Author: StoicTrader

“Meditations” Book IV: Passage VII

Let opinion be taken away, and no man will think himself wronged. If no man shall think himself wronged, then is there no more any such thing as wrong. That which makes not man himself the worse, cannot make his life the worse, neither can it hurt him either inwardly or outwardly. It was expedient in nature that it should be so, and therefore necessary.

“Meditations” Book III: Passage IX

In the mind that is once truly disciplined and purged, thou canst not find anything, either foul or impure, or as it were festered: nothing that is either servile, or affected: no partial tie; no malicious averseness; nothing obnoxious; nothing concealed. The life of such an one, death can never surprise as imperfect; as of an actor, that should die before he had ended, or the play itself were at an end, a man might speak.

“Meditations” Book IV: Passage XIX

Whatsoever is expedient unto thee, O World, is expedient unto me; nothing can either be unseasonable unto me, or out of date, which unto thee is seasonable. Whatsoever thy seasons bear, shall ever by me be esteemed as happy fruit, and increase. O Nature! from thee are all things, in thee all things subsist, and to thee all tend. Could he say of Athens, thou lovely city of Cecrops; and shalt not thou say of the world, thou lovely city of God?

“Meditations” Book III: Passage XIV

As physicians and chirurgeons have always their instruments ready at hand for all sudden cures; so have thou always thy dogmata in a readiness for the knowledge of things, both divine and human: and whatsoever thou dost, even in the smallest things that thou dost, thou must ever remember that mutual relation, and connection that is between these two things divine, and things human. For without relation unto God, thou shalt never speed in any worldly actions; nor on the other side in any divine, without some respect had to things human.

Analyzing Lebron’s First Season in LA (21.95% complete)

18 games into the 2018-2019 season (21.95% to be exact) Lebron is flexing a PER that HASN’T BEEN SEEN SINCE HIS LAST YEAR IN MIAMI.

Let’s look at Lebron’s numbers since his last year in Miami (age 29 season).

After Lebron left Miami, his PER and efficiency as a player in Cleveland was decidedly not as good up until last season.

Last season (Lebron’s age 33 season) Lebron had a resurgence. Maybe he was mentally preparing himself for the departure from Cleveland for the second time?

Whatever the case, Lebron’s age 33 season was far better than his age 30-32 seasons with Cleveland, when we use PER as our primary measuring metric.

But this season is just as good as Lebron’s age 33 season so far and definitely has the potential to be even better.

Lebron is averaging a career high in 3PA’s at 5.9 per game and is shooting 39%.

Lebron is shooting the 3-ball the best he ever has in his career. If he keeps averaging a career high in attempts and shooting almost 40% from beyond the arc, his game has the potential to go up another notch still!

The question remains though, turning 34 in December, having played in the NBA since age 18, how much longer will Lebron remain at the top of his game?

At this point in time, no signs of slowing down.

LEBRON PER History

LEBRON Historic Stats PerGame

 

stats above provided by: https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jamesle01.html

“Meditations” Book III: Passage VIII

But he that preferreth before all things his rational part and spirit, and the sacred mysteries of virtue which issueth from it, he shall never lament and exclaim, never sigh; he shall never want either solitude or company: and which is chiefest of all, he shall live without either desire or fear.

And as for life, whether for a long or short time he shall enjoy his soul thus compassed about with a body, he is altogether indifferent.

For if even now he were to depart, he is as ready for it, as for any other action, which may be performed with modesty and decency. For all his life long, this is his only care, that his mind may always be occupied in such intentions and objects, as are proper to a rational sociable creature.

“Meditations” Book I: Passage XV

In the country of the Quadi at Granua, these. Betimes in the morning say to thyself,

This day I shalt have to deal with an idle curious man, with an unthankful man, a railer, a crafty, false, or an envious man; an unsociable uncharitable man.

All these ill qualities have happened unto them, through ignorance of that which is truly good and truly bad.

But I that understand the nature of that which is good, that it only is to be desired, and of that which is bad, that it only is truly odious and shameful: who know moreover, that this transgressor, whosoever he be, is my kinsman, not by the same blood and seed, but by participation of the same reason, and of the same divine particle;

How can I either be hurt by any of those, since it is not in their power to make me incur anything that is truly reproachful? Or angry, and ill affected towards him, who by nature is so near unto me?

For we are all born to be fellow-workers, as the feet, the hands, and the eyelids; as the rows of the upper and under teeth: for such therefore to be in opposition, is against nature; and what is it to chafe at, and to be averse from, but to be in opposition?

“Meditations” Book I: Passage XVI

Whatsoever I am, is either flesh, or life, or that which we commonly call the mistress and overruling part of man; reason.

Away with thy books, suffer not thy mind any more to be distracted, and carried to and fro; for it will not be; but as even now ready to die, think little of thy flesh: blood, bones, and a skin; a pretty piece of knit and twisted work, consisting of nerves, veins and arteries; think no more of it, than so.

And as for thy life, consider what it is; a wind; not one constant wind neither, but every moment of an hour let out, and sucked in again.

The third, is thy ruling part; and here consider; Thou art an old man; suffer not that excellent part to be brought in subjection, and to become slavish: suffer it not to be drawn up and down with unreasonable and unsociable lusts and motions, as it were with wires and nerves; suffer it not any more, either to repine at anything now present, or to fear and fly anything to come, which the destiny hath appointed thee.

“Meditations” Book I: Passage XVII

Whatsoever proceeds from the gods immediately, that any man will grant totally depends from their divine providence.

As for those things that are commonly said to happen by fortune, even those must be conceived to have dependence from nature, or from that first and general connection, and concatenation of all those things, which more apparently by the divine providence are administered and brought to pass.

All things flow from thence: and whatsoever it is that is, is both necessary, and conducing to the whole (part of which thou art), and whatsoever it is that is requisite and necessary for the preservation of the general, must of necessity for every particular nature, be good and behoveful.

And as for the whole, it is preserved, as by the perpetual mutation and conversion of the simple elements one into another, so also by the mutation, and alteration of things mixed and compounded.

Let these things suffice thee; let them be always unto thee, as thy general rules and precepts.

As for thy thirst after books, away with it with all speed, that thou die not murmuring and complaining, but truly meek and well satisfied, and from thy heart thankful unto the gods.