‘Don’t Trust Anyone Under 500’

‘Don’t Trust Anyone Under 500’

Advice will come at you from all directions as you go through life. When you’re in doubt about whose advice you should trust, look to the advice that has stood the test of time.

Photo by Xerones

We tend to believe that the older someone is, the wiser they are. In an open letter to the graduating class of 2015, Dale Davidson of the Ancient Wisdom Project suggests that when in doubt, seek the wisdom of very old:

Modern advice encourages us to achieve work-life balance. Ancient wisdom tells us to work hard at building a life….the next time you are looking for advice on the way forward, you might turn to a theologian, prophet, philosopher, or saint before any modern-day blogger (except for me, of course). Don’t trust anyone under 500.

Plenty of modern advice can still be worthwhile, but the older it is the more time it’s had to be tested. Even though they may be ancient, wise words from any time can have a dramatic impact on your well being now. Whether you find peace and comfort in religious teachings, or gather strength from the stoics, you can bet that any advice that has lasted for at least 500 years is probably worth listening to.

Don’t Trust Anyone Under 500 [Cal Newport]


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