I failed 8 years of academics. I didn't quit on academics though. I rejoined college and am doing fine. I have made mistakes. I take responsibility. But the way some of my friends and family members treated me because of my failure, is truly appalling. All they care about is 'Education for education's sake'. I used to be so curious and enthusiastic. It has been trampled out of me now. The internet, especially portals like the School of Life are giving me the education I need. This is what education has to be about. I am slowly finding myself back to the curious, fun-loving, innocent kid I once was. P.S. Had to let it out. It feels Good!
It is ok to fail and it is ok to go down. If you are interested and curious about the things you want to do, eventually you will come up again and give yourself another try.
Maybe it wasn't a mistake to fail at school, just another road you had to walk. People should judge people by their intentions, their kindness and their good will. Not by the results of their decissions, sometimes unlucky ones.
I relate to you. Im procrastinating here instead of doing my English paper. I feel Im feeding my curiosity here more. I want to continue my education though. Education is a way that a society to pass on knowledge to the next generation with the standards that are already working. This help the next generation to build on current advancement. It also help a society to be consistent because without consistency society will be inefficient in their advancement.
+Valosken - I noticed that too. I didn't actually have an opinion either way about the voiceover at the end (and still don't), but this change shows that the creative people behind this channel listen to their audience, and that's never a bad thing. I would suggest, however, that in the absence of the voiceover they leave the final message up on display a couple of seconds longer at the end.
Thank you for this video, it truly helped calm me down. I was recently struggling with myself seeing as I am soon going to be starting high school and have become increasingly worried about what my life is going to turn out like. Although I realize that High School will be fairly simple, I have a feeling I'm just growing up too fast and will soon have to face the inevitable failure of life. It is a crippling thought and mindset. The worst part about this is that there are absolutely no external pressures for me to succeed, I am loved and cherished by many in my life, am stable, and happy. I know I have to just relax and take life as it comes. I think I'm just in such a rush to figure out what my life will look like and who I am/ want to be. I'm young and confused. This channel has really helped me understand and grow ( even though I realize I'm still at the very beginning of understanding really anything about life)
I do the same but one night before the exam when I'm so stressed up and when I realize how bad I've messed up by wasting so much of my time that I'm here, a night before the exam, unprepared and there's no way I can cover the entire syllabus.
Failure is an important part of life. Without failure we cannot learn to succeed. When Edison was asked about failing 1000 times before finally getting the incandescant light bulb right, he simply replied, "I never failed. I just found 1000 ways that didn't work." And this is true. It's human to fail, but we need to learn from our failures and keep going.
I like how this video actually applied people ideas a few videos ago of letting the shop slide runs without voice. Just to show how dedicated and attentive the makers are :)
I like the Greeks system and the idea of the noble failure. I have played competitive ice hockey the majority of my life and I still cannot get a certain loss out of my head. We lost our conference championship 4-3 in overtime after coming back from 0-3 after the 2nd period. It was such an amazing comeback and then a sudden loss. It crushed me, but the Spartan story is something I needed to hear in that what really matters is not the outcome (it is 1 game after all) but the fact that we came back as a team and even tried that matters.
I had a great coach who used to say, "There are no absolute defeats and no absolute victories". I think he was trying to teach us that winning and losing are not black and white, instead, they come in shades of gray, both in sports and in life. if you think you have to win all the time, you are setting yourself up for failure. If you don't see your losses as opportunities to learn you will often see yourself as a failure. My coach would say "Don't let success or failure define who you are." That's what I learned as a young man.
Nice video! I actually changed my perspective on failure a long time ago. Most of the time I consider it to be a measuring stick; from where I stand, to where I would like to be. However, in some cases, failure is almost unavoidable. I dedicated my life to being a musician, and there was a time when it was possible given you had the talent, to make a full career of it. The first of the one-two punch combo was that venue owners decided for the most part not to pay musicians, but instead appealed to their desire to be heard by offering "exposure". The second punch was when the internet made it possible for people to download music without paying for it, crushing record companies. Ultimately, the majority decided to stop paying their favorite bands and pirate the music instead. So, for many talented people like myself, the failure had nothing to do with what I could do. It had to do with forces beyond our control; primarily, the choices of other people. I do not feel bad about this failure. Likewise, success is just as much about who you know as anything. It doesn't matter if you have the greatest talent in the world, the lesser talented person who gains the favor of the money powers will be the one who obtains success. That has nothing to do with meritocracy. This fact is actually often expressed by people of financial power in phrases they speak like "I own you" or "I made you". Sorry folks, it's actually true because the systems are engineered that way. If you are chosen one, you had better be grateful. If you aren't, then focus on enjoying yourself doing the things you have a passion for and interest in, and maybe those things will contribute to a legacy you leave behind when you are gone. Remember, many great minds and contributors to society died destitute, like Nikola Tesla, or Antonio Vivaldi.
The American dream is the man who searches his lost keys at night under a lamp, not because he lost his keys there, but because he has light to search there...
A lovely compliment to this video would be the book "Being Wrong" by Kathryn Schulz. In a calm and warm voice, she masterfully maps everything that is misguided, wrongheaded and oh so deeply tragic about our relationship with 'failure'. The case is so definitive, that I consider it an almost essential text for those seeking a life illuminated by rationality. Merry Christmas, and happy failing, internet.
+Billy Obrien Actually, compliment would be to give praise. Complement, as he wrote, is to complete or make perfect. Easy way to remember is that *comple* ment *completes* something. Pretty sure the intent was to say the book further completes what the video was expressing.
We learn so much more when we fail, success only drives more feelings of want and entitlement. When you fail on the other hand it drives the exploration of the reason for it, taking you down previously unexplored thoughts and actions. Fail for the Future.
“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” - Winston Churchill Indeed, the process of trial and error is vastly underestimated in our society, despite the fact that this is the very process that brought into being the most complex object in the known universe, the human brain.
I remember talking about football with a friend many years ago. When I asked her what team she was supporting, she asked back: Who's the weakest? When I told her, she said that she would support them. I think that's been my mantra since then.
Something I've come to notice more prominently is our inability to accept praise. Would you be able to do a video on accept positivity or success or praise?
Dropped out of HS in 1976, have gotten a "School of Life" since then with many successes and failures. I respect educated people that use the education for the good of man, I detest "Professional Students" that never seem to be able to leave the protected confines of the halls of knowledge. This itself is failure, not to be looked down upon, for the only one hurt is the one with the lamp of knowledge sporting the blackout panes on it, never letting the light out.
a brazilian poet, antonio abujamra died this year. one of his sayings on public tv when he interviewed antonio fagundes, a famous actor was: "success is too boring. we remember the failures more fondly".
I don't have my copy of Gender Trouble handy but she uses it as a means of discussing gender performativity - since gender is a referent without an original, we are doomed to failure in performing gender and that failure is liberating. Feminist Theory has picked up on it more widely especially in discourses on capitalism - where failure to be the productive member of society capitalism wants you to be is liberating rather than shameful.
I got some things from the school of life shop for Christmas and they are some of the best made products I've personally encountered. They come highly recomended from me.
Mike Duncan from the history of Rome and the Revolutions podcast has a really fitting theory of history. He calls it the failiure man theory of history. History is more often then not driven by people fucking up instead of doing something awesome and 'right'. More often then not if people do the right thing, nothing happens and all goes well. Shit happens when people bollox it up. Food for thought.
I am showing these videos to my little sister who is 14. I believe videos like these should be showed to the younger generations with a little mix of music from Mozart and Led Zeppelin.
I will take an additional year to complete my Bachelor's degree yet i dont consider this to be a weakness,i am turning this into strength now :) while my batchmates is waving the green flag of their graduation this year (2021) i will just remain impervious and follow my own pace,it is not a competition,it's a matter of personal and professional development from what i learn from my university studies. I am never gonna be overconfident in saying i am the best of the lot as i know i am not but i am only keeping my efforts active.
Reminds me of the adage "A loser is a person who _thinks_ s/he has lost" - "thinks" being the crucial word. Congrats on another fine video, Alain et al.
I always consider a failure in life... I'm now 30 and i still do make mistakes, just the mistake i do now cost me more money and other people's confidence with my skill which affect my own confidence and ability.. i love fixing stuff, repairing and inventing new ways to do my work more efficiently.. but each mistake i make. In my head, my depression grows bigger and my self- esteem going under
I'm a non english speaker and so i have to concentrate more than usual to understand what he is saying, but his voice... it's so pleasant to listen that i like paying attention only to his voice and i suddenly realise i'm lost somewhere xD
I loved your documentaries as a kid and was rekindled after hearing you on the Tim Ferris show. Thank You for all of your videos, keep them coming. Happy new year :)
what about Asia, Africa, South America, Australia, the islands? Surely they have ideas on things ? As an European in school I always found this self focus very annoying
Cezar Rujan every culture focus on its history, it’s normal. We may consider looking for content in other language or written by Asian/African/S American/Australian Author.
What an amazing video. As always, I slow clap you. Also your online shop is just... wow! I'm drooling! Congratulations on your incredible work! Will buy a few books straight away
meekness (in the case of the sermon on the mount) and a profoundly humble lifestyle (in the case of Buddhism) are NOT synonymous with failure. This assumes there can only either be success or failure.. as opposed to refusing to '''play the game'' at all.
+Gila Atwood Agree. Also it was said in video that Success is having nothing by one cloth (loincloth) and sitting under the fruit tree. However, Buddha stopped that practice and have chosen Middle Way, without extreme asceticism.
Great video as always. The protests of Manhattan were inspired on the 15-M protests of Spain, I think it makes more sense to explain that movement in this video instead. Merry Christmas.
The lesson of this video is: we underestimate the difficulty of living our daily (simple) lives. Therefore we underestimate our succes. If you can recognize this, you can be kinder towards yourself.
Μηδενι Συμφοραν Ονειδισεις, Κοινη Γαρ Η Τυχη Και Το Μελλον Αορατος- Solon Dont not laugh at other peoples misfortune, because fate is common and we never know what is to come.
+MeLexdy Γεια σου! Για αυτο, αγαπάω αυτό το τραγούδι του Καζαντζίδη: "Σκέψου καλά βρε άνθρωπε, μια μέρα θα πεθάνεις, και όσο ζεις μες στη ζωή, πάντα καλό να κάνεις, πλούτη, παλάτια και λεφτά, εδώ θα μείνουν όλα, δεν παίρνεις τίποτα μαζί, μόνο δυο μέτρα χώμα. Άνθρωπέ μου θα πεθάνεις και ποτέ και ποτέ κακό μην κάνεις" Καλά χριστούγεννα και καλή πρωτοχρονιά! :-)
Happy Holidays! I was wondering, could you make a video about culture? What is, where it began as a concept(probably Greece) and WHAT IS IT FOR? I'd love to see your thoughts on that subject. :D
Brilliant as always. Would you please do a video on the idea of luck as well? Just like failure, luck too is a very less discussed topic, and it would be great if you were to discuss it.
It was said in video that Success is having nothing by one cloth (loincloth) and sitting under the fruit tree. However, Buddha stopped that practice and have chosen Middle Way, without extreme asceticism.
I thought the Occupy movement was less about money being an inadequate metric of success and more about the 1% rigging the social/political/economic system in their favor? Am I wrong?
I am a failer in eyes of my family I am flunking science last 6 years I am in gr8 12th now though all I do all day is the study I just don't like studying for school and now more than ever my parents are worried about my future I am defiantly going to fail this year but I still love learning and learn all day but I think I should just disappear it just don't feel good
Although I do agree with most of the content, I have to disagree with the Christianity bit. A very large portion of Christians especially the protestants view success as a blessing from God. Such as the Calvinist sect, and the Puritans carried this view over to America, that material success means that you are in God's favour, and thus have a place in heaven. Thus, forming the basis for the American Dream.
I agree, the prosperity gospel is taught in quite a few places. Holding the perspective that God's favour is proved through what peoples are advantaged (or 'civilised') has been commonplace throughout history, and especially colonialist history, and as you mentioned, has in some form rooted itself in the American Dream. However since it is deemed a tad heretical within some Christian circles, and contrary to the teachings of Jesus not to mention some passages in the Old Testament, for this reason the writer of this video probably hasn't included it as an aspect of core Christian theology. But I agree that it would have been preferable if these ideals had been given a mention, since they have had such a key foundational role in the construction of modern capitalist society and practice.
I think what they meant by that was a more classical view on early Christianity, which continued in Byzantine culture and eastern Christianity. I find it curious that western Christianity, meaning Catholic, formed in Rome, where we already know how success was viewed.
I sure would enjoy seeing you guys do a, Music History: The Blues, where you show how two opposite fan bases(Hip-hop and Rock) are actually rooted in the same place and people. Make note of the resilience of the slaves who combined local music flavors with classical teachings to create a style of music just opposite of the current trends by having it's beat just "off" creating that swing feeling. The first generation of famous blues musician's effects could be seen blatantly right up to the British Invasion and into the 70's with artists like Eric Clapton who regularly collaborated with the elder statesmen of the blues.
This video underlines one of the subjects of Aesop's fables which are: 1) the nature of human failure, 2) the exercise of power, and 3) the experience of the powerless (and all that they endure in life) Aesop would say: you can fail, and learn to do better. Aesop's fables seem to be of the moment as those subjects dominate our politics as well as our personal experiences today. I wish The School of Live would feature Aesop and fables in general in this great series.
How about this one: Chasing success usually ends in ultimate failure. At the end all the titles and glories of the world fall away, and all we have is our selves. Virgil expressed this in the Aeneid, through the character of Achilles (met in the underworld). Dante did pretty much the same thing, a thousand years later, through the character of Justinian I (Byzantine Emperor). It's a recurring idea. To my mind, success is measured by how much one learns and grows. If a person achieves real demonstrable growth in their lifetime, then they have succeeded as it were.
For the sake of correctness, the mentioned general Varus probably committed suicide not because of shame but because of the fact that he was trapped with German forces closing in who might kill him brutally/torture him to death.
Good observation! Besides, losing three legions is not a everyday failure, but one of the greatest disasters in Roman history. The captain goes down with the ship. Also, the 300 at Thermopylae cannot be identified as a failure: it cannot be a failure when there are no chances to succeed, instead it is a conscious laudable sacrifice for a later success.
Aspirations for greatness, whatever our view of greatness is good since it is implied in the definition. The best view to achieve greatness is that failure happens, but that the only real failure is the failure to aspire to greatness.
I really enjoy and learn a lot from your videos. Its the first time i see videos about history of ideas and concepts being explained in clearance. Keep up the great work!
Is it sad that I feel so ignorant the majority of the time upon watching these videos and inevitably re-evaluating my Self b/c, "I haven't looked THAT far into the topic discussed..?" It's like the more I know and face this NEW information, the more I feel the more I don't know and feel worse for NOT knowing - WTS!?
Maybe art wouldn't have disappeared if horrible paintings which make no sense were promoted by the "leading experts" (those "masters" that you mentioned included).
Failures ought to be admitted and accepted, but not embraced. To do something as drastic as killing yourself after failing is of course ridiculous, but embracing failure and rejecting sucess is even more laughable. Failures should be accepted and used as lessons. We do learn through trial and error, after all.
Seems as thought there is a sharp contrast between the Greeks and Romans in their views towards failure. Did the Greeks also have the tradition of suicide as a consequence of great failure? Also, this channel does a great job of covering Western Philosophy and even some easier to grasp Eastern Philosophy, however I would enjoy some Islamic Philosophy thrown in also. Love the Channel!
True there are alot of great arab/islamic philosophers and stories. But i feel that this channel, as much as i love it is extremely Eurocentric every good or amazing thing that happens since the beginning of history till now from cities to books, is european hahah
I don't think it's so bad to be Eurocentric, given that they're largely targeting a European audience. Many of the philosophical ideas of are universal anyway, like how Jesus and the Buddha's concepts are quite similar, or how Taoism and Stoicism share much the same ideas. All eurocentric philosophy does is make it understandable through reference to more familiar events, things and people. So long as it doesn't give an implication of regional superiority (which I don't think the SoL does) there's nothing inherently wrong with regionalism.
Meek at the time of the writing of the bible did not mean weak or unsuccessful. It meant "those that have swords, and know how to use them, but keep them sheathed". Using it as an example of ancient acceptance of failure is putting on our own impressions of reality onto them. It seems pedantic but it is an important difference.
I failed 8 years of academics. I didn't quit on academics though. I rejoined college and am doing fine. I have made mistakes. I take responsibility. But the way some of my friends and family members treated me because of my failure, is truly appalling. All they care about is 'Education for education's sake'. I used to be so curious and enthusiastic. It has been trampled out of me now.
The internet, especially portals like the School of Life are giving me the education I need. This is what education has to be about. I am slowly finding myself back to the curious, fun-loving, innocent kid I once was.
P.S. Had to let it out. It feels Good!
It is ok to fail and it is ok to go down. If you are interested and curious about the things you want to do, eventually you will come up again and give yourself another try.
Maybe it wasn't a mistake to fail at school, just another road you had to walk. People should judge people by their intentions, their kindness and their good will. Not by the results of their decissions, sometimes unlucky ones.
Cheers for your curiosity's rebirth!👍🍻
I am a hk student and I agree with you, school is bullshit and dulls my life. I never hate learning but I hate schooling.
I relate to you. Im procrastinating here instead of doing my English paper. I feel Im feeding my curiosity here more. I want to continue my education though. Education is a way that a society to pass on knowledge to the next generation with the standards that are already working. This help the next generation to build on current advancement. It also help a society to be consistent because without consistency society will be inefficient in their advancement.
I'm depressed. these videos are helping me out a lot. thank you
It's been 3 years since your comment but I hope you're well
Move to the ghetto in your city
I hope you’re happy now.
Me too... A bipolar 2 guy
These videos got me out of my self diagnosed depression. I may or may not be just really really sad but these made me feel a lot better.
I love that you took on the suggestion to have silence at the end.
+Valosken It really does make our opinions seem much more valued doesn't it? :)
+Valosken - I noticed that too. I didn't actually have an opinion either way about the voiceover at the end (and still don't), but this change shows that the creative people behind this channel listen to their audience, and that's never a bad thing. I would suggest, however, that in the absence of the voiceover they leave the final message up on display a couple of seconds longer at the end.
+Valosken Yeah, I didn't expect the change but I welcome It. Its Really cool that the people making these videos to listen to their audience :D
+Keir
, a Churchill
+Valosken Super appreciated, for me.
Thank you for this video, it truly helped calm me down. I was recently struggling with myself seeing as I am soon going to be starting high school and have become increasingly worried about what my life is going to turn out like. Although I realize that High School will be fairly simple, I have a feeling I'm just growing up too fast and will soon have to face the inevitable failure of life. It is a crippling thought and mindset. The worst part about this is that there are absolutely no external pressures for me to succeed, I am loved and cherished by many in my life, am stable, and happy. I know I have to just relax and take life as it comes. I think I'm just in such a rush to figure out what my life will look like and who I am/ want to be. I'm young and confused. This channel has really helped me understand and grow ( even though I realize I'm still at the very beginning of understanding really anything about life)
Each failure is a lesson. Never stop learning.
I just came from an exam...you can guess why I'm watching this. Good times.
I do the same but one night before the exam when I'm so stressed up and when I realize how bad I've messed up by wasting so much of my time that I'm here, a night before the exam, unprepared and there's no way I can cover the entire syllabus.
this one hit home, I'm going thru the failure part right now, but I'll get back to normal
What a cheery thing to upload on Christmas
+Sam Dupont Your response is sarcastic, but this is a very optimistic video.
+I Con. trol My frankly
Ironically it is a cheery thing
Failure is an important part of life. Without failure we cannot learn to succeed. When Edison was asked about failing 1000 times before finally getting the incandescant light bulb right, he simply replied, "I never failed. I just found 1000 ways that didn't work." And this is true. It's human to fail, but we need to learn from our failures and keep going.
Sometimes we have to master failure before we can master success
I like how this video actually applied people ideas a few videos ago of letting the shop slide runs without voice. Just to show how dedicated and attentive the makers are :)
+The School of Life koodles to you. the silence is powerful
Yes, I love these guys-- very attentive!
I like the Greeks system and the idea of the noble failure. I have played competitive ice hockey the majority of my life and I still cannot get a certain loss out of my head. We lost our conference championship 4-3 in overtime after coming back from 0-3 after the 2nd period. It was such an amazing comeback and then a sudden loss. It crushed me, but the Spartan story is something I needed to hear in that what really matters is not the outcome (it is 1 game after all) but the fact that we came back as a team and even tried that matters.
I had a great coach who used to say, "There are no absolute defeats and no absolute victories". I think he was trying to teach us that winning and losing are not black and white, instead, they come in shades of gray, both in sports and in life. if you think you have to win all the time, you are setting yourself up for failure. If you don't see your losses as opportunities to learn you will often see yourself as a failure. My coach would say "Don't let success or failure define who you are." That's what I learned as a young man.
The definition of success should always be set by one's self.
That's what I think.
Best comment!
Bas Brinkhuijsen THANK YOU :D
+Paul Staker agreed!
+Paul Staker And yet, some people still think success is measured by how much money you have in your bank (among other things)
Ricardo Quezada well they're certainly free to think so
Nice video! I actually changed my perspective on failure a long time ago. Most of the time I consider it to be a measuring stick; from where I stand, to where I would like to be. However, in some cases, failure is almost unavoidable. I dedicated my life to being a musician, and there was a time when it was possible given you had the talent, to make a full career of it. The first of the one-two punch combo was that venue owners decided for the most part not to pay musicians, but instead appealed to their desire to be heard by offering "exposure". The second punch was when the internet made it possible for people to download music without paying for it, crushing record companies. Ultimately, the majority decided to stop paying their favorite bands and pirate the music instead. So, for many talented people like myself, the failure had nothing to do with what I could do. It had to do with forces beyond our control; primarily, the choices of other people. I do not feel bad about this failure. Likewise, success is just as much about who you know as anything. It doesn't matter if you have the greatest talent in the world, the lesser talented person who gains the favor of the money powers will be the one who obtains success. That has nothing to do with meritocracy. This fact is actually often expressed by people of financial power in phrases they speak like "I own you" or "I made you". Sorry folks, it's actually true because the systems are engineered that way. If you are chosen one, you had better be grateful. If you aren't, then focus on enjoying yourself doing the things you have a passion for and interest in, and maybe those things will contribute to a legacy you leave behind when you are gone. Remember, many great minds and contributors to society died destitute, like Nikola Tesla, or Antonio Vivaldi.
The American dream is the man who searches his lost keys at night under a lamp, not because he lost his keys there, but because he has light to search there...
A lovely compliment to this video would be the book "Being Wrong" by Kathryn Schulz.
In a calm and warm voice, she masterfully maps everything that is misguided, wrongheaded and oh so deeply tragic about our relationship with 'failure'. The case is so definitive, that I consider it an almost essential text for those seeking a life illuminated by rationality.
Merry Christmas, and happy failing, internet.
+SimplyGimpy *complement
+UltraGaivalas nah g they're right
+Billy Obrien Actually, compliment would be to give praise. Complement, as he wrote, is to complete or make perfect. Easy way to remember is that *comple* ment *completes* something.
Pretty sure the intent was to say the book further completes what the video was expressing.
Merry Christmas and happy failing to you & the internet. Now more than ever. ❤️🎄
We learn so much more when we fail, success only drives more feelings of want and entitlement. When you fail on the other hand it drives the exploration of the reason for it, taking you down previously unexplored thoughts and actions.
Fail for the Future.
Bravo! This should be required viewing for the whole planet!
Small detail but I sincerely appreciate the lack of music for the sake of evoking a particular emotion out of the viewer. Thank you.
“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” - Winston Churchill
Indeed, the process of trial and error is vastly underestimated in our society, despite the fact that this is the very process that brought into being the most complex object in the known universe, the human brain.
I remember talking about football with a friend many years ago. When I asked her what team she was supporting, she asked back: Who's the weakest? When I told her, she said that she would support them. I think that's been my mantra since then.
The more I watch these, the more I figure out that ancient Greece almost always had the best answer for these types of questions.
Something I've come to notice more prominently is our inability to accept praise. Would you be able to do a video on accept positivity or success or praise?
Your videos just might be saving lives - literally.
Thank you- all good blessings to you - and please do keep up the good work!
I just stumbled across this channel, this was my first video. Never before have I wanted the 'Subscribe' button to hold greater value.
Dropped out of HS in 1976, have gotten a "School of Life" since then with many successes and failures. I respect educated people that use the education for the good of man, I detest "Professional Students" that never seem to be able to leave the protected confines of the halls of knowledge. This itself is failure, not to be looked down upon, for the only one hurt is the one with the lamp of knowledge sporting the blackout panes on it, never letting the light out.
I thought something was wrong. Meek:quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive. But the narrators empathy is admirable none the less
a brazilian poet, antonio abujamra died this year. one of his sayings on public tv when he interviewed antonio fagundes, a famous actor was: "success is too boring. we remember the failures more fondly".
Two Words: Judith Butler. I'm really shocked her commentaries on failure were not included here given where you went with this
I don't have my copy of Gender Trouble handy but she uses it as a means of discussing gender performativity - since gender is a referent without an original, we are doomed to failure in performing gender and that failure is liberating. Feminist Theory has picked up on it more widely especially in discourses on capitalism - where failure to be the productive member of society capitalism wants you to be is liberating rather than shameful.
+The School of Life
Don't bother. It's post modern nonsense.
+gigio2376 Wait... what does that even mean? What did he say?
+gigio2376 maybe postmodernism wouldn't have become anything if modernism hadn't failed ;)
+Mynt Marsellus Feminism is already failure, why bother talking about it?
I learn so much when I fail.
Thanks for the video, School of Life.
Merry Christmas.
Well then you didn't fail. ;)
this video needs to be watched more,shared more and applauded more
Once again, thank you, School of Life. This is an important lesson of the recent years of my life, and you articulate it so well.
1:24 , it's 46 B.C.
I got some things from the school of life shop for Christmas and they are some of the best made products I've personally encountered. They come highly recomended from me.
Mike Duncan from the history of Rome and the Revolutions podcast has a really fitting theory of history. He calls it the failiure man theory of history. History is more often then not driven by people fucking up instead of doing something awesome and 'right'. More often then not if people do the right thing, nothing happens and all goes well. Shit happens when people bollox it up. Food for thought.
I am showing these videos to my little sister who is 14. I believe videos like these should be showed to the younger generations with a little mix of music from Mozart and Led Zeppelin.
I'm recovering from a failed suicide attempt
Your videos are really helping
Another take on procrastination and failure. Know what depression is like myself, kept fighting and now it's long behind me.
Failure is noble, and an excellent teacher.
Failure, in and of itself, is never good or noble, its how you accept failure that makes it good and noble.
Talk to any successful person and they'll tell you the importance of failure. Failure is only seen as bad by those who have never tasted true success.
I will take an additional year to complete my Bachelor's degree yet i dont consider this to be a weakness,i am turning this into strength now :) while my batchmates is waving the green flag of their graduation this year (2021) i will just remain impervious and follow my own pace,it is not a competition,it's a matter of personal and professional development from what i learn from my university studies.
I am never gonna be overconfident in saying i am the best of the lot as i know i am not but i am only keeping my efforts active.
Reminds me of the adage "A loser is a person who _thinks_ s/he has lost" - "thinks" being the crucial word. Congrats on another fine video, Alain et al.
I always consider a failure in life... I'm now 30 and i still do make mistakes, just the mistake i do now cost me more money and other people's confidence with my skill which affect my own confidence and ability.. i love fixing stuff, repairing and inventing new ways to do my work more efficiently.. but each mistake i make. In my head, my depression grows bigger and my self- esteem going under
I'm a non english speaker and so i have to concentrate more than usual to understand what he is saying, but his voice... it's so pleasant to listen that i like paying attention only to his voice and i suddenly realise i'm lost somewhere xD
Clearl as pure water and, of course, true in every point! Thank you!!
Thank you for this work, I enjoyed it so much. This helps to understand the idea of PERFECTION too, which is a very conflictive one along history.
I loved your documentaries as a kid and was rekindled after hearing you on the Tim Ferris show. Thank You for all of your videos, keep them coming. Happy new year :)
what about Asia, Africa, South America, Australia, the islands? Surely they have ideas on things ?
As an European in school I always found this self focus very annoying
Cezar Rujan every culture focus on its history, it’s normal. We may consider looking for content in other language or written by Asian/African/S American/Australian Author.
The world needs these words. Thanks for the growing perspective
I literally got so excited when I saw this video, even though it's old it's new to me. Based on what I've seen on this channel I knew I'd enjoy it.
What an amazing video. As always, I slow clap you.
Also your online shop is just... wow! I'm drooling! Congratulations on your incredible work! Will buy a few books straight away
This is brilliant.. With videos like these you challenge dogmas and Institute completely new values in peoples lives. Thank you!
the definition of Failure depends on culture and personalty
meekness (in the case of the sermon on the mount) and a profoundly humble lifestyle (in the case of Buddhism) are NOT synonymous with failure. This assumes there can only either be success or failure.. as opposed to refusing to '''play the game'' at all.
Very good comment, feel very alike.
+Gila Atwood Agree. Also it was said in video that Success is having nothing by one cloth (loincloth) and sitting under the fruit tree. However, Buddha stopped that practice and have chosen Middle Way, without extreme asceticism.
In other words you're a sore loser.
Perhaps. However, "meek" does have a concrete definition. It is not an abstract word that can be interpreted in a number of ways.
I have dyslexia you are helping me a lot! Now I find it easier to understand philosophy and I lost aversion to it.
For all the Catholics out there, don't forget, you have
St. Birgitta of Sweden, the Patron Saint of failures.
Success, failure, it might seem like it matters now but does it really?Death is the great equalizer. We'll all be equal in the end
Great video as always. The protests of Manhattan were inspired on the 15-M protests of Spain, I think it makes more sense to explain that movement in this video instead. Merry Christmas.
The lesson of this video is: we underestimate the difficulty of living our daily (simple) lives. Therefore we underestimate our succes. If you can recognize this, you can be kinder towards yourself.
I've watched ever one of your videos, and this one is now my probably my favourite
Μηδενι Συμφοραν Ονειδισεις, Κοινη Γαρ Η Τυχη Και Το Μελλον Αορατος- Solon
Dont not laugh at other peoples misfortune, because fate is common and we never know what is to come.
+MeLexdy
Γεια σου! Για αυτο, αγαπάω αυτό το τραγούδι του Καζαντζίδη:
"Σκέψου καλά βρε άνθρωπε, μια μέρα θα πεθάνεις,
και όσο ζεις μες στη ζωή, πάντα καλό να κάνεις,
πλούτη, παλάτια και λεφτά, εδώ θα μείνουν όλα,
δεν παίρνεις τίποτα μαζί, μόνο δυο μέτρα χώμα.
Άνθρωπέ μου θα πεθάνεις
και ποτέ και ποτέ κακό μην κάνεις"
Καλά χριστούγεννα και καλή πρωτοχρονιά! :-)
***** Εγω συμπαθησα τον καζατζιδη για την ολη αντι- νταλαρο -συμπεριφορα του.
Ηταν σπαθι ο στελιος!
Napoleon was obsessed about success, that's why he conquered Egypt and brought the obelisc to Paris: he wanted to be like Alexander the Great.
Happy Holidays!
I was wondering, could you make a video about culture? What is, where it began as a concept(probably Greece) and WHAT IS IT FOR? I'd love to see your thoughts on that subject. :D
Deep yet lighthearted and extremely accessable. I'm so glad I found The School of Life :)
Thanks you so much. These are reminders one always needs.
What happened to the audio at the end? How are the blind supposed to purchase school of life knick knacks if they aren't prompted by your voice?
Brilliant as always. Would you please do a video on the idea of luck as well? Just like failure, luck too is a very less discussed topic, and it would be great if you were to discuss it.
It was said in video that Success is having nothing by one cloth (loincloth) and sitting under the fruit tree. However, Buddha stopped that practice and have chosen Middle Way, without extreme asceticism.
There is no such thing a failure, usless you quit..It's called learning..No PERSON has ever lived without it!
Thank you for informative videos! 😊 Knowledge is a great power! 💎
I thought the Occupy movement was less about money being an inadequate metric of success and more about the 1% rigging the social/political/economic system in their favor? Am I wrong?
Awesome video. Thank you! :)
Failure is life without one the other would not exist
To achieve a nice life you must accept failure.
Failure to do so is deadly
I love you School of Life. Merry Christmas.
I am a failer in eyes of my family I am flunking science last 6 years I am in gr8 12th now though all I do all day is the study I just don't like studying for school and now more than ever my parents are worried about my future I am defiantly going to fail this year
but I still love learning and learn all day but I think I should just disappear it just don't feel good
you can fail many times but you'r not a failure until you blame someone else
absolutely mindblown by each and every one of these videos. more people need to learn from these videos.
very ironic to have released this today, really resonates with the holiday season.
Although I do agree with most of the content, I have to disagree with the Christianity bit. A very large portion of Christians especially the protestants view success as a blessing from God. Such as the Calvinist sect, and the Puritans carried this view over to America, that material success means that you are in God's favour, and thus have a place in heaven. Thus, forming the basis for the American Dream.
I agree, the prosperity gospel is taught in quite a few places. Holding the perspective that God's favour is proved through what peoples are advantaged (or 'civilised') has been commonplace throughout history, and especially colonialist history, and as you mentioned, has in some form rooted itself in the American Dream. However since it is deemed a tad heretical within some Christian circles, and contrary to the teachings of Jesus not to mention some passages in the Old Testament, for this reason the writer of this video probably hasn't included it as an aspect of core Christian theology. But I agree that it would have been preferable if these ideals had been given a mention, since they have had such a key foundational role in the construction of modern capitalist society and practice.
I think what they meant by that was a more classical view on early Christianity, which continued in Byzantine culture and eastern Christianity. I find it curious that western Christianity, meaning Catholic, formed in Rome, where we already know how success was viewed.
Esta Nublado - you're so right. You see that in the American psyche everywhere, 'god loves rich people - wealth is salvation'.
The majority of Christians are Catholics and Orthodox people. What are you saying is true only for Protestants.
I sure would enjoy seeing you guys do a, Music History: The Blues, where you show how two opposite fan bases(Hip-hop and Rock) are actually rooted in the same place and people. Make note of the resilience of the slaves who combined local music flavors with classical teachings to create a style of music just opposite of the current trends by having it's beat just "off" creating that swing feeling. The first generation of famous blues musician's effects could be seen blatantly right up to the British Invasion and into the 70's with artists like Eric Clapton who regularly collaborated with the elder statesmen of the blues.
This video underlines one of the subjects of Aesop's fables which are: 1) the nature of human failure, 2) the exercise of power, and 3) the experience of the powerless (and all that they endure in life) Aesop would say: you can fail, and learn to do better. Aesop's fables seem to be of the moment as those subjects dominate our politics as well as our personal experiences today. I wish The School of Live would feature Aesop and fables in general in this great series.
How about this one:
Chasing success usually ends in ultimate failure. At the end all the titles and glories of the world fall away, and all we have is our selves. Virgil expressed this in the Aeneid, through the character of Achilles (met in the underworld). Dante did pretty much the same thing, a thousand years later, through the character of Justinian I (Byzantine Emperor). It's a recurring idea.
To my mind, success is measured by how much one learns and grows. If a person achieves real demonstrable growth in their lifetime, then they have succeeded as it were.
For the sake of correctness, the mentioned general Varus probably committed suicide not because of shame but because of the fact that he was trapped with German forces closing in who might kill him brutally/torture him to death.
Good observation! Besides, losing three legions is not a everyday failure, but one of the greatest disasters in Roman history. The captain goes down with the ship. Also, the 300 at Thermopylae cannot be identified as a failure: it cannot be a failure when there are no chances to succeed, instead it is a conscious laudable sacrifice for a later success.
Aspirations for greatness, whatever our view of greatness is good since it is implied in the definition. The best view to achieve greatness is that failure happens, but that the only real failure is the failure to aspire to greatness.
I really enjoy and learn a lot from your videos. Its the first time i see videos about history of ideas and concepts being explained in clearance.
Keep up the great work!
JUST LOVELY! On point, great script and awesome voice.
I adore you channel guys! Keep up the good work.
Oh yes, holidays do have a tendency of bringing out the measuring sticks
Is it sad that I feel so ignorant the majority of the time upon watching these videos and inevitably re-evaluating my Self b/c, "I haven't looked THAT far into the topic discussed..?"
It's like the more I know and face this NEW information, the more I feel the more I don't know and feel worse for NOT knowing - WTS!?
Very well presented!
Another great vid! P.S. there's a typo at 4:09 where you spelled talented "talended"
+Mesigabe
Well spodded!
Really good one. Merry Christmas for everyone in School of Life, and thank you for the videos.
The font at 0:40 on the signs is the same font used for Dalek dialogue in Doctor Who novels produced by the BBC. The More You Know™
Maybe art wouldn't have disappeared if horrible paintings which make no sense were promoted by the "leading experts" (those "masters" that you mentioned included).
Really really great video. Probably one of the best you've ever done.
Failures ought to be admitted and accepted, but not embraced. To do something as drastic as killing yourself after failing is of course ridiculous, but embracing failure and rejecting sucess is even more laughable. Failures should be accepted and used as lessons. We do learn through trial and error, after all.
this video is a good relief, thank you
Seems as thought there is a sharp contrast between the Greeks and Romans in their views towards failure. Did the Greeks also have the tradition of suicide as a consequence of great failure?
Also, this channel does a great job of covering Western Philosophy and even some easier to grasp Eastern Philosophy, however I would enjoy some Islamic Philosophy thrown in also. Love the Channel!
True there are alot of great arab/islamic philosophers and stories. But i feel that this channel, as much as i love it is extremely Eurocentric every good or amazing thing that happens since the beginning of history till now from cities to books, is european hahah
+whatwhatwhat? Yes, they claimed it a few times in the comments.
I don't think it's so bad to be Eurocentric, given that they're largely targeting a European audience. Many of the philosophical ideas of are universal anyway, like how Jesus and the Buddha's concepts are quite similar, or how Taoism and Stoicism share much the same ideas. All eurocentric philosophy does is make it understandable through reference to more familiar events, things and people. So long as it doesn't give an implication of regional superiority (which I don't think the SoL does) there's nothing inherently wrong with regionalism.
Thank you. I needed this.
Meek at the time of the writing of the bible did not mean weak or unsuccessful. It meant "those that have swords, and know how to use them, but keep them sheathed". Using it as an example of ancient acceptance of failure is putting on our own impressions of reality onto them. It seems pedantic but it is an important difference.
You -alain never stop make me feel good for being alive