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Ask Stoics guided-practice preview · 4–6 min

The Choice of Hercules

Picture the easy road and the demanding road before choosing.

This page explains what the exercise is for, shows the exact Stoic source behind it, and previews the steps. Open the separate Practice App when you are ready to work through it interactively.

Use when: temptation, procrastination, decision

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PurposeSee when this exercise is useful.
SourceCheck the exact primary-text locator.
ActivityFollow the guided steps in the app.

What you will do

How this guided practice works

  1. 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. 2
    Name the situation

    What real fork is in front of you?

  3. 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. 4
    Make a choice

    Which road will you take?

  5. 5
    Choose the next action

    What is the first action on that road?