Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Eric on September 13, 2009 at 11:56am

One of the most manly quotes I can think of off the top of my head comes from a French philosopher named Voltaire goes something like this: Je ne suis pas d'accord avec ce que vous dites, mais je me battrai jusqu'à la mort pour que vous ayez le droit de le dire. English translation: "I don't agree with what you say, but I would fight to the death to defend your right to say it."

Permalink Reply by Titus Techera on May 17, 2010 at 11:17am

Obviously, Voltaire never fought anyone for anything. At least the duc de la Rochefoucault did.

Permalink Reply by TJmil on September 13, 2009 at 12:26pm

Marcus Aurelius comes to mind.

Permalink Reply by Leo on September 13, 2009 at 5:41pm

1. Socrates and Seneca for living a principled life and who were deeply against hypocrisy. Men live by their word.
2. Nietzsche for the mustache and his belief that hardship makes a man, although a complete failure when it comes to women.
3. Alexander the Great (Aristotle's student) for surpassing Genghis Khan in conquering most of the civilized world.

Permalink Reply by Philosopher King on September 14, 2009 at 10:46am

Marcus Aurelius.

Not only was he a philosopher, but also an emperor - one who must put philosophy into action. How many philosphers do you know that have ruled great empires and led men into battle? Other philosphers only sit in rooms and talk about their thoughts, or record them for others to read later. Marcus' philosophies were recorded only in his personal journal (later written into books by others) and were directly related to his experiences as emperor.

Although he was not an "original" philosopher in the sense that his ideals where based on stoic philosophies (Epictitus,) he had many great thoughts of his own, as recorded in a book, "Meditations." I was disappointed to see that on the AoM website, "Meditations" was not listed as one of the 100 best books for men.

Essential reading for any man, from someone I consider to be one of the manliest men ever to have lived.

Permalink Reply by Leo on September 14, 2009 at 3:19pm

Joel: I don't know much about Zarathustra, but I want to learn more and I will.

Philosopher King: I don't think that leading men into battle and ruling over others automatically defaults to manliness. Domination can be obtained through unmanly ways. I do agree that putting ones words into action is definitely manly. It's just not possible to be a man without action.

In that vain, I would think that Socrates fits the bill. He was a soldier, he did go around pestering people to challenge their assumptions, and other people wrote about him. Socrates never penned his words. Negative points for being a filthy slob, tho. There's no clear "manliest". This is like Darth Vader vs. Superman; it's all subjective in the end.

And I gotta read "Meditations" already.

Permalink Reply by William Taylor on September 17, 2009 at 3:21pm

Do read Meditations. You'll be glad you did. In fact, I need to find my copy! Moving sucks when all your books are still packed away in boxes after a month.

Permalink Reply by William Taylor on September 17, 2009 at 3:19pm

How about David Hume?
"Be a philosopher but, amid all your philosophy be still a man."
David Hume quote from "Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding".

Come to think of it that could be a motto as well.

Permalink Reply by Will on September 17, 2009 at 9:44pm

I'm still partial to Aristotle. Before him, some philosophers addressed this or that question; he put it together in a whole, and everyone since (except possibly the existentialists) have been either refining or reacting against his foundation.

Permalink Reply by Ryan Crawford on September 17, 2009 at 10:20pm

I'm rather partial to Marcus Tullius Cicero. Not only was he an outstanding philosopher and one of the world's greatest orators, but he practiced great patriotism. He didn't always agree with the senate, but he certainly made sure that they knew about it. That and he was steadfastly loyal to the State.

Permalink Reply by NewSc2 on September 20, 2009 at 5:42am

What about Thoreau? Transcendentalism isn't really the manliest thought, but living on your own and believing steadfastly in your principles (taxation vs. war) are certainly manly qualities.

Permalink Reply by Jeff Kraykovic on January 20, 2010 at 10:21am

I agree with Thoreau, self-reliance is a manly virtue if ther ever was one.

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