of the mainstream blue-check accounts. They are an underappreciated gold mine of honesty, passion, and tortured grapplings with truth. Let's give some credit where due, and hear what they have to say.

I've been exploring small Twitter accounts lately. And when I say "small," I generally mean accounts that have less than 50 followers. You'd be surprised how much gold can be found hidden away in these accounts: they tend to be raw, honest, and unconcerned with saying the "right" thing. In this podcast, I discuss how I started doing this, what I've learned, and how I go about it.

This podcast is a reading of H.G. Wells's grisly tale, "The Sea Raiders." An unknown species of man-eating squid terrorizes the inhabitants near Devon, on the English coast.

A reader emails me and asks for advice and guidance on how to navigate the passage from youth to middle age. But there are no magic answers, no magic wands. You have to keep moving forward, keep working on yourself, keep focusing on mind, body, and responsibilities. But I also detect some other things in his email, things that are unsaid. We discuss.

A reader reaches out to ask a question that's been troubling him. He was recently re-contacted by an ex-girlfriend from several years ago. She appears to want to start over again with him, but he has his doubts and hesitations. Should he re-open this closed chapter of his life, or should he keep his distance? We discuss.

The distinguishing feature of our "leaders" today is their near total disregard for putting the mission ahead of themselves. They are unwilling to risk their careers to make the hard calls that would truly benefit society. And because of their moral cowardice, all of us suffer. We see this played out over and over. In this podcast we examine an anecdote from POWs in the Second World War, and discuss its lessons.

Sometimes you have to accept the flaws and issues that people have, in order to accomplish the greater good. If you are in a leadership position, the priority is mission accomplishment. All else is secondary. Your people will not all be flawless: some will have issues. If someone is a top performer, sometimes you have to learn to work around those flaws, as long as his abilities merit consideration. In special situations, you have to make allowances for people. Circumstances will be the judge of this principle--and it should not be abused.

There are many people who manifest a lack of thankfulness in their daily lives. This comes across not only in how they treat others, but in how they treat themselves. Lack of gratitude comes down to a failure of will: a failure to appreciate the real potential that lies within, and a failure to understand how short life can be. Stop looking for free handouts, and start being someone who offers value.

If you are out there pursuing your goals, overcoming obstacles, and blasting through barriers, there will be times when you take on more than you can handle. You will misjudge situations and, as the saying goes, will "bite off more than you can chew." This is part of the growth process. This applies both professionally and personally. Don't let the opinions of others diminish your focus. Deal with the situation as best you can, and chalk it up to life.

When you are in a position of leadership or responsibility, you must carry out your duties. You don't have a choice: the mission comes first. Too many people today want the benefits of being "in charge," without being mindful of the responsibilities. Life is not about having “fun,” enjoying frivolities, and basking in vanity. In 2020, we saw many examples of mayors and governors dodging their fundamental obligation to keep public order and discipline. We discuss one such example, and seek wider lessons.

A reader writes to ask for advice on whether he should travel to the US to attend college. His family wants him to stay where he is, but he longs for wider horizons and new opportunities. Each option has advantages and drawbacks.

A 20-year-old man working in law enforcement tends to be quiet and introverted. He's serious and goal-oriented. Some of his colleagues mistakenly put a negative spin on this, and this is causing him to wonder if he needs to make some personality changes. We offer some thoughts on the situation.

A reader who was a professional poker player for a number of years is getting restless. He wants to start a business, but has some questions about how he should go about doing it. We offer some ideas.

A reading of the "I Need A Source" meme by by friend @Ardeamus. Enjoy.

In this podcast we answer two recent questions from readers. One question deals with the virtues, and the other question relates to recommended books.