Stoic practice · 4–6 min

The Choice of Hercules

Picture the easy road and the demanding road before choosing.

Use when: temptation, procrastination, decision

How the practice works

1. Read the frame Xenophon preserves the choice offered to Hercules: an easy road promising immediate pleasure, and a demanding road on which good things are earned through worthy action.
2. Name the situation What real fork is in front of you?
3. Run the exercise Picture the pleasant, easy road. Follow the repeated actions and where they lead. Picture the effortful, honourable road. Follow its repeated actions and where they lead.
4. Make a choice Which road will you take?
5. Choose the next action What is the first action on that road?

“For of all things good and fair, the gods give nothing to man without toil and effort.”

— Xenophon, Memorabilia 2.1