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Herodotus
Excerpts from Book VII of The Histories
Translated and Edited by A.D. Godley, 1921-24
CCI
King Xerxes lay encamped in Trachis in Malis and the Hellenes in the pass. This place is called Thermopylae by most of the Hellenes, but by the natives and their neighbors Pylae. Each lay encamped in these places. Xerxes was master of everything to the north from Trachis, and the Hellenes of all that lay toward the south on the mainland.
CCII
The Hellenes who awaited the Persians in that place were these:
300 Spartan armed men
1,000 from Tegea and Mantinea (500 from each place)
120 from Orchomenus in Arcadia
1,000 from the rest of Arcadia
400 from Corinth
200 from Phlius
80 Mycenaeans
These were the Peloponnesians present; from Boeotia there were:
700 Thespians
400 Thebans
CCIII
In addition, the Opuntian Locrians in full force and 1,000 Phocians came at the summons. The Hellenes had called upon them through messengers who told them that this was only the advance guard, that the rest of the allies were expected any day now, and that the sea was being watched, with the Athenians and Aeginetans and all those enrolled in the fleet on guard. There was nothing for them to be afraid of. The invader of Hellas was not a god but a human being, and there was not, and never would be, any mortal on whom some amount of evil was not bestowed at birth, with the greatest men receiving the largest share. The one marching against them was certain to fall from pride, since he was a mortal. When they heard this, the Locrians and Phocians marched to Trachis to help.
CCIV
Each city had its own general, but the one most admired and the leader of the whole army was a Lacedaemonian, Leonidas, son of Anaxandrides, son of Leon, son of Eurycratides, son of Anaxandrus, son of Eurycrates, son of Polydorus, son of Alcamenes, son of Teleclus, son of Archelaus, son of Hegesilaus, son of Doryssus, son of Leobotes, son of Echestratus, son of Agis, son of Eurysthenes, son of Aristodemus, son of Aristomachus, son of Cleodaeus, son of Hyllus, son of Heracles. Leonidas had gained the kingship at Sparta unexpectedly.
CCV
Since he had two older brothers, Cleomenes and Dorieus, he had renounced all thought of the kingship. Cleomenes, however, died without male offspring, and Dorieus, who had met his end in Sicily, was also no longer alive. The succession therefore fell to Leonidas since he was older than Anaxandrides’ youngest son Cleombrotus and had married Cleomenes’ daughter. He now came to Thermopylae with the appointed three hundred he had selected, all of whom had sons. He also brought those Thebans whom I counted among the number and whose general was Leontiades son of Eurymachus. Leonidas took pains to bring only the Thebans among the Hellenes, because they were accused of medizing; he summoned them to the war wishing to know whether they would send their men with him or openly refuse the Hellenic alliance. They sent the men but intended something quite different.
CCVI
The Spartans sent the men with Leonidas on ahead so that the rest of the allies would see them and march, instead of medizing like the others if they learned that the Spartans were delaying.
Page 2
At present the Carnegie was in their way, but once they had completed the festival, they intended to leave a garrison at Sparta and march out in full force with all speed. The rest of the allies planned to do likewise, for the Olympiad coincided with these events. They accordingly sent their advance guard, not expecting the war at Thermopylae to be decided so quickly.
CCVII
This is what they intended, but the Hellenes at Thermopylae, when the Persians drew near the pass, fearfully took counsel whether to depart. The rest of the Peloponnesians were for returning to the Peloponnese and guarding the isthmus, but the Phocians and Locrians were greatly angered by this counsel. Leonidas voted to remain where they were and send messengers to the cities bidding them to send help, since they were too few to ward off the army of the Medes.
CCVIII
While they debated in this way, Xerxes sent a mounted scout to see how many there were and what they were doing. While he was still in Thessaly, he had heard that a small army was gathered there and that its leaders were Lacedaemonians, including Leonidas, who was of the Heracleid clan. Riding up to the camp, the horseman watched and spied out the place. He could, however, not see the whole camp, for it was impossible to see those posted inside the wall which they had rebuilt and were guarding. He did take note of those outside, whose arms lay in front of the wall, and it chanced that at that time the Lacedaemonians were posted there. He saw some of the men exercising naked and others combing their hair. He marvelled at the sight and took note of their numbers. When he had observed it all carefully, he rode back in leisure, since no one pursued him or paid him any attention at all. So he returned and told Xerxes all that he had seen.
CCIX
When Xerxes heard that, he could not comprehend the fact that the Lacedaemonians were actually, to the best of their ability, preparing to kill or be killed. What they did appeared laughable to him, so he sent for Demaratus the son of Ariston, who was in his camp. When this man arrived, he asked him about each of these matters, wanting to understand what it was that the Lacedaemonians were doing. Demaratus said, “You have already heard about these men from me, when we were setting out for Hellas, but when you heard, you mocked me, although I told you how I expected things to turn out. It is my greatest aim, O King, to be truthful in your presence. So hear me now. These men have come to fight us for the pass, and it for this that they are preparing. This is their custom: when they are about to risk their lives, they arrange their hair. Rest assured that if you overcome these men and those remaining behind at Sparta, there is no one else on earth who will raise his hands to withstand you, my King. You are now attacking the fairest kingdom in Hellas and men who are the very best.” What he said seemed completely incredible to Xerxes, so he then asked how they, who were so few in number, would fight against his army. Demaratus answered, “My King, take me for a liar if this does not turn out as I say.” So he spoke, but he did not persuade Xerxes.
CCX
He let four days go by, expecting them to run away at any minute. They did not leave, and it seemed to him that they stayed out of folly and lack of due respect. On the fifth day he became angry and sent the Medes and Cissians against them, bidding them take them prisoner and bring them into his presence. The Medes bore down upon the Hellenes and attacked. Many fell, but others attacked in turn, and they made it clear to everyone, especially to the king himself, that among so many people there were few real men. The battle lasted all day.
CCXI
When the Medes had been roughly handled, they retired, and the Persians whom the king called Immortals, led by Hydarnes, attacked in turn. It was thought that they would easily accomplish the task. When they joined battle with the Hellenes, they fared neither better nor worse than the Median army, since they used shorter spears than the Hellenes and could not use their numbers fighting in a narrow space. The Lacedaemonians fought memorably, showing themselves skilled fighters amidst unskilled on many occasions, as when they would turn their backs and feign flight. The barbarians would see them fleeing and give chase with shouting and noise, but when the Lacedaemonians were overtaken, they would turn to face the barbarians and overthrow innumerable Persians. A few of the Spartans themselves were also slain. When the Persians could gain no inch of the pass, attacking by companies and in every other fashion, they withdrew.
Page 3
CCXII
It is said that during these assaults in the battle the king, as he watched, jumped up three times from the throne in fear for his army. This, then, is how the fighting progressed, and on the next day the barbarians fought no better. They joined battle supposing that their enemies, being so few, were now disabled by wounds and could no longer resist. The Hellenes, however, stood ordered in ranks by nation, and each of them fought in turn, except the Phocians, who were posted on the mountain to guard the path. When the Persians found nothing different from what they saw the day before, they withdrew.
CCXIII
The king was at a loss as to how to deal with the present difficulty. Epialtes son of Eurydemus, a Malian, thinking he would get a great reward from the king, came to speak with him and told him of the path leading over the mountain to Thermopylae. In so doing he caused the destruction of the Hellenes remaining there. Later he fled into Thessaly in fear of the Lacedaemonians, and while he was in exile, a price was put on his head by the Pylagori when the Amphictyons assembled at Pylae. Still later he returned from exile to Anticyra and was killed by Athenades, a Trachinian. Athenades slew Epialtes for a different reason, which I will tell later in my history, but he was given no less honor by the Lacedaemonians. It was in this way, then, that Epialtes was later killed.
CCXIV
There is another story told, namely that Onetes son of Phanagoras, a Carystian, and Corydallus of Anticyra are the ones who gave the king this information and guided the Persians around the mountain, but I find it totally incredible. One must judge by the fact that the Pylagori set a price not on Onetes and Corydallus but on Epialtes the Trachinian, and I suppose they had exact knowledge; furthermore, we know that Epialtes was banished on this charge. Onetes might have known the path, although he was not a Malian, if he had often come to that country, but Epialtes was the one who guided them along the path around the mountain. It is he whom I put on record as guilty.
CCXV
Xerxes was pleased by what Epialtes promised to accomplish. He immediately became overjoyed and sent out Hydarnes and the men under Hydarnes command, who set forth from the camp at about lamp-lighting time. This path had been discovered by the native Malians, who used it to guide the Thessalians into Phocis when the Phocians had fenced off the pass with a wall and were sheltered from the war. So long ago the Malians had discovered that the pass was in no way a good thing.
CCXVI
The course of the path is as follows: it begins at the river Asopus as it flows through the ravine, and this mountain and the path have the same name, Anopaea. This Anopaea stretches along the ridge of the mountain and ends at Alpenus, the Locrian city nearest to Malis, near the rock called Blackbuttock and the seats of the Cercopes, where it is narrowest.
Page 4
CCXVII
This, then, was the nature of the pass. The Persians crossed the Asopus and travelled all night along this path, with the Oetaean mountains on their right and the Trachinian on their left. At dawn they came to the summit of the pass. In this part of the mountain one thousand armed men of the Phocians were on watch, as I have already shown, defending their own country and guarding the path. The lower pass was held by those I have mentioned, but the Phocians had voluntarily promised Leonidas to guard the path over the mountain.
CCXVIII
The Phocians learned in the following way that the Persians had climbed up: they had ascended without the Phocians’ notice because the mountain was entirely covered with oak trees. Although there was no wind, a great noise arose like leaves being trodden underfoot. The Phocians jumped up and began to put on their weapons, and in a moment the barbarians were there. When they saw the men arming themselves, they were amazed, for they had supposed that no opposition would appear, but they had now met with an army. Hydarnes feared that the Phocians might be Lacedaemonians and asked Epialtes what country the army was from. When he had established what he wanted to know with certainty, he arrayed the Persians for battle. The Phocians, assailed by thick showers of arrows and supposing that the Persians had set out against them from the start, fled to the top of the mountain and prepared to meet their destruction. This is what they intended, but the Persians with Epialtes and Hydarnes paid no attention to the Phocians and went down the mountain as fast as possible.
CCXIX
The seer Megistias, examining the sacrifices, first told the Hellenes at Thermopylae that death was coming to them with the dawn. Then deserters came who announced the circuit made by the Persians. These gave their signals while it was still night; a third report came from the watchers running down from the heights at dawn. The Hellenes then took counsel, but their opinions were divided. Some advised not to leave their post, but others spoke against them. They eventually parted, some departing and dispersing each to their own cities, others preparing to remain there with Leonidas.
CCXX
It is said that Leonidas himself sent them away because he was concerned that they would be killed, but felt it not fitting for himself and the Spartans to desert that post which they had come to defend at the beginning. I, however, tend to believe that when Leonidas perceived that the allies were dispirited and unwilling to run all risks with him, he told then to depart. For himself, however, it was not good to leave; if he remained, he would leave a name of great fame, and the prosperity of Sparta would not be blotted out. When the Spartans asked the oracle about this war when it broke out, the Pythia had foretold that either Lacedaemon would be destroyed by the barbarians or their king would be killed. She gave them this answer in hexameter verses running as follows:
For you, inhabitants of wide-wayed Sparta,
Either your great and glorious city must be wasted by Persian men,
Or if not that, then the bound of Lacedaemon must mourn a dead king, from Heracles’ line.
The might of bulls or lions will not restrain him with opposing strength; for he has the might of Zeus.
I declare that he will not be restrained until he utterly tears apart one of these.
Considering this and wishing to win distinction for the Spartans alone, he sent away the allies rather than have them leave in disorder because of a difference of opinion.
Page 5
CCXXI
Not the least proof I have of this is the fact that Leonidas publicly dismissed the seer who attended the expedition, for fear that he might die with them. This was Megistias the Acarnanian, said to be descended from Melampus, the one who told from the sacrifices what was going to happen to them. He was dismissed but did not leave; instead he sent away his only son who was also with the army.
CCXXII
Those allies who were dismissed went off in obedience to Leonidas, only the Thespians and Thebans remaining with the Lacedaemonians. The Thebans remained against their will and desire, for Leonidas kept them as hostages. The Thespians very gladly remained, saying they would not abandon Leonidas and those with him by leaving; instead they would stay and die with them. Their general was Demophilus son of Diadromes.
CCXXIII
Xerxes made libations at sunrise and waiting till about mid-morning, made his assault. Epialtes had advised this, for the descent from the mountain is more direct, and the way is much shorter than the circuit and ascent. Xerxes and his barbarians attacked, but Leonidas and his Hellenes, knowing they were going to their deaths, advanced now much farther than before into the wider part of the pass. In all the previous days they had sallied out into the narrow way and fought there, guarding the defensive wall. Now, however, they joined battle outside the narrows and many of the barbarians fell, for the leaders of the companies beat everyone with whips from behind, urging them ever forward. Many of them were pushed into the sea and drowned; far more were trampled alive by each other, with no regard for who perished. Since the Hellenes knew that they must die at the hands of those who had come around the mountain, they displayed the greatest strength they had against the barbarians, fighting recklessly and desperately.
CCXXIV
By this time most of them had had their spears broken and were killing the Persians with swords. Leonidas, proving himself extremely valiant, fell in that struggle and with him other famous Spartans, whose names I have learned by inquiry since they were worthy men. Indeed, I have learned by inquiry the names of all three hundred. Many famous Persians also fell there, including two sons of Darius, Abrocomes and Hyperanthes, born to Darius by Phratagune daughter of Artanes. Artanes was the brother of king Darius and son of Hystaspes son of Arsames. When he gave his daughter in marriage to Darius, he gave his whole house as dowry, since she was his only child.
CCXXV
Two brothers of Xerxes accordingly fought and fell there. There was a great struggle between the Persians and Lacedaemonians over Leonidas’ body, until the Hellenes by their courageous prowess dragged it away and routed their enemies four times. The battle went on until the men with Epialtes arrived. When the Hellenes saw that they had come, the contest turned, for they retired to the narrow part of the way, passed behind the wall, and took their position crowded together on the hill, all except the Thebans. This hill is at the mouth of the pass, where the stone lion in honor of Leonidas now stands. In that place they defended themselves with swords, if they still had them, and with hands and teeth. The barbarians buried them with missiles, some attacking from the front and throwing down the defensive wall, others surrounding them on all sides.
CCXXVI
This then is how the Lacedaemonians and Thespians conducted themselves, but the Spartan Dieneces is said to have exhibited the greatest courage of all. They say that he made the following speech before they joined battle with the Medes: he had learned from a Trachinian that there were so many of the barbarians that when they shot their missiles, the sun was hidden by the multitude of their arrows. He was not at all disturbed by this and made light of the multitude of the Medes, saying that their Trachinian foreigner brought them good news. If the Medes hid the sun, they could fight them in the shade instead of in the sun. This saying and others like it, they claim, Dieneces the Lacedaemonian left behind as a memorial.
Page 6
CCXXVII
Next after him two Lacedaemonian brothers, Alpheus and Maron, sons of Orsiphantus, are said to have been most courageous. The Thespian who gained most renown was one whose name was Dithyrambus son of Harmatides.
CCXXVIII
There is an inscription written over these men, who were buried where they fell, and over those who died before the others went away, dismissed by Leonidas. It reads as follows:
Here four thousand from the Peloponnese once fought three million.
That inscription is for them all, but the Spartans have their own:
Foreigner, go tell the Spartans that we lie here obedient to their commands.
That one is to the Lacedaemonians, this one to the seer:
This is a monument to the renowned Megistias,
Slain by the Medes who crossed the Spercheius river.
The seer knew well his coming doom,
But endured not to abandon the leaders of Sparta.
Except for the seer’s inscription, the Amphictyons are the ones who honored them by erecting inscriptions and pillars. That of the seer Megistias was inscribed by Simonides son of Leoprepes because of his tie of guest-friendship with the man.
CCXXIX
It is said that two of these three hundred, Eurytus and Aristodemus, could have agreed with each other either to come home safely together to Sparta, since Leonidas had dismissed them from the camp and they were lying at Alpeni very sick of ophthalmia, or to die with the others, if they were unwilling to return home. They could have done either of these things, but they could not agree and had different intentions. When Eurytus learned of the Persians circuit, he demanded his armor and put it on, bidding his helot to lead him to the fighting. The helot led him there and fled, but he rushed into the fray and was killed. Aristodemus, however, lost his strength and stayed behind. Now if Aristodemus alone had been sick and returned to Sparta, or if they had both made the trip, I think the Spartans would not have been angry with them. When, however, one of them died, and the other had the same excuse but was unwilling to die, the Spartans had no choice but to display great anger towards Aristodemus.
CCXXX
Some say that Aristodemus came home safely to Sparta in this way and by this excuse. Others say that he had been sent out of the camp as a messenger and could have gotten back in time for the battle but chose not to, staying behind on the road and so surviving, while his fellow-messenger arrived at the battle and was killed.
CCXXXI
When Aristodemus returned to Lacedaemon, he was disgraced and without honor. He was deprived of his honor in this way: no Spartan would give him fire or speak with him, and they taunted him by calling him Aristodemus the Trembler. In the battle at Plataea, however, he made up for all the blame brought against him.
CCXXXII
It is said that another of the three hundred survived because he was sent as a messenger to Thessaly. His name was Pantites. When he returned to Sparta, he was dishonored and hanged himself.
CCXXXIII
The Thebans, whose general was Leontiades, fought against the king’s army as long as they were with the Hellenes and under compulsion. When, however, they saw the Persian side prevailing and the Hellenes with Leonidas hurrying toward the hill, they split off and approached the barbarians, holding out their hands. With the most truthful words ever spoken, they explained that they were Medizers, had been among the first to give earth and water to the king, had come to Thermopylae under constraint, and were guiltless of the harm done to the king. By this plea they saved their lives, and the Thessalians bore witness to their words. They were not, however, completely lucky. When the barbarians took hold of them as they approached, they killed some of them even as they drew near. Most of them were branded by Xerxes command with the kings marks, starting with the general Leontiades. His son Eurymachus long afterwards was murdered by the Plataeans when, as general of four hundred Thebans, he seized the town of Plataea.
Page 7
CCXXXIV
This, then, is how the Greeks fought at Thermopylae. Xerxes then sent for Demaratus and questioned him, saying first, “Demaratus you are a good man. I hold that proven by the plain truth, for things have turned out no differently than you foretold. Now, tell me this: how many Lacedaemonians are left, and how many of them are warriors like these? or is it so with them all?” “My king,” said Demaratus, “the number of the Lacedaemonians is great, and so too the number of their cities. But what you would like to know, I will tell you: there is in Lacedaemon a city called Sparta, a city of about eight thousand men, all of them equal to those who have fought here; the rest of the Lacedaemonians are not equal to these, yet they are valiant men.”
CCXXXV
“My king,” Demaratus replied, “if you in sincerity ask my counsel, it is but right that I should point out to you the best way. It is this, namely that you should send three hundred ships of your fleet to the Laconian land. There is an island lying off their coasts called Cythera. Chilon, a man of much wisdom among us, says about it that it would be better for the Spartans if Cythera were beneath the sea rather than above it. This he said because he expected that it would provide an opportunity for attack just as I am suggesting–not that he had any foreknowledge of your force, but he dreaded all men’s forces alike. Let them then make that island their station and set out from there to strike fear into the Lacedaemonians. If these have a war of their own on their borders, you will have no cause to fear that they will send men to save the rest of Hellas from being overrun by your armies; furthermore, the enslavement of the rest of Hellas must weaken Laconia if it is left to stand alone. If, however, you do not do this, then expect what I will now tell you: a narrow isthmus leads to the Peloponnese; all the Peloponnesians will be banded together there against you, and you may expect battles more stubborn than those that you have fought already. But if you do as I have said, then you may have that isthmus and all their cities without striking a blow.”
CCXXXVI
Next spoke Achaemenes, Xerxes’ brother and admiral of the fleet; it chanced that he was present during their conversation, and he feared that Xerxes would be persuaded to follow Demaratus’ counsel. “O king,” he said, “I see that you are listening to a man who is jealous of your good fortune or is perhaps even a traitor to your cause. These are the ways that are dear to the hearts of all Greeks: they are jealous of success and they hate power. No, if after the recent calamity which has wrecked four hundred of your ships you send away three hundred more from your fleet to sail round the Peloponnese, your enemies will be enough to do battle with you; while your fleet is united, however, it is invincible, and your enemies will not be so many as to be enough to fight; moreover, all your navy will be a help to your army and your army to your navy, both moving together. If you separate some of your fleet from yourself, you will be of no use to them, nor they to you. My counsel is rather that you make your own plans well, and take no account of the business of your adversaries, what battlefields they will choose, what they will do, and how many they are. They are able enough to think for themselves, and we similarly for ourselves. As for the Lacedaemonians, if they meet the Persians in the field, they will in no way repair their most recent losses.”
CCXXXVII
“Achaemenes,” Xerxes answered, “I think that you speak well, and I will do as you counsel. Despite the fact that your advice is better than his, Demaratus does say what he supposes to be most serviceable to me, for assuredly I will never believe that he is no friend to my cause. I believe this of him because of all that he has already said and by what is the truth, namely, that if one citizen prospers, another citizen is jealous of him and shows his enmity by silence, and no one, (except if he has attained the height of excellence; and such are seldom seen) if his own townsman asks for counsel, will give him what he thinks to be the best advice. If one stranger prospers, however, another stranger is beyond all men his well-wisher and will, if he is asked, impart to him the best counsel he has. It is for this reason that I bid you all to refrain from maligning Demaratus, seeing that he is a stranger and a friend.”
CCXXXVIII
Having spoken in this way, Xerxes passed over the place where the dead lay and hearing that Leonidas had been king and general of the Lacedaemonians, he gave orders to cut off his head and impale it. It is plain to me by this piece of evidence among many others, that while Leonidas lived, king Xerxes was more incensed against him than against all others; otherwise he would never have dealt so outrageously with his dead body, for the Persians are beyond all men known in the habit of honoring valiant warriors. They, then, who received these orders did as I have said.
Page 8
Notes:
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tags, and poetic inscriptions in tags with line breaks (
King Leonidas I of Sparta is renowned for his leadership and valor, particularly during the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. His sayings and actions have been emblematic of Spartan stoicism and bravery. Here are some of his notable quotations:
• “Molon labe†(Μολὼν λαβÎ): Translating to “Come and take them,†this was Leonidas’s defiant response to Persian King Xerxes’s demand that the Spartans surrender their weapons.
• “Why are not all present who intend to fight? Or do you not realize that the only men who fight against the enemy are those who respect and revere their kings.†This remark underscores the importance of unity and respect within the ranks.
• “Won’t it be nice, then, if we shall have shade in which to fight them?†In response to the observation that Persian arrows would block out the sun, Leonidas displayed characteristic Spartan wit and resilience.
For a comprehensive historical account of King Leonidas and his legacy, you might find the following PDF resources insightful:
• “Leonidas and the Kings of Sparta: Mightiest Warriors, Fairest Kingdomâ€: This text delves into the lives and reigns of Spartan kings, with a focus on Leonidas’s leadership during pivotal moments in Greek history.
• “The Spartan King Who Led from the Frontâ€: This document provides an analysis of Leonidas’s leadership style and his role in the Battle of Thermopylae.
Histories
# Herodotus
## Excerpts from Book VII of The Histories
### Translated and Edited by A.D. Godley, 1921-24
### CCI
King Xerxes lay encamped in Trachis in Malis and the Hellenes in the pass. This place is called Thermopylae by most of the Hellenes, but by the natives and their neighbors Pylae. Each lay encamped in these places. Xerxes was master of everything to the north from Trachis, and the Hellenes of all that lay toward the south on the mainland.
### CCII
The Hellenes who awaited the Persians in that place were these:
– 300 Spartan armed men
– 1,000 from Tegea and Mantinea (500 from each place)
– 120 from Orchomenus in Arcadia
– 1,000 from the rest of Arcadia
– 400 from Corinth
– 200 from Phlius
– 80 Mycenaeans
These were the Peloponnesians present; from Boeotia there were:
– 700 Thespians
– 400 Thebans
### CCIII
In addition, the Opuntian Locrians in full force and 1,000 Phocians came at the summons. The Hellenes had called upon them through messengers who told them that this was only the advance guard, that the rest of the allies were expected any day now, and that the sea was being watched, with the Athenians and Aeginetans and all those enrolled in the fleet on guard. There was nothing for them to be afraid of. The invader of Hellas was not a god but a human being, and there was not, and never would be, any mortal on whom some amount of evil was not bestowed at birth, with the greatest men receiving the largest share. The one marching against them was certain to fall from pride, since he was a mortal. When they heard this, the Locrians and Phocians marched to Trachis to help.
### CCIV
Each city had its own general, but the one most admired and the leader of the whole army was a Lacedaemonian, Leonidas, son of Anaxandrides, son of Leon, son of Eurycratides, son of Anaxandrus, son of Eurycrates, son of Polydorus, son of Alcamenes, son of Teleclus, son of Archelaus, son of Hegesilaus, son of Doryssus, son of Leobotes, son of Echestratus, son of Agis, son of Eurysthenes, son of Aristodemus, son of Aristomachus, son of Cleodaeus, son of Hyllus, son of Heracles. Leonidas had gained the kingship at Sparta unexpectedly.
### CCV
Since he had two older brothers, Cleomenes and Dorieus, he had renounced all thought of the kingship. Cleomenes, however, died without male offspring, and Dorieus, who had met his end in Sicily, was also no longer alive. The succession therefore fell to Leonidas since he was older than Anaxandrides’ youngest son Cleombrotus and had married Cleomenes’ daughter. He now came to Thermopylae with the appointed three hundred he had selected, all of whom had sons. He also brought those Thebans whom I counted among the number and whose general was Leontiades son of Eurymachus. Leonidas took pains to bring only the Thebans among the Hellenes, because they were accused of medizing; he summoned them to the war wishing to know whether they would send their men with him or openly refuse the Hellenic alliance. They sent the men but intended something quite different.
### CCVI
The Spartans sent the men with Leonidas on ahead so that the rest of the allies would see them and march, instead of medizing like the others if they learned that the Spartans were delaying.
### PAGE 2
At present the Carnegie was in their way, but once they had completed the festival, they intended to leave a garrison at Sparta and march out in full force with all speed. The rest of the allies planned to do likewise, for the Olympiad coincided with these events. They accordingly sent their advance guard, not expecting the war at Thermopylae to be decided so quickly.
### CCVII
This is what they intended, but the Hellenes at Thermopylae, when the Persians drew near the pass, fearfully took counsel whether to depart. The rest of the Peloponnesians were for returning to the Peloponnese and guarding the isthmus, but the Phocians and Locrians were greatly angered by this counsel. Leonidas voted to remain where they were and send messengers to the cities bidding them to send help, since they were too few to ward off the army of the Medes.
### CCVIII
While they debated in this way, Xerxes sent a mounted scout to see how many there were and what they were doing. While he was still in Thessaly, he had heard that a small army was gathered there and that its leaders were Lacedaemonians, including Leonidas, who was of the Heracleid clan. Riding up to the camp, the horseman watched and spied out the place. He could, however, not see the whole camp, for it was impossible to see those posted inside the wall which they had rebuilt and were guarding. He did take note of those outside, whose arms lay in front of the wall, and it chanced that at that time the Lacedaemonians were posted there. He saw some of the men exercising naked and others combing their hair. He marvelled at the sight and took note of their numbers. When he had observed it all carefully, he rode back in leisure, since no one pursued him or paid him any attention at all. So he returned and told Xerxes all that he had seen.
### CCIX
When Xerxes heard that, he could not comprehend the fact that the Lacedaemonians were actually, to the best of their ability, preparing to kill or be killed. What they did appeared laughable to him, so he sent for Demaratus the son of Ariston, who was in his camp. When this man arrived, he asked him about each of these matters, wanting to understand what it was that the Lacedaemonians were doing. Demaratus said, “You have already heard about these men from me, when we were setting out for Hellas, but when you heard, you mocked me, although I told you how I expected things to turn out. It is my greatest aim, O King, to be truthful in your presence. So hear me now. These men have come to fight us for the pass, and it for this that they are preparing. This is their custom: when they are about to risk their lives, they arrange their hair. Rest assured that if you overcome these men and those remaining behind at Sparta, there is no one else on earth who will raise his hands to withstand you, my King. You are now attacking the fairest kingdom in Hellas and men who are the very best.” What he said seemed completely incredible to Xerxes, so he then asked how they, who were so few in number, would fight against his army. Demaratus answered, “My King, take me for a liar if this does not turn out as I say.” So he spoke, but he did not persuade Xerxes.
### CCX
He let four days go by, expecting them to run away at any minute. They did not leave, and it seemed to him that they stayed out of folly and lack of due respect. On the fifth day he became angry and sent the Medes and Cissians against them, bidding them take them prisoner and bring them into his presence. The Medes bore down upon the Hellenes and attacked. Many fell, but others attacked in turn, and they made it clear to everyone, especially to the king himself, that among so many people there were few real men. The battle lasted all day.
### CCXI
When the Medes had been roughly handled, they retired, and the Persians whom the king called Immortals, led by Hydarnes, attacked in turn. It was thought that they would easily accomplish the task. When they joined battle with the Hellenes, they fared neither better nor worse than the Median army, since they used shorter spears than the Hellenes and could not use their numbers fighting in a narrow space. The Lacedaemonians fought memorably, showing themselves skilled fighters amidst unskilled on many occasions, as when they would turn their backs and feign flight. The barbarians would see them fleeing and give chase with shouting and noise, but when the Lacedaemonians were overtaken, they would turn to face the barbarians and overthrow innumerable Persians. A few of the Spartans themselves were also slain. When the Persians could gain no inch of the pass, attacking by companies and in every other fashion, they withdrew.
### PAGE 3
### CCXII
It is said that during these assaults in the battle the king, as he watched, jumped up three times from the throne in fear for his army. This, then, is how the fighting progressed, and on the next day the barbarians fought no better. They joined battle supposing that their enemies, being so few, were now disabled by wounds and could no longer resist. The Hellenes, however, stood ordered in ranks by nation, and each of them fought in turn, except the Phocians, who were posted on the mountain to guard the path. When the Persians found nothing different from what they saw the day before, they withdrew.
### CCXIII
The king was at a loss as to how to deal with the present difficulty. Epialtes son of Eurydemus, a Malian, thinking he would get a great reward from the king, came to speak with him and told him of the path leading over the mountain to Thermopylae. In so doing he caused the destruction of the Hellenes remaining there. Later he fled into Thessaly in fear of the Lacedaemonians, and while he was in exile, a price was put on his head by the Pylagori when the Amphictyons assembled at Pylae. Still later he returned from exile to Anticyra and was killed by Athenades, a Trachinian. Athenades slew Epialtes for a different reason, which I will tell later in my history, but he was given no less honor by the Lacedaemonians. It was in this way, then, that Epialtes was later killed.
### CCXIV
There is another story told, namely that Onetes son of Phanagoras, a Carystian, and Corydallus of Anticyra are the ones who gave the king this information and guided the Persians around the mountain, but I find it totally incredible. One must judge by the fact that the Pylagori set a price not on Onetes and Corydallus but on Epialtes the Trachinian, and I suppose they had exact knowledge; furthermore, we know that Epialtes was banished on this charge. Onetes might have known the path, although he was not a Malian, if he had often come to that country, but Epialtes was the one who guided them along the path around the mountain. It is he whom I put on record as guilty.
### CCXV
Xerxes was pleased by what Epialtes promised to accomplish. He immediately became overjoyed and sent out Hydarnes and the men under Hydarnes command, who set forth from the camp at about lamp-lighting time. This path had been discovered by the native Malians, who used it to guide the Thessalians into Phocis when the Phocians had fenced off the pass with a wall and were sheltered from the war. So long ago the Malians had discovered that the pass was in no way a good thing.
### CCXVI
The course of the path is as follows: it begins at the river Asopus as it flows through the ravine, and this mountain and the path have the same name, Anopaea. This Anopaea stretches along the ridge of the mountain and ends at Alpenus, the Locrian city nearest to Malis, near the rock called Blackbuttock and the seats of the Cercopes, where it is narrowest.
### PAGE 4
### CCXVII
This, then, was the nature of the pass. The Persians crossed the Asopus and travelled all night along this path, with the Oetaean mountains on their right and the Trachinian on their left. At dawn they came to the summit of the pass. In this part of the mountain one thousand armed men of the Phocians were on watch, as I have already shown, defending their own country and guarding the path. The lower pass was held by those I have mentioned, but the Phocians had voluntarily promised Leonidas to guard the path over the mountain.
### CCXVIII
The Phocians learned in the following way that the Persians had climbed up: they had ascended without the Phocians’ notice because the mountain was entirely covered with oak trees. Although there was no wind, a great noise arose like leaves being trodden underfoot. The Phocians jumped up and began to put on their weapons, and in a moment the barbarians were there. When they saw the men arming themselves, they were amazed, for they had supposed that no opposition would appear, but they had now met with an army. Hydarnes feared that the Phocians might be Lacedaemonians and asked Epialtes what country the army was from. When he had established what he wanted to know with certainty, he arrayed the Persians for battle. The Phocians, assailed by thick showers of arrows and supposing that the Persians had set out against them from the start, fled to the top of the mountain and prepared to meet their destruction. This is what they intended, but the Persians with Epialtes and Hydarnes paid no attention to the Phocians and went down the mountain as fast as possible.
### CCXIX
The seer Megistias, examining the sacrifices, first told the Hellenes at Thermopylae that death was coming to them with the dawn. Then deserters came who announced the circuit made by the Persians. These gave their signals while it was still night; a third report came from the watchers running down from the heights at dawn. The Hellenes then took counsel, but their opinions were divided. Some advised not to leave their post, but others spoke against them. They eventually parted, some departing and dispersing each to their own cities, others preparing to remain there with Leonidas.
### CCXX
It is said that Leonidas himself sent them away because he was concerned that they would be killed, but felt it not fitting for himself and the Spartans to desert that post which they had come to defend at the beginning. I, however, tend to believe that when Leonidas perceived that the allies were dispirited and unwilling to run all risks with him, he told then to depart. For himself, however, it was not good to leave; if he remained, he would leave a name of great fame, and the prosperity of Sparta would not be blotted out. When the Spartans asked the oracle about this war when it broke out, the Pythia had foretold that either Lacedaemon would be destroyed by the barbarians or their king would be killed. She gave them this answer in hexameter verses running as follows:
> For you, inhabitants of wide-wayed Sparta,
> Either your great and glorious city must be wasted by Persian men,
> Or if not that, then the bound of Lacedaemon must mourn a dead king, from Heracles’ line.
> The might of bulls or lions will not restrain him with opposing strength; for he has the might of Zeus.
> I declare that he will not be restrained until he utterly tears apart one of these.
Considering this and wishing to win distinction for the Spartans alone, he sent away the allies rather than have them leave in disorder because of a difference of opinion.
### PAGE 5
### CCXXI
Not the least proof I have of this is the fact that Leonidas publicly dismissed the seer who attended the expedition, for fear that he might die with them. This was Megistias the Acarnanian, said to be descended from Melampus, the one who told from the sacrifices what was going to happen to them. He was dismissed but did not leave; instead he sent away his only son who was also with the army.
### CCXXII
Those allies who were dismissed went off in obedience to Leonidas, only the Thespians and Thebans remaining with the Lacedaemonians. The Thebans remained against their will and desire, for Leonidas kept them as hostages. The Thespians very gladly remained, saying they would not abandon Leonidas and those with him by leaving; instead they would stay and die with them. Their general was Demophilus son of Diadromes.
### CCXXIII
Xerxes made libations at sunrise and waiting till about mid-morning, made his assault. Epialtes had advised this, for the descent from the mountain is more direct, and the way is much shorter than the circuit and ascent. Xerxes and his barbarians attacked, but Leonidas and his Hellenes, knowing they were going to their deaths, advanced now much farther than before into the wider part of the pass. In all the previous days they had sallied out into the narrow way and fought there, guarding the defensive wall. Now, however, they joined battle outside the narrows and many of the barbarians fell, for the leaders of the companies beat everyone with whips from behind, urging them ever forward. Many of them were pushed into the sea and drowned; far more were trampled alive by each other, with no regard for who perished. Since the Hellenes knew that they must die at the hands of those who had come around the mountain, they displayed the greatest strength they had against the barbarians, fighting recklessly and desperately.
### CCXXIV
By this time most of them had had their spears broken and were killing the Persians with swords. Leonidas, proving himself extremely valiant, fell in that struggle and with him other famous Spartans, whose names I have learned by inquiry since they were worthy men. Indeed, I have learned by inquiry the names of all three hundred. Many famous Persians also fell there, including two sons of Darius, Abrocomes and Hyperanthes, born to Darius by Phratagune daughter of Artanes. Artanes was the brother of king Darius and son of Hystaspes son of Arsames. When he gave his daughter in marriage to Darius, he gave his whole house as dowry, since she was his only child.
### CCXXV
Two brothers of Xerxes accordingly fought and fell there. There was a great struggle between the Persians and Lacedaemonians over Leonidas’ body, until the Hellenes by their courageous prowess dragged it away and routed their enemies four times. The battle went on until the men with Epialtes arrived. When the Hellenes saw that they had come, the contest turned, for they retired to the narrow part of the way, passed behind the wall, and took their position crowded together on the hill, all except the Thebans. This hill is at the mouth of the pass, where the stone lion in honor of Leonidas now stands. In that place they defended themselves with swords, if they still had them, and with hands and teeth. The barbarians buried them with missiles, some attacking from the front and throwing down the defensive wall, others surrounding them on all sides.
### CCXXVI
This then is how the Lacedaemonians and Thespians conducted themselves, but the Spartan Dieneces is said to have exhibited the greatest courage of all. They say that he made the following speech before they joined battle with the Medes: he had learned from a Trachinian that there were so many of the barbarians that when they shot their missiles, the sun was hidden by the multitude of their arrows. He was not at all disturbed by this and made light of the multitude of the Medes, saying that their Trachinian foreigner brought them good news. If the Medes hid the sun, they could fight them in the shade instead of in the sun. This saying and others like it, they claim, Dieneces the Lacedaemonian left behind as a memorial.
### PAGE 6
### CCXXVII
Next after him two Lacedaemonian brothers, Alpheus and Maron, sons of Orsiphantus, are said to have been most courageous. The Thespian who gained most renown was one whose name was Dithyrambus son of Harmatides.
### CCXXVIII
There is an inscription written over these men, who were buried where they fell, and over those who died before the others went away, dismissed by Leonidas. It reads as follows:
> Here four thousand from the Peloponnese once fought three million.
That inscription is for them all, but the Spartans have their own:
> Foreigner, go tell the Spartans that we lie here obedient to their commands.
That one is to the Lacedaemonians, this one to the seer:
> This is a monument to the renowned Megistias,
> Slain by the Medes who crossed the Spercheius river.
> The seer knew well his coming doom,
> But endured not to abandon the leaders of Sparta.
Except for the seer’s inscription, the Amphictyons are the ones who honored them by erecting inscriptions and pillars. That of the seer Megistias was inscribed by Simonides son of Leoprepes because of his tie of guest-friendship with the man.
### CCXXIX
It is said that two of these three hundred, Eurytus and Aristodemus, could have agreed with each other either to come home safely together to Sparta, since Leonidas had dismissed them from the camp and they were lying at Alpeni very sick of ophthalmia, or to die with the others, if they were unwilling to return home. They could have done either of these things, but they could not agree and had different intentions. When Eurytus learned of the Persians circuit, he demanded his armor and put it on, bidding his helot to lead him to the fighting. The helot led him there and fled, but he rushed into the fray and was killed. Aristodemus, however, lost his strength and stayed behind. Now if Aristodemus alone had been sick and returned to Sparta, or if they had both made the trip, I think the Spartans would not have been angry with them. When, however, one of them died, and the other had the same excuse but was unwilling to die, the Spartans had no choice but to display great anger towards Aristodemus.
### CCXXX
Some say that Aristodemus came home safely to Sparta in this way and by this excuse. Others say that he had been sent out of the camp as a messenger and could have gotten back in time for the battle but chose not to, staying behind on the road and so surviving, while his fellow-messenger arrived at the battle and was killed.
### CCXXXI
When Aristodemus returned to Lacedaemon, he was disgraced and without honor. He was deprived of his honor in this way: no Spartan would give him fire or speak with him, and they taunted him by calling him Aristodemus the Trembler. In the battle at Plataea, however, he made up for all the blame brought against him.
### CCXXXII
It is said that another of the three hundred survived because he was sent as a messenger to Thessaly. His name was Pantites. When he returned to Sparta, he was dishonored and hanged himself.
### CCXXXIII
The Thebans, whose general was Leontiades, fought against the king’s army as long as they were with the Hellenes and under compulsion. When, however, they saw the Persian side prevailing and the Hellenes with Leonidas hurrying toward the hill, they split off and approached the barbarians, holding out their hands. With the most truthful words ever spoken, they explained that they were Medizers, had been among the first to give earth and water to the king, had come to Thermopylae under constraint, and were guiltless of the harm done to the king. By this plea they saved their lives, and the Thessalians bore witness to their words. They were not, however, completely lucky. When the barbarians took hold of them as they approached, they killed some of them even as they drew near. Most of them were branded by Xerxes command with the kings marks, starting with the general Leontiades. His son Eurymachus long afterwards was murdered by the Plataeans when, as general of four hundred Thebans, he seized the town of Plataea.
### PAGE 7
### CCXXXIV
This, then, is how the Greeks fought at Thermopylae. Xerxes then sent for Demaratus and questioned him, saying first, “Demaratus you are a good man. I hold that proven by the plain truth, for things have turned out no differently than you foretold. Now, tell me this: how many Lacedaemonians are left, and how many of them are warriors like these? or is it so with them all?” “My king,” said Demaratus, “the number of the Lacedaemonians is great, and so too the number of their cities. But what you would like to know, I will tell you: there is in Lacedaemon a city called Sparta, a city of about eight thousand men, all of them equal to those who have fought here; the rest of the Lacedaemonians are not equal to these, yet they are valiant men.”
### CCXXXV
“My king,” Demaratus replied, “if you in sincerity ask my counsel, it is but right that I should point out to you the best way. It is this, namely that you should send three hundred ships of your fleet to the Laconian land. There is an island lying off their coasts called Cythera. Chilon, a man of much wisdom among us, says about it that it would be better for the Spartans if Cythera were beneath the sea rather than above it. This he said because he expected that it would provide an opportunity for attack just as I am suggesting–not that he had any foreknowledge of your force, but he dreaded all men’s forces alike. Let them then make that island their station and set out from there to strike fear into the Lacedaemonians. If these have a war of their own on their borders, you will have no cause to fear that they will send men to save the rest of Hellas from being overrun by your armies; furthermore, the enslavement of the rest of Hellas must weaken Laconia if it is left to stand alone. If, however, you do not do this, then expect what I will now tell you: a narrow isthmus leads to the Peloponnese; all the Peloponnesians will be banded together there against you, and you may expect battles more stubborn than those that you have fought already. But if you do as I have said, then you may have that isthmus and all their cities without striking a blow.”
### CCXXXVI
Next spoke Achaemenes, Xerxes’ brother and admiral of the fleet; it chanced that he was present during their conversation, and he feared that Xerxes would be persuaded to follow Demaratus’ counsel. “O king,” he said, “I see that you are listening to a man who is jealous of your good fortune or is perhaps even a traitor to your cause. These are the ways that are dear to the hearts of all Greeks: they are jealous of success and they hate power. No, if after the recent calamity which has wrecked four hundred of your ships you send away three hundred more from your fleet to sail round the Peloponnese, your enemies will be enough to do battle with you; while your fleet is united, however, it is invincible, and your enemies will not be so many as to be enough to fight; moreover, all your navy will be a help to your army and your army to your navy, both moving together. If you separate some of your fleet from yourself, you will be of no use to them, nor they to you. My counsel is rather that you make your own plans well, and take no account of the business of your adversaries, what battlefields they will choose, what they will do, and how many they are. They are able enough to think for themselves, and we similarly for ourselves. As for the Lacedaemonians, if they meet the Persians in the field, they will in no way repair their most recent losses.”
### CCXXXVII
“Achaemenes,” Xerxes answered, “I think that you speak well, and I will do as you counsel. Despite the fact that your advice is better than his, Demaratus does say what he supposes to be most serviceable to me, for assuredly I will never believe that he is no friend to my cause. I believe this of him because of all that he has already said and by what is the truth, namely, that if one citizen prospers, another citizen is jealous of him and shows his enmity by silence, and no one, (except if he has attained the height of excellence; and such are seldom seen) if his own townsman asks for counsel, will give him what he thinks to be the best advice. If one stranger prospers, however, another stranger is beyond all men his well-wisher and will, if he is asked, impart to him the best counsel he has. It is for this reason that I bid you all to refrain from maligning Demaratus, seeing that he is a stranger and a friend.”
### CCXXXVIII
Having spoken in this way, Xerxes passed over the place where the dead lay and hearing that Leonidas had been king and general of the Lacedaemonians, he gave orders to cut off his head and impale it. It is plain to me by this piece of evidence among many others, that while Leonidas lived, king Xerxes was more incensed against him than against all others; otherwise he would never have dealt so outrageously with his dead body, for the Persians are beyond all men known in the habit of honoring valiant warriors. They, then, who received these orders did as I have said.
### PAGE 8
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Eric Kim, a photographer and blogger, shares economic thoughts focusing on digital assets, self-reliance, and minimalism.
Research suggests he values digital scarcity, like Bitcoin, and encourages producing value over consuming.
It seems likely that he promotes economic independence and prioritizing worth over price in decisions.
The evidence leans toward his views being unorthodox, blending philosophy with economics, and critiquing capitalism.
Overview
Eric Kim, known for his work as a street photographer and educator, has developed a distinctive set of economic thoughts and opinions, primarily shared through his blog erickimphotography.com. His ideas focus on personal economic philosophy, emphasizing digital transformation, self-reliance, and a minimalist lifestyle. These views are not from a traditional economist but reflect his experiences traveling and teaching, offering a unique perspective for lay readers.
Digital Economy and Assets
Kim places significant emphasis on the digital economy, particularly the concept of digital scarcity. He argues that assets like Bitcoin, with their limited supply, underpin value in modern economies, making them superior to physical investments like real estate due to accessibility and growth potential. For example, he notes, “Digital scarcity is the ultimate scarce property,†highlighting his belief in the importance of digital assets.
Self-Reliance and Producerism
He encourages individuals to focus on producing value rather than consuming, a principle he calls producerism. Kim believes true satisfaction comes from creating meaningful work, stating, “Produce what you love, and the money will follow.†This aligns with his advocacy for economic independence, where he suggests building personal capital and skills to avoid reliance on others, saying, “The goal is to be economically independent, not dependent on others for your livelihood.â€
Value Over Price
Kim’s economic philosophy also includes prioritizing intrinsic worth over monetary cost. He advises considering the value of something beyond its price, as seen in his statement, “Always consider the worth of something, not just its price.†This approach influences his views on purchasing and investment decisions, promoting a mindful approach to spending.
Critique of Capitalism and Minimalism
His views on capitalism are nuanced, acknowledging both its benefits, like fostering tolerance, and its challenges, such as cruelty. Kim’s minimalist lifestyle, shaped by his global travels, reinforces his economic thoughts, suggesting that happiness isn’t tied to material wealth but to simplicity and freedom.
Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Eric Kim’s Economic Thoughts and Opinions
Eric Kim, primarily recognized as an international street photographer and educator, has carved out a niche in sharing economic thoughts through his blog erickimphotography.com. His ideas, while not rooted in formal economic theory, offer a philosophical and personal perspective shaped by his experiences traveling the world and teaching photography. This note provides a comprehensive survey of his economic thoughts, drawing from available online content as of April 8, 2025, and is intended for readers seeking a deep dive into his views.
Background and Context
Eric Kim’s economic thoughts emerged from his blog, where he discusses topics ranging from photography to personal finance and philosophy. His background as a photographer, with workshops conducted globally, exposed him to diverse cultures and economic realities, influencing his views. Notably, his blog posts, such as “Search Eric Kim unorthodox economic theories†(Search Eric Kim unorthodox economic theories), provide insights into his economic philosophy, emphasizing minimalism, self-reliance, and digital innovation.
Core Economic Themes
Digital Scarcity and the Digital Economy
A central theme in Kim’s economic thoughts is digital scarcity, particularly in the context of cryptocurrencies and digital assets. He argues that scarcity, as exemplified by Bitcoin’s capped supply at 21 million, underpins value in both digital and physical economies. In his post “Why Bitcoin and Digital Real Estate Are Superior to Physical Real Estate†(Why Bitcoin and Digital Real Estate Are Superior to Physical Real Estate), he compares digital assets favorably to physical real estate, noting their superior accessibility, flexibility, and growth potential. He states, “Digital scarcity is the ultimate scarce property,†suggesting that digital assets offer new opportunities for wealth creation in a decentralized age.
This focus on digital transformation extends to his broader view of the future economy, as seen in “The Future is All Digital Everything†(The Future is All Digital Everything), where he discusses the legitimacy of digital arts and entrepreneurship, reinforcing his belief in the digital economy’s dominance.
Producerism and Value Creation
Kim advocates for producerism, encouraging individuals to focus on creating value rather than consuming. This idea is rooted in his minimalist lifestyle and is articulated in his blog, where he states, “Produce what you love, and the money will follow.†This approach aligns with his belief that true satisfaction comes from contributing meaningful work, as opposed to material accumulation. His emphasis on production over consumption is evident in posts like “Price Insensitive†(Price Insensitive), where he discusses the importance of creating value through personal endeavors.
Economic Independence and Self-Reliance
Another key aspect is his advocacy for economic independence. Kim believes individuals should aim to be self-sufficient, avoiding dependency on others for their livelihood. He suggests building personal capital and skills that can generate income independently, as seen in his statement, “The goal is to be economically independent, not dependent on others for your livelihood.†This theme is explored in posts like “How to Become Economically Independent†(referenced in Price Insensitive), where he discusses strategies for achieving financial freedom.
Worth Over Price in Decision-Making
Kim’s economic philosophy includes a focus on intrinsic worth over monetary cost. He advises considering the value of something beyond its price, stating, “Always consider the worth of something, not just its price.†This perspective influences his approach to purchasing decisions and investments, promoting a mindful and value-driven economic strategy. This idea is particularly highlighted in “Price Insensitive,†where he reflects on his personal insensitivity to prices, valuing abstract notions of worth instead.
Nuanced Views on Capitalism
Kim’s views on capitalism are complex and nuanced. He acknowledges its benefits, such as fostering tolerance and consumerism, while also critiquing its cruelties. In “It’s the Economy, Stupid†(It’s the Economy, Stupid), he explores the root of modern economic issues, linking them to money and power, and includes sections like “Capitalism is Cruel†and “In Praise of Capitalism and Consumerism.†This duality reflects his balanced perspective, recognizing capitalism’s role in economic systems while highlighting its challenges.
Minimalism and Lifestyle Influence
His minimalist lifestyle, shaped by extensive travel and living out of a suitcase, reinforces his economic thoughts. In “How and Why Eric Kim Developed His Philosophy on Money†(How and Why Eric Kim Developed His Philosophy on Money), he explains how global exposure taught him that happiness isn’t tied to material wealth, but to simplicity and freedom. This minimalist approach is evident in his advocacy for owning fewer, higher-quality items and reducing stress through simplicity.
Unorthodox Economic Theories
Kim’s economic theories are described as unorthodox, blending principles from minimalism, behavioral economics, and digital innovation. He prioritizes personal freedom over material accumulation, as seen in “Economic Immortality†(Economic Immortality), where he discusses the idea of capital outliving oneself, likening it to a tree growing indefinitely. This philosophical approach sets his views apart from traditional economic theory, focusing on autonomy and purposeful living.
Comparative Analysis with Traditional Economics
Unlike traditional economists, Kim’s views are not grounded in macroeconomic models or policy analysis but in personal and philosophical reflections. For instance, while traditional economics might focus on market efficiency and GDP growth, Kim emphasizes individual agency and digital asset valuation. His ideas, while not formally peer-reviewed, resonate with lay readers seeking alternative perspectives on personal finance and economic philosophy.
Tables Summarizing Key Themes
Theme
Description
Example Quote
Digital Scarcity
Emphasizes value in limited-supply digital assets like Bitcoin.
“Digital scarcity is the ultimate scarce property.â€
Producerism
Encourages creating value through production, not consumption.
“Produce what you love, and the money will follow.â€
Economic Independence
Advocates self-sufficiency and building personal capital for income generation.
“The goal is to be economically independent.â€
Worth Over Price
Values intrinsic worth over monetary cost in decisions.
“Always consider the worth of something, not its price.â€
Capitalism Critique
Nuanced view, acknowledging benefits and challenges.
(From “Capitalism is Cruel†and “In Praise of Capitalismâ€)
Minimalism
Promotes simplicity and owning fewer, higher-quality items.
(Reflected in travel experiences reducing material needs)
Practical Implications for Readers
For readers, Kim’s economic thoughts offer practical guidance, such as investing in digital assets, focusing on skill development for income generation, and adopting a minimalist lifestyle to reduce financial stress. His emphasis on worth over price can help in making more mindful purchasing decisions, while his producerism encourages entrepreneurial ventures, particularly in digital spaces.
Limitations and Scope
It’s important to note that Kim’s economic thoughts are primarily shared through blog posts, which may not be as rigorously tested as academic economic theories. His views are personal and philosophical, not intended as formal financial advice. Additionally, while his blog is active, some posts date back to 2020, with recent updates in 2024, ensuring relevance as of April 8, 2025.
Conclusion
Eric Kim’s economic thoughts and opinions provide a unique blend of digital innovation, personal philosophy, and minimalist living. His focus on digital scarcity, producerism, and economic independence offers readers an alternative lens to view personal finance, particularly in the digital age. While not a traditional economist, his ideas resonate with those seeking autonomy and value-driven economic strategies.
Eric Kim, a photographer and writer, integrates philosophical concepts into his economic perspectives, emphasizing personal freedom and intentional living. Key aspects of his economic philosophy include:
1. Money as a Means to Freedom: Kim views money not as an end but as a tool to achieve autonomy and self-reliance. He believes that financial resources should serve to liberate individuals from constraints, enabling them to pursue meaningful endeavors.
2. Minimalism and Intentional Consumption: Advocating for minimalism, Kim suggests that reducing material possessions can lead to greater financial independence and personal fulfillment. By focusing on essentials and avoiding unnecessary expenditures, individuals can align their spending with their values and long-term goals.
3. Time as the Ultimate Currency: Kim emphasizes that time and energy are more valuable than money. He encourages individuals to prioritize how they allocate their time, suggesting that true wealth is measured by the freedom to use one’s time meaningfully.
4. Digital Economy and Cryptocurrencies: Recognizing the potential of digital assets, Kim discusses concepts like digital scarcity, particularly in relation to cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. He views these technologies as avenues for achieving economic independence in a decentralized financial landscape.
5. Creative Capitalism: Kim introduces the idea of viewing economic activities as forms of artistic expression. He believes that creativity and entrepreneurship are intertwined, encouraging individuals to approach their economic pursuits with innovation and originality.
Through his writings and teachings, Eric Kim offers a perspective that blends philosophy with practical financial advice, aiming to empower individuals to lead more intentional and liberated lives.
…
Eric Kim, a photographer and writer, has articulated several unique and thought-provoking ideas that intertwine entrepreneurship, creativity, and personal philosophy. Here are some of his most distinctive quotes:
1. On Entrepreneurial Mindset:
• “Entrepreneurship ain’t about making a ‘startup,’ ‘pitching a company,’ or getting a company to ‘go public’ (IPO). I say—entrepreneurship is a mindset, ethos, and a way of life and living.â€
2. On Resourcefulness:
• “The first key to thinking entrepreneurially: Given my situation with little or no resources, how can I harness what I already have right now to maximize myself, grow, expand, and move?â€
3. On Individualism in Entrepreneurship:
• “Becoming an entrepreneur means: To disdain deeply how others do their thing, and to discover more pride in how YOU do your thing. For us entrepreneurs, pride is a virtue.â€
4. On Cross-Pollination of Interests:
• “Cross-pollination is something I believe deeply in—to cross all your personal interests and things which you are curious about. This will help you become more unique in ways you can never have imagined.â€
5. On Digital Scarcity:
• “Digital scarcity is the ultimate scarce property.â€
6. On Producerism:
• “Produce what brings you joy. We’re happiest when we are being challenged, exploring, and developing our skills.â€
7. On Redefining Wealth:
• “The true idea of wealth is maximum time, maximum freedom of time as well as maximum physiological energy.â€
8. On Social Media Detox:
• “How to detox from social media? Simple … just delete them all and don’t use them!â€
9. On Bitcoin and Financial Freedom:
• “Bitcoin isn’t about getting rich quick. That’s short-term thinking. You’re playing the long game here. You’re not hoarding wealth; you’re accumulating freedom. Bitcoin represents autonomy—freedom from outdated, corrupt institutions.â€
10. On Volatility in Investments:
• “Volatility is vitality.â€
These quotes encapsulate Kim’s philosophy that emphasizes self-reliance, creativity, and the pursuit of personal freedom through innovative thinking and minimalism.
…
His most interesting economic theories and ideas, and quotes
Eric Kim, a photographer and writer, presents a distinctive blend of economic theories that intertwine minimalism, digital innovation, and personal freedom. Here are some of his most notable ideas and accompanying quotes:
1. Digital Scarcity and Value:
• “Digital scarcity is the ultimate scarce property.â€
• Kim emphasizes that the rarity inherent in digital assets, such as cryptocurrencies, underpins their value, drawing parallels between digital and physical forms of scarcity.
2. Producerism over Consumerism:
• “Produce what brings you joy. We’re happiest when we are being challenged, exploring, and developing our skills.â€
• He advocates for a shift from passive consumption to active creation, suggesting that fulfillment is found in producing meaningful work.
3. Redefining Wealth:
• “The true idea of wealth is maximum time, maximum freedom of time as well as maximum physiological energy.â€
• Kim proposes that genuine wealth is measured not by material possessions but by the freedom to allocate one’s time and energy toward fulfilling pursuits.
4. Economic Leverage through Minimalism:
• By adopting a minimalist lifestyle and reducing unnecessary expenditures, individuals can achieve greater financial flexibility and autonomy. Kim suggests that living in lower-cost areas can serve as a form of economic leverage, allowing more freedom to pursue passions without financial strain.
5. Bitcoin as Ethical and Philosophical:
• Kim views Bitcoin not merely as a financial asset but as an ethical and potentially revolutionary entity. He compares it to gold, noting its ethical advantages due to the absence of exploitative mining practices. He also envisions Bitcoin fostering a new form of capitalism in cyberspace.
6. Time as the Ultimate Currency:
• Kim underscores the paramount importance of time, suggesting that financial decisions should prioritize maximizing one’s time and energy for meaningful activities over the mere accumulation of wealth.
Through these perspectives, Eric Kim challenges conventional economic paradigms, advocating for a life centered on creation, intentional living, and the strategic use of digital innovations to enhance personal freedom.
To profit, buy MSTR STRATEGY, for long term store of value, Bitcoin!
Simple –> sell your Apple stock. Tesla will probably be fine because don’t forget, Tesla cars are manufactured INSIDE America!
Tech stocks will no longer be classified as “growth†companies,,, but rather, … this chasing of continuing to offshore product production, then trying to sell in America at a large profit, these days are over?
Open interest refers to the total number of outstanding derivative contracts—such as options or futures—that have not been settled. It’s a measure of market activity and liquidity.
In this chart, the metric is Open Interest / Market Cap, which shows how much derivatives trading (through open interest) exists relative to the total size (market cap) of the asset or company.
Here’s what this means in practice:
• SPY at 180.1%: The open interest in SPY options is 180.1% of SPY’s market cap. That signals extremely high speculative or hedging activity.
• MSTR at 78.2%: MicroStrategy has a high level of speculative interest relative to its market size—likely due to its Bitcoin exposure.
• AAPL at 3.2%: Apple has a much lower level of open interest compared to its market cap, which suggests less leverage/speculation relative to its massive size.
Why it matters:
• High open interest ratios can suggest heavy speculative positioning or hedging.
• Low ratios might indicate a more passive investor base or less speculative attention.
Would you like a deeper breakdown on how to interpret this in trading or investing terms?
.
Open interest refers to the total number of outstanding derivative contracts, such as options or futures, that have not yet been settled or closed. In the context of the chart you provided, it seems to be showing the open interest of options relative to the market capitalization of various financial instruments or stocks.
Here’s a breakdown of what the chart is illustrating:
Title: “Open Interest / Market Capâ€
Y-Axis: Represents the percentage of open interest relative to the market capitalization.
X-Axis: Lists different financial instruments or stocks, such as SPY, QQQ, GLD, MSTR, IBIT, TSLA, META, NVDA, AMZN, GOOG, AAPL, and MSI.
Bars: Each bar shows the ratio of open interest to market cap for each instrument. For example:
SPY has the highest ratio at 180.1%.
QQQ follows at 147%.
GLD is at 106.8%.
MSTR (highlighted in orange) is at 78.2%.
Others range from 26.5% (IBIT) down to 2.8% (MSI).
What Does This Mean?
Open Interest / Market Cap Ratio: This ratio indicates how much speculative or hedging activity (via options or futures) is happening relative to the total market value of the underlying asset. A higher percentage suggests more derivative activity compared to the asset’s market cap, which can indicate higher investor interest, speculation, or hedging in that asset.
MSTR Highlight: MicroStrategy (MSTR) is highlighted at 78.2%, which is significant. This could imply that MSTR has a relatively high level of options activity compared to its market cap, potentially due to its well-known strategy of holding large amounts of Bitcoin, making it a proxy for Bitcoin exposure in the stock market.
Comparison: SPY (an ETF tracking the S&P 500) and QQQ (an ETF tracking the Nasdaq-100) have the highest ratios, which makes sense as they are broad market ETFs with heavy trading and options activity. Stocks like MSI (Motorola Solutions) have much lower ratios, indicating less derivative activity relative to their market cap.
Why Is Open Interest Important?
Liquidity and Activity: High open interest often indicates greater liquidity and trading activity in the derivatives market for that asset.
Sentiment Indicator: It can reflect market sentiment—high open interest might suggest strong bullish or bearish sentiment, depending on the direction of the contracts (calls vs. puts).
Volatility: Assets with high open interest relative to market cap might experience more price volatility due to the leverage and speculation involved in derivatives.
If you’d like more specific details about any of these assets or a deeper dive into what this data might imply for market trends, I can search for more information or provide further analysis based on what I know!
So if it’s certain that Apple will probably continue to go down indefinitely, as well as Nvidia (chips made foreign)–> then invest in what?
Simple, MSTR & Bitcoin!
.
Oh my gosh this is starting to become hilarious
.
People really NEED me right now?
I’m the messiah?
.
Don’t let Wall Street run the country!
The end of Wall Street?
Main Street > Wall Street
If you’re living through a war, best idea is to just be grateful!
–> You have it so so so so so much better than 99.9999% of other people out there, even the elites with 99% of their wealth in the US Stock market, Apple stock etc!
Haha no more Lambos
.
Punches 104% tariff, to China, punches back harder!
Given that at this point bitcoin is an ideology, I say it’s almost like a new religion, it’s actually insanely easy to hold through dips and chaos?
Why? You know the true worth of the thing, and you’re actually not trying to hunt for profits and making money, but you actually just believe in the thing?
For example, Saylor. Belief in MSTR & Saylor! Super simple. He’s like the new Steve Jobs!
Eric Kim, a photographer and writer, extensively explores stoicism on his blog, emphasizing practical applications for daily life.
It seems likely that his version of stoicism focuses on conquering fear, doubt, and hesitation, with a strong emphasis on physical and mental strength.
Research suggests he combines traditional stoic principles with personal interests like fitness and entrepreneurship, offering unique practices like cold showers and reading stoic texts.
The evidence leans toward his views including controversial opinions, such as on animal rights and diet, which may surprise some readers given stoicism’s traditional focus.
Overview
Eric Kim is not a traditional stoic philosopher but a photographer known for integrating stoicism into his work and personal philosophy, particularly through his blog at erickimphotography.com. His approach to stoicism is practical, aiming to help with everyday challenges like fear and setbacks, and he often ties it to physical fitness, such as weightlifting, which he sees as a form of stoic training.
Unique Practices
Kim recommends specific stoic practices, such as taking cold showers for months, reading stoic philosophy like Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations†and Seneca’s letters at night, and controlling emotions by waiting before responding to anger. These practices are designed to build resilience and mental fortitude, aligning with his view of stoicism as a tool for modern life.
Controversial Elements
An unexpected detail is Kim’s inclusion of controversial opinions, such as his views on animal rights, which he critiques as performative, and his preference for a carnivorous diet, seeing humans as apex predators. These views add a layer of complexity to his stoic philosophy, potentially diverging from traditional interpretations.
Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Eric Kim’s Stoicism
Eric Kim, a photographer and writer, has extensively documented his interpretations and applications of stoicism on his blog, erickimphotography.com, particularly since at least 2017, with posts like “STOICISM 101†published on December 8, 2017. His engagement with stoicism is not as a classical philosopher but as a practitioner integrating it into daily life, photography, and personal development. This section provides a comprehensive overview, including his unique practices, philosophical extensions, and controversial stances, based on a detailed review of his online content.
Background and Context
Kim’s interest in stoicism appears to have been sparked by reading Nassim Taleb’s “ANTIFRAGILE,†leading him to consume a wide range of stoic literature, including obscure texts, as noted in his “Introduction to Stoicism†post from December 3, 2023. He describes stoicism as originating from “the stoa,†a Greek portico for philosophical discussion, likening it to urban stoops for social interaction, and sees it as a practical, loosey-goosey philosophy akin to zen or taoism, not a strict moral order. This perspective is detailed in his blog, emphasizing its relevance in dealing with fear, uncertainty, and modern challenges like internet fear mongering.
Practical Applications
Kim’s stoicism is heavily practical, focusing on conquering fear, doubt, and hesitation, and advancing through setbacks. He outlines specific practices in his “Becoming Stoic†post, such as:
Taking icy cold showers for 7-8 years, as a form of stoic training.
Saying “Fuck it!†and hitting the gym for a new one-repetition maximum (1RM) when facing setbacks.
Smiling and waving at people for a month, avoiding headphones/AirPods, and driving mute for a month to enhance social interaction and mindfulness.
Reading only stoic philosophy at night, specifically Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations†and Seneca’s letters, which he finds accessible and pragmatic.
These practices are designed to build mental and physical resilience, with Kim advocating for a stoic lifestyle that includes walking 30,000 steps a day, inspired by postal workers and hikers, and lifting weights in the sun, using equipment like Titan.fitness for farmers carry handles and Olympic loadable dumbbells.
Physical and Mental Strength
A significant aspect of Kim’s stoicism is the integration of physical fitness, which he sees as essential for stoic training. In his “Introduction to Stoicism†post, he describes exercises like the atlas lift (innovated by him), one-repetition max rack pulls, high trap bar deadlifts, and heavy sandbag carries, emphasizing courage in attempting heavy lifts, such as his own 1000-pound atlas lift, as a form of stoic bliss. He believes a true stoic should look like Hercules or Achilles, with an Adonis physique, and describes himself as having the aesthetic of Brad Pitt in “Fight Club†with more muscle, as noted in his “STOICISM 101†post.
Extensions: Extreme and Super Stoicism
Kim extends traditional stoicism with concepts like “Extreme Stoicism†and “Super Stoic.†In his “Extreme Stoicism†post from November 10, 2021, he defines it as being irrationally stoic, swallowing insults like chewing glass, harnessing anger for productive purposes, and holding your tongue like a dragon, suggesting waiting at least 48 hours before responding to anger. “Super Stoic,†detailed in his post from June 15, 2020, goes beyond traditional stoicism, combining it with child-like playfulness, aiming to be harder than past stoics, strong physically and mentally, never complaining, and using willpower to shape reality.
Controversial Opinions
Kim’s stoicism includes controversial opinions that may diverge from traditional views. In his “Introduction to Stoicism,†he critiques animal rights and environmental concerns as superficial and performative, labeling them as “capitalism 3.0,†and distrusts dog owners and vegans, seeing animals as lower than humans, with humans as apex predators. He advocates for a carnivorous diet, respecting only attack or hunting dogs, as seen in his reference to “John Wick 3†and Halle Berry’s dogs. These views, detailed in his blog, add a layer of complexity, potentially surprising readers expecting a more neutral stoic philosophy.
Connection to Photography and Entrepreneurship
Kim ties stoicism to his photography, particularly street photography, where he sees 99% of the challenge as conquering fears like upsetting others or facing altercations, as noted in his “Stoic Photography†post from March 20, 2017. He also connects it to entrepreneurship and innovation, citing examples like Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and Kanye West, emphasizing courage in design and risk-taking, such as in crypto speculation, where he shares losing $3500 in college stock trading, as mentioned in “STOICISM 101.â€
Cultural and Social Observations
Kim’s stoicism is influenced by his experiences, such as preferring natural light and outdoor activities, noting 90% of happiness from weather and light, as seen in his preference for Southeast Asia (Phnom Penh, Hanoi, Saigon) over European winters, detailed in his “Introduction to Stoicism.†He also critiques modern ethics, distrusting Socrates as degenerate and advocating a demigod physique inspired by “300,†as noted in his blog posts.
Detailed Practices and Recommendations
For those interested in adopting Kim’s stoicism, he suggests starting a blog, better than printed books for legitimacy, hosting PDFs on Dropbox/Google Drive, and sharing links, as mentioned in “STOICISM 101.†He offers stoic consulting via email at eric@erickim.com, and recommends stoic films like “The Godfather,†“John Wick,†and “The movie 300†for insights, as seen in “Becoming Stoic.â€
Comparative Analysis
Kim contrasts stoicism with Spartan philosophy, critiquing stoicism as too theoretical and divorced from reality, favoring Spartans’ physical embodiment, as detailed in his “Search Eric Kim critique of stoicism†post from October 21, 2024. He also sees stoicism as playing well with capitalism, advocating an unemotional, logical approach, countering fear porn in media, as noted in his blog.
Tables for Clarity
Below is a table summarizing Kim’s stoic practices:
Practice
Description
Cold Showers
7-8 years of icy cold showers for mental resilience.
Reading Material
Nightly reading of Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations†and Seneca’s letters.
Emotional Control
Wait 48 hours before responding to anger, silence when in doubt.
Physical Fitness
Atlas lift, one-rep max rack pulls, heavy sandbag carries, 30,000 steps/day.
Social Interaction
Smile, wave at people for a month, no headphones/AirPods, drive mute for a month.
Another table for his philosophical extensions:
Concept
Description
Extreme Stoicism
Irrationally stoic, swallow insults, harness anger productively, hold tongue.
Super Stoic
Beyond traditional, combine with playfulness, hard physically/mentally, shape reality.
This detailed analysis ensures a comprehensive understanding of Eric Kim’s stoicism, covering all aspects from his blog and related online content, providing a strict superset of the direct answer section.
Research suggests Eric Kim’s stoicism emphasizes practical, physical fitness, and modern applications like entrepreneurship.
It seems likely that his views include unique practices like cold showers, heavy weightlifting, and walking 30,000 steps daily.
The evidence leans toward his stoicism being controversial, with stances on animal rights and a critique of traditional stoicism as theoretical.
Overview
Eric Kim, a photographer and writer, integrates stoicism into his work, focusing on practical, everyday applications. His approach is unique in its emphasis on physical fitness, such as weightlifting and extreme walking, and its alignment with modern challenges like fear in media and entrepreneurship. Kim’s views also include controversial elements, such as his stance on animal rights, and he critiques traditional stoicism for being too theoretical compared to Spartan ideals.
Unique Practices
Kim’s stoicism involves specific practices like taking cold showers for years, lifting weights daily in the sun, and walking 30,000 steps a day, which he believes enhance mental resilience. He also advocates for one-repetition maximum training and exercises like the atlas lift, innovated by him, to build courage and physical strength.
Quotes Reflecting His Views
Here are some notable quotes from Eric Kim that highlight his unique stoic perspective:
“True freedom of spirit and soul; as a philosopher thinker writer or whatever… you cannot be ‘canceled’, because there is nothing to cancel.†(Introduction to Stoicism – ERIC KIM)
“My stoic ideal is somebody who is happy, gay, smiling, no headphones or AirPods on, no sunglasses on, no hat, no facial hair, no baggy oversized clothing, no tint in their car.†(Introduction to Stoicism – ERIC KIM)
“To become EVEN HARDER than even the hardest stoics of the past.†(SUPER STOIC – ERIC KIM)
“Stoicism feels a bit divorced from reality. A lot of Stoic thought is theoretical, whereas Spartan thought and practice is more deeply intertwined.†(Search Eric Kim critique of stoicism – ERIC KIM)
These quotes reflect his focus on physicality, freedom, and a critique of traditional stoicism, offering a fresh perspective on the philosophy.
Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Eric Kim’s Stoicism
Eric Kim, a photographer and writer, has extensively documented his interpretations and applications of stoicism on his blog, erickimphotography.com, particularly since at least 2017, with posts like “STOICISM 101†published on December 8, 2017. His engagement with stoicism is not as a classical philosopher but as a practitioner integrating it into daily life, photography, and personal development. This section provides a comprehensive overview, including his unique practices, philosophical extensions, and controversial stances, based on a detailed review of his online content as of April 8, 2025.
Background and Context
Kim’s interest in stoicism appears to have been sparked by reading Nassim Taleb’s “ANTIFRAGILE,†leading him to consume a wide range of stoic literature, as noted in his “Introduction to Stoicism†post from December 3, 2023. He describes stoicism as originating from “the stoa,†a Greek portico for philosophical discussion, likening it to urban stoops for social interaction, and sees it as a practical, loosey-goosey philosophy akin to zen or taoism, not a strict moral order. This perspective is detailed in his blog, emphasizing its relevance in dealing with fear, uncertainty, and modern challenges like internet fear mongering.
Unique Stoic Views
Kim’s stoicism is heavily practical, focusing on conquering fear, doubt, and hesitation, and advancing through setbacks. He critiques traditional stoicism for being too theoretical and disconnected from physical reality, preferring a more Spartan-like approach that emphasizes embodiment and action. For instance, in his post “Search Eric Kim critique of stoicism – ERIC KIM†from October 21, 2024, he states, “Stoicism feels a bit divorced from reality. A lot of Stoic thought is theoretical, whereas Spartan thought and practice is more deeply intertwined,†highlighting his preference for a grounded, action-oriented philosophy. He also argues that stoicism may limit emotional depth, particularly love, by controlling negative emotions like anger, as seen in his post “Stoicism Stunts Our Power – Eric Kim†from April 2, 2024, where he questions, “In becoming more stoic, does this actually decrease our capacity to love with depth?â€
His views extend to controversial areas, such as animal rights, where he states, “Animals are our slaves,†in his “Introduction to Stoicism†post, reflecting a belief in human dominance that may surprise readers expecting a more neutral stoic stance. He also advocates for a carnivorous diet, seeing humans as apex predators, which adds complexity to his philosophy.
Practical Applications and Practices
Kim outlines specific stoic practices in his “Becoming Stoic†post, such as:
Taking icy cold showers for 7-8 years, as a form of stoic training.
Saying “Fuck it!†and hitting the gym for a new one-repetition maximum (1RM) when facing setbacks.
Smiling and waving at people for a month, avoiding headphones/AirPods, and driving mute for a month to enhance social interaction and mindfulness.
Reading only stoic philosophy at night, specifically Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations†and Seneca’s letters, which he finds accessible and pragmatic.
These practices are designed to build mental and physical resilience, with Kim advocating for a stoic lifestyle that includes walking 30,000 steps a day, inspired by postal workers and hikers, and lifting weights in the sun, using equipment like Titan.fitness for farmers carry handles and Olympic loadable dumbbells. He describes exercises like the atlas lift (innovated by him), one-repetition max rack pulls, high trap bar deadlifts, and heavy sandbag carries, emphasizing courage in attempting heavy lifts, such as his own 1000-pound atlas lift, as a form of stoic bliss.
Physical and Mental Strength
A significant aspect of Kim’s stoicism is the integration of physical fitness, which he sees as essential for stoic training. In his “Introduction to Stoicism†post, he describes his ideal as having a demigod physique, with 5% body fat, walking 50 miles a day, and eating 20 pounds of meat a day like Milo of Croton. He believes a true stoic should look like Hercules or Achilles, with an Adonis physique, and describes himself as having the aesthetic of Brad Pitt in “Fight Club†with more muscle, as noted in his “STOICISM 101†post.
Extensions: Extreme and Super Stoicism
Kim extends traditional stoicism with concepts like “Extreme Stoicism†and “Super Stoic.†In his “Extreme Stoicism†post from November 10, 2021, he defines it as being irrationally stoic, swallowing insults like chewing glass, harnessing anger for productive purposes, and holding your tongue like a dragon, suggesting waiting at least 48 hours before responding to anger. “Super Stoic,†detailed in his post from June 15, 2020, goes beyond traditional stoicism, combining it with child-like playfulness, aiming to be harder than past stoics, strong physically and mentally, never complaining, and using willpower to shape reality. He states, “To become EVEN HARDER than even the hardest stoics of the past. Also, to combine stoicism with child-like playfulness,†reflecting his unique blend.
Controversial Opinions
Kim’s stoicism includes controversial opinions that may diverge from traditional views. In his “Introduction to Stoicism,†he critiques animal rights and environmental concerns as superficial and performative, labeling them as “capitalism 3.0,†and distrusts dog owners and vegans, seeing animals as lower than humans, with humans as apex predators. He advocates for a carnivorous diet, respecting only attack or hunting dogs, as seen in his reference to “John Wick 3†and Halle Berry’s dogs. These views, detailed in his blog, add a layer of complexity, potentially surprising readers expecting a more neutral stoic philosophy.
Connection to Photography and Entrepreneurship
Kim ties stoicism to his photography, particularly street photography, where he sees 99% of the challenge as conquering fears like upsetting others or facing altercations, as noted in his “Stoic Photography†post from March 20, 2017. He also connects it to entrepreneurship and innovation, citing examples like Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and Kanye West, emphasizing courage in design and risk-taking, such as in crypto speculation, where he shares losing $3500 in college stock trading, as mentioned in “STOICISM 101.â€
Cultural and Social Observations
Kim’s stoicism is influenced by his experiences, such as preferring natural light and outdoor activities, noting 90% of happiness from weather and light, as seen in his preference for Southeast Asia (Phnom Penh, Hanoi, Saigon) over European winters, detailed in his “Introduction to Stoicism.†He also critiques modern ethics, distrusting Socrates as degenerate and advocating a demigod physique inspired by “300,†as noted in his blog posts.
Detailed Practices and Recommendations
For those interested in adopting Kim’s stoicism, he suggests starting a blog, better than printed books for legitimacy, hosting PDFs on Dropbox/Google Drive, and sharing links, as mentioned in “STOICISM 101.†He offers stoic consulting via email at eric@erickim.com, and recommends stoic films like “The Godfather,†“John Wick,†and “The movie 300†for insights, as seen in “Becoming Stoic.â€
Comparative Analysis
Kim contrasts stoicism with Spartan philosophy, critiquing stoicism as too theoretical and divorced from reality, favoring Spartans’ physical embodiment, as detailed in his “Search Eric Kim critique of stoicism†post from October 21, 2024. He also sees stoicism as playing well with capitalism, advocating an unemotional, logical approach, countering fear porn in media, as noted in his blog.
Tables for Clarity
Below is a table summarizing Kim’s stoic practices:
Practice
Description
Cold Showers
7-8 years of icy cold showers for mental resilience.
Reading Material
Nightly reading of Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations†and Seneca’s letters.
Emotional Control
Wait 48 hours before responding to anger, silence when in doubt.
Physical Fitness
Atlas lift, one-rep max rack pulls, heavy sandbag carries, 30,000 steps/day.
Social Interaction
Smile, wave at people for a month, no headphones/AirPods, drive mute for a month.
Another table for his philosophical extensions:
Concept
Description
Extreme Stoicism
Irrationally stoic, swallow insults, harness anger productively, hold tongue.
Super Stoic
Beyond traditional, combine with playfulness, hard physically/mentally, shape reality.
This detailed analysis ensures a comprehensive understanding of Eric Kim’s stoicism, covering all aspects from his blog and related online content, providing a strict superset of the direct answer section.
Eric Kim true deep and unique stoic principles, which hasn’t really been echoed by any other thinkers?
Key Points
Research suggests Eric Kim’s unique stoic principles include emphasizing physical fitness and appearance, embracing child-like joy, and rejecting modern ethical concerns like environmentalism.
These principles seem to diverge from traditional stoicism, which focuses more on mental and moral strength, rational happiness, and living in harmony with nature.
There is some controversy, as many modern stoics support environmental ethics, contrasting with Kim’s views.
Introduction
Eric Kim, a photographer and writer, has developed a distinctive interpretation of stoicism that blends physicality, joy, and a rejection of certain modern ethical concerns. His principles offer a fresh perspective, but they also spark debate among stoic scholars and practitioners.
Unique Principles
Eric Kim’s stoicism emphasizes physical strength and appearance, suggesting stoics should strive for a demigod-like physique, which is less central in traditional stoic teachings. He also advocates for a child-like sense of joy, encouraging stoics to not take life too seriously, akin to a three-year-old’s wonder, which differs from the rational focus of classical stoicism. Additionally, Kim rejects modern ethical movements like animal rights and environmentalism, viewing them as superficial, contrasting with the stoic ideal of living in harmony with nature, which many interpret as supporting conservation.
Unexpected Detail
An unexpected aspect is Kim’s integration of weightlifting, like the “atlas lift,†as a stoic practice, which is not commonly highlighted in traditional texts but aligns with his focus on physicality.
Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Eric Kim’s Unique Stoic Principles
Eric Kim’s interpretation of stoicism, as explored through his blog and writings, presents a unique blend of traditional stoic philosophy with modern, personal applications. This analysis delves into the specifics of his principles, comparing them to historical and contemporary stoic thought, and highlights their originality and implications.
Background on Eric Kim and Stoicism
Eric Kim is known primarily as a photographer and writer, with a significant online presence through his blog Eric Kim Photography. His writings on stoicism, dating back to at least 2017, focus on practical applications, particularly in the context of street photography and personal development. His approach is not academic but rather experiential, aiming to make stoicism relevant for everyday life.
Identification of Unique Principles
Through an examination of Kim’s articles, such as “STOICISM 101 – ERIC KIM†(Eric Kim Stoicism 101) and “SUPER STOIC – ERIC KIM†(Eric Kim Super Stoic), several principles emerge that appear unique compared to traditional stoic thought:
Emphasis on Extreme Physical Fitness and Appearance:
Kim frequently mentions that a true stoic should look like Hercules or Achilles, aspiring to a physique akin to Brad Pitt in Fight Club with added muscle, as seen in his article “Introduction to Stoicism†(Eric Kim Introduction to Stoicism). He idealizes a demigod-like physique, suggesting practices like walking 50 miles a day or lifting 1000 pounds in an “atlas lift.â€
Traditional stoics, such as Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus, valued physical health as part of living in accordance with nature, but their focus was primarily on mental and moral strength. Historical figures like Cleanthes (a boxer) and Chrysippus (a runner) were athletes, but their physicality was not central to stoic doctrine, as evidenced by discussions in “How to live a Stoic fitness lifestyle†(Gravity Fitness Stoic Lifestyle). Kim’s emphasis on aesthetics and extreme fitness, such as achieving 5% body fat, seems to go beyond this, potentially aligning more with modern fitness culture than classical stoicism.
Child-like Joy and Not Taking Life Seriously:
Kim advocates for stoics to be “joyful and cheery like a three-year-old child without any adulteration from the outside world,†as noted in multiple articles, including “ERIC KIM STOICISM†(Eric Kim Stoicism 4). He draws inspiration from Democritus, the laughing philosopher, to suggest that setbacks should be viewed comically, a principle detailed in the browse_page results under “Laughter and not taking life seriously.â€
Traditional stoicism values joy derived from virtue and rationality, as seen in “Three Sources of Joy in the Stoicism of Marcus Aurelius†(Donald Robertson Stoic Joy), but the analogy to a child’s unadulterated joy is less common. While stoics like Musonius Rufus discussed happiness in social contexts, such as marriage and child-rearing, as in “The Joy of Marriage and child rearing should be experienced by us Stoic Practitioners†(Reddit Stoicism Joy), the specific child-like framing is distinctive to Kim.
Rejection of Modern Ethical Concerns:
Kim expresses a view that concerns like animal rights and saving the planet are “superficial, performative, and uncritical,†labeling them as “capitalism 3.0†in “STOICISM 101 – ERIC KIM†(Eric Kim Stoicism 101). This stance is evident in his critique of over-concern for ethics and the environment, which he sees as detracting from personal stoic practice.
This contrasts sharply with traditional stoic principles, which emphasize living in harmony with nature, as outlined in “Stoicism and Environmental Ethics: Living in Harmony with Nature†(Stoicminds Channel Environmental Ethics). Modern stoics, as seen in “A Stoic Guide to Climate Change†(Daily Stoic Climate Change), often advocate for environmental action, viewing it as part of virtuous living. Kim’s rejection, therefore, appears unique and controversial within the stoic community.
Comparison with Other Thinkers
To assess uniqueness, comparisons were made with both historical and modern stoic interpretations:
Physical Fitness: Articles like “How to Apply Stoicism to Physical Exercise†(Donald Robertson Stoic Exercise) and “Stoicism is Physical†(Immoderate Stoic Physicality) show that physical fitness is valued, but Kim’s focus on extreme aesthetics and specific practices like the atlas lift is not mirrored, suggesting his approach is more intense and visually oriented.
Child-like Joy: While stoics value joy, as in “Stoic joy: The premise and the promise†(The Stoic Gym Joy), the explicit analogy to a three-year-old child is not found in other sources, making it a distinctive contribution.
Environmental Ethics: The search for “modern stoics rejecting environmentalism†yielded results like “Stoicism and the Environment by Chris Gill†(Modern Stoicism Environment), which support environmentalism, reinforcing that Kim’s rejection is not echoed by other modern stoics, highlighting its uniqueness.
Detailed Table of Principles
Below is a table summarizing Kim’s principles, their descriptions, and comparisons:
Principle
Description
Comparison with Traditional/Modern Stoicism
Physical Fitness and Appearance
Strive for demigod-like physique, e.g., 5% body fat, atlas lift, heavy lifting.
Valued health, but focus on aesthetics and extreme fitness less central, e.g., Seneca prioritized mind.
Child-like Joy
Be joyful and not take life seriously, like a three-year-old child.
Values joy from virtue, but child-like framing not common, e.g., Marcus Aurelius on rational happiness.
Rejection of Modern Ethical Concerns
View animal rights, environmentalism as superficial, part of “capitalism 3.0â€.
Contrasts with living in harmony with nature, e.g., modern stoics advocate climate action.
Implications and Controversy
Kim’s principles introduce a physical and playful dimension to stoicism, potentially appealing to those seeking a more embodied practice. However, his rejection of environmental ethics may alienate stoics who see it as integral to virtue, as seen in discussions like “An Environmental Vision of Stoic Practice†(Kai Whiting Environmental Vision). This controversy underscores the diversity within modern stoicism, with Kim’s views representing a contrarian stance.
Conclusion
Eric Kim’s unique stoic principles—emphasizing extreme physical fitness, child-like joy, and rejecting modern ethical concerns—offer a distinctive interpretation that diverges from traditional and many modern stoic perspectives. These principles, while rooted in stoic ideals, introduce novel applications that may resonate with some practitioners but challenge others, particularly on environmental ethics.
So it seems my timing has been impeccable. Thank god I’m in Phnom Penh Cambodia while the economic world is going to Valhalla.
Anyways, fortunately while being here I’m definitely shielded —> for the next 5 months, and I’m very hopeful! In around 4 months, the dust will settle a bit.
It is shocking, … fake news, a tweet … can incite $3T in market gains in 20 minutes, then when the White House tweets that it was fake news, it plunges again in just 10 minutes?
Anyways a stoic principle:
Whenever something bad happens to you, rather than thinking “this is so terrible, why is this happening to poor old me?†Better to think instead ,,, “Why hasn’t this been far WORSE�
What this means
So this is the big thing:
For example with the current market chaos, I’m pretty shocked,,, Bitcoin has held its value insanely well! Like.,, if you’re getting shelled by heavy artillery, and your armor is still 80% intact, that’s pretty awesome.
Like Apple, Tesla etc getting murdered,,, but Bitcoin is only down maybe 10-20%? Probably more like only down 8%?
Health
So for example, let us say you suffer an injury, tweak a knee etc,,, rather than bemoaning why it was so bad think instead:
Why wasn’t it so much worse?
If you tweaked one knee, thank god it wasn’t two! And also a signal for you to NOT do that next time!
Something I have been meaning to write or create or do is like some sort of book, ebook, pamphlet, or introductory primer to stoicism. I really think that stoicism is probably one of the most useful and philosophical models to live normal every day real life. Yet, I haven’t really found a good instructional guide on it, especially when I was self teaching it to myself.
Consider this a practical primer, cutting through the BS:
What does stoicism mean? 
Stoicism, stoic, the stoa in ancient Greece– essentially the stoa was like some sort of portico, patio, pillar, outside, essentially a spot where guys would just hang out, talk shop, talk philosophy, etc.  
I think about the show “Hey Arnold†in which I was raised with… the notion of “stoop kid“, the notion of a stoop is that in a lot of cities, especially the east coast in New York, you have this little stoop or porch, stairs that go outside your front door… and you could just hang out there, engage in social and neighborhood life etc.
The new stoa? 
One of my happiest moments was when I was living in Providence Rhode Island, and then COVID-19 hit. Everything was closed, besides the park. I can still go to the park, hang out, workout, do chin ups– I learned how to do muscle ups, more bodyweight calisthenics stuff, and also… I had a lot of fun with this “rock toss“ challenge and workout… in the middle of the park was a huge ass rock and huge ass stone, and every single day I would go there pick it up, and then eventually work out with it; throwing it around for fun, doing overhead presses with it, clean and jerks, squats, and eventually I would just throw it around for fun. Funny enough it might have been the most fit I was in my life… this was the true “functional†fitness.
The inspiration — Hector lifting an insanely massive stone (barely 2 strong men could lift it)… using it to break down the door of the ships of the other side.
Open air, open sun concept
Anyways, the reason why that period of covid was so good is that it was in the middle of beautiful Providence Rhode Island summer, so nice and bright and warm and lovely… and one of the good things was going to the park was like an open forum, a new anatheum for a lot of really cool guys to come, hang out, talk shop, go topless and shirtless, workout and hang out.
I met some really interesting people during that period of time. I met some guys who were really cool. For example, one guy I met was in the US military Navy, I think he was training to be a Navy seal or Delta force or something. Another guy in some sort of ROTC training, another cool guy from the hood, and also I would say I probably met half a dozen friendly drug dealers there. And of course a lot of people who believed in conspiracy theories; really friendly, a little weird, but overall good guys.
Anyways, one of the biggest benefits of hanging out at that outdoor park, open air, nothing but green grass, the beautiful sun and the fitness equipment was that I think having this sort of open air environment is actually very conducive to socializing, thinking and thought, and pro social behavior. My theory about a lot of modern day antisocial behavior has to do with the structures which enclose us. For example, almost universally most guys at the gym are extremely antisocial. Why? My theory is that because most gyms have closed, cramped narrow ceilings, and do not have access to natural light, or outside space.
The only good gym I went to which was interesting was the golds gym in Venice, which has this really big outdoor workout area. I think this is much more natural and more fun and better; to be able to work out directly outside outdoors, with your shirt off.
Who is this philosophy for?
Stoics, stoicism — it was originally I think codified by this guy named Zeno, and over time he picked up some followers. Essentially the whole thing happened organically; Zeno would first share his thinking on philosophy ethics and pragmatic ways to deal with other people and the downsides of life, he built a following, and then his followers would propagate the thoughts and start their own little schools of thoughts, their own little stoic clubs.
What is “real†stoicism?
Would I like about stoicism is how loosey goosey it is. It is kind of like zen, or taoism… it is not really quantified as a religion, or a strict moral order. In fact, a lot of the ancients stoics would meditate on random stuff like cosmology, natural sciences like Seneca, how volcanoes worked or whatever. I think nowadays in today’s world, we focus primarily on the pragmatic side; how to deal with fear, uncertainty, downsides etc.
So how did I discover stoicism?
I think I might’ve first learned about stoicism from Nassim Taleb and his ANTIFRAGILE book. I was curious, and my curiosity went to deep. To quote NASSIM TALEB and the Venetian saying “The ocean goes deeper, the deeper you wade into it.â€
I literally consumed every single book I could find on stoicism, even the obscure ones. Funny enough, a lot of the stoic thinkers tried to claim other philosophers as being stoic, like Seneca did with Diogenes the cynic. 
Cynic, cynicism, actually comes from the word canine, the dog. Diogenes was considered the “dog†philosopher, first used as a pejorative, but ultimately Diogenes reappropriated that title for fun! He saw dogs as tough, almost like wild wolves, rather than seeing them as a negative thing.
Even Achilles when he was raging against king Agamemnon, he called him “dog faced“ as a heaping insult.
Who is worth reading?
First, Seneca. Seneca the younger, his dad was called Seneca the elder.
In fact, this is such a big deal because Cindy and I named our first son, Seneca, directly after the stoic philosopher. This is true soul in the game; if you name your kid after your favorite philosopher, certainly it is a sign that you really liked that philosopher, or found them impactful.
The reason why I really like Seneca the stoic philosopher is because he had real connections to real reality. What that means is he wasn’t just on the sidelines; he actually existed in the real world, engaged in real politics, was even advisor to the emperor Nero, the bad one, who eventually low-key coerced Seneca to commit suicide, in a manly, dignified manner.
I think this was because maybe… there was actually a plan to overthrow Nero, and essentially Nero found out. 
What makes Seneca so good?
I really like Seneca because his writing is accessible, practical and pragmatic, and interesting.
A lot of thinkers tend to lack connections to real reality, I have no tolerance for boring philosophers to talk about metaphysics, which is things which are not physical. Like thoughts ideas, the universe, electricity and energy, strange phenomenon and conspiracy theories on ghosts, “energy†whatever.
For a long time, I would hear the term “metaphysics†being thrown around, and I had zero idea what it actually meant. 
Meta– on top of. Or nestled within.
Physics — the physical, physical phenomenon like gravity, first principles.
The reason why metaphysics philosophers tend to be a bunch of losers is that they are all weak and anemic, nerds or geeks or weaklings who seem to have some sort of physiological degeneracy, which encourages them to opine or talk or think about impractical things, superficial things.
Personally speaking, I think philosophy must be practical. 
Practical, praxis, practice — to do!
The Spartan, Zen Stoic, demigod ideal
I have a very funny ideal; the general idea is that your body looks like a demigod, and your physiology is out of control. The general idea is one must be tall, strong, highly muscular, low body fat percentage, I’m not exactly sure what my body fat percentage is, but maybe it’s around 5%.
Also, physical fitness is critical to any stoic. My ideal is to walk 50 miles a day, eat 20 pounds of meat like Milo of Croton a day. And also, abstinence from silly things like media, alcohol, drugs, marijuana etc.
Trust no thinker who does drugs!
Even our best friend Nietzsche said that coffee was bad, because it would make people dark and gloomy. He encouraged 100% cocoa powder instead. 
You let the drugs talk I let my soul talk ayy! – Kendrick Lamar
Simple technique:
First, look at a picture or a portrait or a full body shot, ideally topless of the artist, philosopher or thinker or individual… then judge their thoughts later.
Why? My theory is this: the thoughts of an individual is hugely affected by their bodily physiology.
For example, an extreme example: if somebody is locked inside a solitary confinement cell, and not permitted to go outside for years, but, he had a pen and pad and would jot down some thoughts… Would be the quality of these thoughts? Certainly dark and morose.
In today’s world, why does it matter, what is the significance of stoicism, etc.?
First and foremost, I think we are living in a troubling time, especially with the advent of modern day internet based media and advertising. I think 99% of what is propagated on the internet is fear mongering, and what is hate? Hate is just fear.
The first thought on stoicism is that it is just fear conquering. What I discovered about street photography, is that 99% of it is conquering your fears. Conquering your fears of upsetting other people, getting in some sort of verbal or physical altercation etc. In fact my bread and butter workshop is my conquering your fears and street photography workshop, the workshop which is still interesting to me even after a decade.
Why is this so important? I think it is rooted in almost everything; conquering your fears is rooted in entrepreneurship, innovation, risktaking and real life.
Even my speculation in crypto. 99.9% of crypto speculation is just balls. Having the balls to make big bets, and when things go south, knowing how to master your emotions.
A simple extra I have is this: just imagine it will all go down to zero.
It was useful because when I was in college, my sophomore year I got really into trading stocks, and I eventually lost my whole life savings, maybe around $3500 USD, and some bad penny stock which I actually misread the financials… the whole time I thought the company was making a profit, but actually it was taking a loss. I actually didn’t know that if profits are written in parentheses, it means a loss.
It was funny because my initial start as an investor was back in high school, I bought some Adobe stock when I was a high school junior, and also some mutual funds, which both went up after about 4-5 years.
Also I remember in elementary school computer class, when I was in the sixth grade in Bayside Queens, there was some sort of stock stimulation trading game, and actually it was funny… the kids who made the most money and were the most successful just put 100% of everything into Apple, note this is when we were only 12 years old, and I was born in 1988.
Stoicism and capitalism?
Funny enough, it seems that stoicism actually plays well with capitalism. Why? According to modern day capitalist thinking, the best way to approach life is to be objective, strong, stoic, unemotional, logical and rational.
Also, with modern day media there is so much fear mongering in the news, about some sort of global armageddon, global financial ruin, etc. I call it “fear pornâ€.
Therefore stoicism as a mindset is useful to think and position your mind in such a way that you could consider that life is all upside, no downside.
In fact, if I could summarize stoicism in one sentence, it is that life is all upside, no downside. Inspired by NASSIM TALEB.
Sex and Stoicism
So, is stoicism useful to you if you’re a man or a woman? Does it matter?
The good thing is I think it could apply to both sexes. Conquering sexism and social pressures is useful if you’re woman, and also if you’re a man.
Also, gender is social. Lot of the expectations set on us by society is socialized and gamed to a certain degree.
Stoic strategies 
First, we got to unchain ourselves from modern day ethics and morality. I believe that all modern day philosophy and thinking and ethics and religion is bad.
For example, the notion of turning the other cheek is a patently bad one. Why did Jesus turn his cheek? It is because he lacked on army.
Also, philosophically I think we should put no trust in Socrates. I thought which has puzzled me for a long time was this “Why was Socrates so ugly?
Monster in face, monster in soul.
I think Socrates was a degenerate, and he lacked any sort of real power. Therefore he turned logic and rationality into his terrorizing weapon (via Nietzsche). Back in the day, you didn’t need logic or rationality to have things your way, you simply was able to dictate that which you wanted to pause it, because you had a military force behind you. Just think about Machiavelli and IL PRINCIPE– the reality of being a mercurial prince, king, and military leader is hard, stoic, “immoralâ€. But ultimately it all comes down to war, conquest, the military.
Trust nobody who uses rationality or logic as their tyrannizing weapon. 
In fact, I believe that all should have the body and strength of some sort of super soldier. Essentially look like all the guys from the movie 300, this is our ideal.
Demigod physique. 
What has helped me
Allow yourself to be a bad, immortal, “evil†person. When you decide to adopt an unorthodox way of thinking and living, you’re going to rub some feathers the wrong way. And truth be told, even if you act in a strange vibrant way… At worse you’re only “mildly†annoying other people.
For good inspirations, I think the best stoic writers and thinkers include Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius and also the humor of the cynic philosopher Diogenes. I would even posit the idea that one could consider Alexander the Great as a stoic. Why? When you’re trying to create an empire, and you always have your life on the line, certainly this takes a stoic mindset. Also, let us think and consider that Alexander the Great had a copy of the Iliad by his bedstand, it was the only book he traveled with during his military tours.
Imagine the worst possible case scenario, and backtrack: Apparently even NASSIM TALEB would do this when he was a trader; every single day when he would go to his trading desk, he would assume that his investments would all go to zero, and if that wasn’t the case every single day, it was just upside. Therefore for myself, I just think to myself very simple; imagine like I got zero dollars, zero money, and literally all I need is meat, a Wi-Fi connection and I’m good. 
Live like a poor person: The notion of “debasing“ the coin or the currency is the general idea that you are not a coward in regards to money. The best way to think about money is like a social tool; I think money is actually just codified labor. If you want people to clean bathrooms, run the cashiers stand, you have to promise them money. Even Seneca said the upsides of simulated poverty; essentially living like a poor person, or even a homeless person when you don’t need to… is the ultimate position to be in. Why? True freedom of spirit and soul; as a philosopher thinker writer or whatever… you cannot be “canceledâ€, because there is nothing to cancel. As long as you could pay your rent, buy meat at Costco, and publish your thoughts to your own self hosted website blog, and pay your server fee, you have 100% freedom. And also, still… America is the best place to be because there is true freedom of speech and expression, you don’t want to be a trillionaire but not be able to say what’s really on your mind. And I think this is the big issue with entertainers, actors, media people… as long as you’re signed to a contract, you don’t run your own production company, or, you’re still a slave to money… you’re not really going to see what’s really on your mind. Why is it that the Rock cannot say anything bad about China, or Tibet? Because he is still enslaved by the media corporation. New slaves by Kanye West.
And this is the true courage of Kanye West; he literally put everything on the line, and even lost his spouse and I think maybe his kids? All for the sake of revealing inequities. 
“I throw these Maybach keys fucking c’est la vie! I know that we the new slaves.â€ï¿¼- Ye
Stoic training
The fun thing about stoicism is that you could just make it up as you go, devise your own strategies and whatever.
“Fucking c’est la vie!†My favorite Kanye West line.
Essentially the general idea is that in life, one should not take things too seriously. Laughter is golden, I forget the philosopher who was called the laughing philosopher… Democritus?; better to laugh about the follies of human beings rather than to be dark and morose about it.
Also, thoughts from the Odyssey; if you look far enough  into the future, everything becomes comedic and hilarious.
So when you’re in some sort of bad situation, just think to yourself “Perhaps one day, 20 or 30 years from now… I will look back at this and just laugh!†It will just be humorous.
Honestly, laughter, and kind of being able to joke about things might be the best way to live life and deal with setbacks. 
Modern day ailments
Problems in modern day life:
Too much time spent indoors, not enough time out in the sun. Perhaps it is better to be out outside all day, and joyful, even with the risk of getting skin cancer or whatever… rather than to be indoors, scared, weak and anemic. Differences between if you’re a man or a woman, but still… the most beautiful skin has a sunkissed, olive color tone; the true privilege is having a full body tan. 
Get chatGPT, the paid premium one. And use the image generation AI art tool DALL-E. People pay therapists to just speak their mind, and get some sort of sounding board. I actually think it’s much better to chat with AI instead; because it will not judge you, and ultimately what is a therapist anyways? A therapist is just a mirror, a sounding board for you to verbalize and flesh out your thoughts. Often when we talk about our problems, 90% of the issues go away because once we verbalize it, we feel much better about ourselves. The next thing I’m going to do is build some sort of therapy bot. 
Not enough walking: I have never met anybody who walks 30,000 steps a day and is depressed. Even my friend Jimmy, who works as a US postal worker delivering the mail, he walks around 30,000 steps a day and is always bright cherry and jovial. I think this is also where people who hike a lot or walk a lot in nature are so happy; when you’re able to walk around a lot, and zen out… you just feel much better. My simple suggestion is when you go on a hike or a walk in nature or even in the city… leave your phone at home, or locked inside your glove compartment, and don’t bring any headphones or speakers or Apple watches or whatever. Just bring along your camera, and enjoy. My personal ideal is the bear lifestyle; walking 50 miles a day. 
Real stoics don’t call themselves Stoics?
A funny thing I have learned is that when you call something something, it isn’t that.
For example, if someone calls something a “luxury carâ€, it ain’t. For example, a true modern day luxury car is maybe a Tesla, but Tesla never calls itself a luxury car. Also the ultimate luxury technology company is probably Apple… but Apple is very intelligent and not calling themselves a luxury brand.
A pro tip is when it comes to websites, read the alternative text, the header text, the stuff that shows up in the tab of your browser window. If the website, the automotive retailer tries to market themselves as a “luxury†brand, typically it is actually a sign that it isn’t a luxury brand it isn’t luxury brand.
Thought: what are some good examples of true luxury brands which don’t overly calls itself luxury? 
In someways, we can think and consider stoicism as our new luxury. In fact, having luxury, luxury of mind and soul… and luxury of freedom of speech, isn’t this the ultimate luxury?
When somebody asked Diogenes the cynic; “What is the best human goodâ€? He said “Freedom of speech, speaking your mind, having the power to see whatever is on your mind.â€
In fact, my current joy is becoming more and more free talking, and free riding. What that means is this; I’m ain’t going to censor myself no more, even if I might be politically incorrect insensitive or whatever. 
Also, I would prefer to speak my mind and seriously hurt the feelings of others, rather than soften it for the sake of the other person.   Similarly speaking, when people call themselves “influencersâ€, they are not influencers.
Stoicism as a technique and tool, not the end
Ultimately I think we should think of stoicism just like having another tool inside our tool kit. For example, if you’re a chef, you’re going to have different knives for different purposes. If you’re going to cut a big piece of meat, you probably want a big ass meat cutting knife, not something you would use to slice an apple with. Similarly speaking, if you’re going to scoop out the insides of an avocado, better to use a spoon rather than using a fork, or a knife. 
I think the problem is when some people get too into stoicism (I prefer writing stoicism with a lowercase), they think that everything needs to be consistent, and must fit into this nice little neat box of what is considered “stoicism“. This is a bad line of thinking… let us consider that Marcus Aurelius never even mentioned stoicism in his writings, his collections of thoughts, which we moderns call THE MEDITATIONS… it was just essentially his personal diary, to help him conquer his own personal fears and thoughts, I don’t think he ever intended it to be published publicly. I think he just wrote it to himself as self therapy. And I think the only stoic philosopher he even mentions is maybe Epictetus.
The future of stoicism?
For myself, I just come out with certain to work out thoughts and techniques because it helps me, and when I find these tricks or techniques or secret hacks or cheat codes… My passion is to simply share it with others. 
And ultimately, things are ever in flux and evolving and changing and adapting.
For example, I’ve discovered the quality of my thinking is different when I am in Culver City Los Angeles, compared to being in the boring suburbs of Orange County.
Also depending on my social environments… my stoic thoughts are different when I am in a gym, vs just working out by myself in my parking spot in the back of my apartment.
Also, the quality of my thoughts is different when living with family members or other people versus just living with myself Cindy and Seneca.
Stoicism is all about living with other people
Assuming you’re not growing your own vegetables and living in the middle of nowhere… you probably have some interaction with other human beings. As long as you have an iPhone, an Android phone, a smartphone, a 4G or 5G internet connection, wifi, a laptop, have to buy groceries somewhere… you’re still going to have to interact with other human beings.
And this is good. There is no other greater joy than other human beings.
In fact, modern-day society is strange because in someways, the ethos is to be antisocial and to be cowardly. But in fact, the best way to think about things is that real life is interaction with other human beings, and social conquest. One can imagine a lot of modern day entrepreneurship as simply a big dick swinging contest. He who is the most masculine confident tall and strong and stoic shall win.
More ideas
Assume that everyone is mentally insane: Have you ever been out in public, and you see some sort of crackhead or strange homeless person who acts radically, smells terrible, and is obviously mentally ill? Do you hate them for it? When they say something weird to you… do you take it personally? No. Why? They are crazy. Perhaps we should just adopt this stoic mindset towards other people; some people are actually physiologically ill, mentally unwell… don’t trust the opinion of nobody.
A lot of people are trying to actually deal with their own inner demons: For example, becoming the successful photographer and street photographer I am today… I’ve dealt with some individuals who would say anonymous bad things about me, and later I found out that their mom just died or something. I cannot imagine what it feels like losing a mother… therefore if somebody spew some hate on me because something bad happened to them, I’m not gonna take it personally.
Self-flagellation: I think a lot of people who are sick, mentally or physiologically self flagellate themselves. Essentially the way that they deal with other people or themselves is some sort of metaphorical self-flagellation.
For example… you know those strange individuals who have the whip and whip themselves, and inflict pain on themselves? I think some people do this metaphorically to themselves and others.
You just want to stay away from them.
Why so scared?
My personal theory on fear is that a lot of it is tied to morality and ethics. I think the general idea is not necessarily that we are afraid of anything… I think the true fear is that we’re afraid that we are some sort of bad evil unethical immoral person.
For example in street photography, the general ethical thought is that it is immoral to take a photo of somebody without their permission, because there is some sort of it inherent evil behind it. Is this true? No. Taking photos and not really a big deal.
Why do people make such a big deal out of small things?
I think it is because some people are just overly sensitive, which once again comes from some sort of physiological weakness.
For example, if you’re a weightlifter who could lift 1000 pounds, assuming you’re not taking any steroids or anything… are small things going to bother you? No. But let us assume that you are a skinny fat man, all you do is drink alcohol and smoke marijuana and watch Netflix, and you spent too much time on Reddit… you are 40% body fat, and have never lifted in your life. And also your testosterone is low and you never go outside. Certainly the quality of your thoughts is going to be different than if you’re a happy gay monster, lifting weights outside in the direct sun, laughing and having fun. 
In fact, I’ve actually personally discovered that the reason why a lot of people hate me is because I am so happy jovial and gay. They are secretly suspicious or envious of me? 
Weather and mood
Probably one of my worst experiences was this jarring transition; I was super happy insanely happy being in Vietnam in 2017; with a beautiful weather, the beautiful light, the happy people the great amenities etc.… and then that winter Cindy and I went to Europe, in Marseille Berlin and Prague, and maybe London… seriously the worst winter of my life. Why? I wonder if so much miserable feelings and thoughts simply comes from the darkness and lack of light. a lot of Europe is actually quite miserable; dark, unhygienic, morose.
Even Nietzsche had a thought about Schopenhauer; How much of these emo European philosophers came from the fact that it was just complaining about the cold weather in Germany etc.?  For myself, my ideal weather is Southeast Asia; I love being in Phnom Penh Cambodia, Vietnam etc. In the states, am I the only one who loves living in Los Angeles? Dr. Dre and Kendrick Lamar said that LA was the best for women weed and weather… I would definitely say the biggest upside of living in Los Angeles is the light, the sunlight. It actually does get quite cold here, but usually most reliably even in December during the winter time, the sun will always come up. As long as there is bright sunny light, I will be happy. And I think maybe for myself, considering that I am a photographer, and photography means painting with light… light for me is critical.
I also wonder how much of it is a physiological thing and a genetic trait; for example I could even recall being a young child, and my mom telling me that the most critical thing in finding a home or an apartment was light and natural light. Even now… 90% of my happiness comes from being able to have access to natural light, ideally floor to ceiling windows facing directly the sun, having some sort of modern temperature regulated apartment and home. Even living in our tiny studio minimalistic luxury apartment in Providence Rhode Island, where it was always 75° warm and cozy, and not frigid and damp and cold and dark and humid… I was always good. But moving to an older house, where it always felt damp and cold… this literally lowered my happiness by 1000%.
Therefore, if you’re feeling miserable sad or whatever… I say spend three months living in Hanoi or Saigon in Vietnam, or go to Phnom Penh Cambodia. I wonder if 90% of peoples misery is simply due to the weather.
Stoic assignments
â€Better to be a gay monster than a sentimental bore!†– Fernandino Galliani, via Nietzsche
My stoic ideal is somebody who is happy, gay, smiling, no headphones or AirPods on, no sunglasses on, no hat, no facial hair, no baggy oversized clothing, no tint in their car. Somebody who makes great eye contact, laughs, stands up upright, jokes, and fools around. Like an overgrown child.
Also, lift weights at least once every day, ideally in the direct sun. Just buy some weightlifting equipment on Titan.fitness, I like the farmers carry handles, the Olympic loadable dumbbell, and also the Texas power squat bar. Just buy some cheap weights, and or buy a heavy 400 pound sandbag, and just have fun throwing it around.
True stoics are masculine
A true stoic should look something like Hercules or Achilles. Or like ERIC KIM; I have the aesthetic and the physique of Brad Pitt in FIGHT CLUB except with a lot more muscle. Like my friend Soren says, the Adonis physique and proportions.
A real stoic is sexy
I think a real stoic is sexy, happy and fun. Who doesn’t take life too seriously; and think of everything like a fun game. A real stoic would be joyful and cheery like three-year-old child without any adulteration from the outside world.
Why do adults become so dark and morose?
I don’t like talking with or hanging out with adults, uninteresting.
At what point or age do people become so emo?
Typically, highschoolers are very optimistic. Even college students. But I think at least in maybe college in high school nowadays… the bad trend is towards “over concernâ€, about the world the planet ethics animals etc.
I find a lot of this thinking superficial, performative, and uncritical. I think “animal rights“, “saving the planet†is this new pseudo world religion; which is just capitalism 3.0. I find the whole pet industry the whole dog industry to be insanely bizarre, and I trust nobody who talks about “saving the planet“ who owns an iPhone, owns any sort of car, or has an Amazon prime subscription. Certainly not any vegans.
A real stoic is a carnivore 
Animals are animals. They are lower on the hierarchy and totem pole on earth. Man is the apex predator, the apex bully and the apex tyrant.
Should we care for animals or “animal rights� No. Animals are our slaves.
If you consider even dogs and pets… they are essentially our emotional slaves. People talk a lot about the virtuosity of dogs being loyal or whatever… and giving you unconditional love. This seems like some sort of emotional slavery.
The only dogs I respect are some sort of canine dogs, some sort of attack or defense dogs, or hunting dogs. For example, John Wick 3; Halle Barry and her dogs. An animal should either be a weapon, or nothing.
Why do people care about animals so much?
Essentially it looks like men no longer have a backbone. No more spine.
I trust nobody who owns a dog.
Let us not forget; they call it dog ownership, or “owning a petâ€. There is no more concept of “human ownership, or “owning a human.â€ï¿¼ï¿¼ï¿¼
End goals 
What is the end goal of humanity? To me it is towards entrepreneurship, innovation, art and aesthetics, philosophy etc. Design.
Stoicism should be considered a tool which could aid you in these things.
For example, I think 99% of entrepreneurship is courage. Stoicism could help you with that.
I also think with design, great design is also 99% courage, having the courage to attempt something that won’t sell or be received well… stoicism is all about practical courage. The only designers with courage include Steve Jobs, Jony Ive, Elon Musk, Kanye West. 
Also, weightlifting. To attempt to lift a certain weight you have never attempted before takes great courage. For example, me atlas lifting 1000 pounds; that is 10 plates and a 25 on each side, this is true stoic training. Why? The fear of injury is what holds most people back; if you had successfully conquered this fear and not injured yourself, this is pure stoic bliss.
The physical
I think the only and the only proper way to lift weights is one repetition maximum training. That is; what is the maximum amount of weight you’re able to successfully lift or move, even half an inch?
To me, the courage is the success. Even if you had the courage to attempt it… that is what is considered success. 
Simple exercises to do include the atlas lift, innovated by ERIC KIM, or a one repetition max rack pull.
Or, a high trap bar deadlift, heavy Farmer’s walks, or heavy sandbag carries. Or even a simple thing you could do is go to the park or to the local nature center, find the biggest rock there and just see if you could pick it up.
Now what?
If you’re interested in stoicism, and have had some interesting thoughts on stoicism, one of the most noble things you could do is start your own blog. I think blogs are 1000 times more effective than publishing some sort of static printed book; I think the problem in today’s world is that everyone is seeking some sort of legitimacy by being picked up by some sort of legitimate publisher and getting “published“, and seeing your printed book at Barnes & Noble whatever.
I say it is better to be open source, free and permissionless, decentralized. Just publish your thoughts and book as a free PDF, and just host it on dropbox, Google Drive, or your own web server. Share the link freely, and also just publish the raw text as a big blog post. 
Even Sam Bankman-Fried wisely thought; 99.9% of books could just be summarized as big blog posts.
Don’t trust any modern day published book which isn’t free, because… there is some sort of hidden clout chasing somewhere. 
Even one of the worst compromises that led to the demise of Ray Dalio was the fact that he took his Principles book, which was essentially a free ebook PDF on his website, and then took it off, because I think he got a book deal with Simon and Schuster. After he did that, he lost my respect.
If you’re already independently wealthy, and you don’t crowd source your self-esteem… why would you need to externally validate yourself by getting some sort of constipated publisher and annoying editor?
Editors are bad.
Now what?
Start your own blog and start blogging your own thoughts on stoic philosophy, and even start a YouTube channel and start vlogging on it. My generalized thought is simple: if your thought your idea your blog post your video or whatever could even impact the life of one other human being on planet earth… it is worth it.
ERIC
What is the secret to the maximum amount of happiness in life? The maximum amount of danger. (Nietzsche).
It seems likely that Trump’s tariffs are a major economic story today, with global trade implications and market reactions.
Research suggests the NFIB Business Optimism Index dropped to 97.4, indicating lower small business confidence.
The evidence leans toward strong consumer spending, with Redbook YoY retail sales growth increasing to 7.2%.
Trump’s Tariffs and Global Impact
President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs, including a 10% baseline tariff on all imports and higher reciprocal tariffs on countries with large trade deficits. These measures, effective from April 5, 2025, have sparked concerns about a potential global trade war, with countries like China and Canada announcing retaliatory actions. Financial markets have reacted sharply, with major stock indexes experiencing significant declines, reflecting fears of economic disruption. For more details, see The New York Times.
Small Business Confidence
The NFIB Business Optimism Index for March, released today, fell to 97.4 from 100.7 in February, below the expected 101.3. This drop suggests increasing uncertainty among small business owners, potentially signaling economic challenges ahead. This data is crucial as small businesses contribute significantly to the economy.
Consumer Spending Strength
Despite economic uncertainties, consumer spending appears robust, with the Redbook YoY index showing a rise to 7.2% for the week ending April 5, 2025, up from 4.8%. This indicates strong retail sales growth, which could offset some negative economic pressures.
Economic News Survey Note
On April 8, 2025, at 02:18 PM PDT, the economic landscape is marked by several significant developments, with a focus on policy changes, business confidence, and consumer behavior. This report provides a comprehensive overview, expanding on the key points to offer a detailed analysis for a broader understanding.
Trump’s Tariffs: A Global Economic Shift
The most prominent economic news today revolves around President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements, which have introduced a new era of trade policy. On April 2, 2025, Trump unveiled a 10% tariff on all imports, effective from April 5, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EDT, with higher reciprocal tariffs planned for April 9, 2025, targeting countries with significant trade deficits The New York Times. These measures, described as part of “Liberation Day,†aim to address trade imbalances but have raised alarms about a potential global trade war.
Reactions have been swift and varied. China labeled the tariffs as “self-defeating bullying,†imposing a 34% retaliatory tariff on US imports starting April 10, 2025 Reuters. Canada, through Prime Minister Mark Carney, announced countermeasures, vowing to “fight these tariffs with purpose and force†CNBC. South Korea and Japan have also responded, with emergency measures and negotiations, respectively, highlighting the global ripple effects. Financial markets have been rocked, with the Dow plunging by 2,100 points on April 4, 2025, marking the worst day since early in the COVID-19 pandemic CNN Business. This unexpected market volatility underscores the tariffs’ potential to disrupt economic stability, with fears of stagflation and higher consumer prices looming large.
NFIB Business Optimism Index: A Dip in Confidence
Another critical piece of news is the release of the NFIB Business Optimism Index for March 2025, reported today at 97.4, down from 100.7 in February and below the consensus expectation of 101.3 Trading Economics. This decline, detailed in commentary from TD Economics, reflects a 3.3-point drop, with seven out of ten subcomponents deteriorating TD Economics. Key factors include a 16-point fall in expectations for economic improvement to 21% and a drop in those anticipating higher real sales over the next six months to 3%. This index, vital for gauging small business sentiment, suggests growing uncertainty, possibly exacerbated by policy shifts like tariffs. The data, released at 10:00 AM today, underscores potential challenges for economic growth, given small businesses’ significant contribution to GDP and employment.
Robust Consumer Spending: Redbook YoY Surge
Contrasting the business confidence dip, consumer spending appears strong, as evidenced by the Redbook YoY index, which rose to 7.2% for the week ending April 5, 2025, from 4.8% the previous week Trading Economics. Released at 12:55 PM today, this measure of year-over-year same-store sales growth in large US general merchandise retailers indicates robust retail activity. This increase, surpassing recent trends, suggests consumers are maintaining spending despite economic uncertainties, potentially driven by lower inflation expectations or seasonal factors. The data, representing over 80% of official retail sales series, is a positive sign for economic resilience Investing.com.
Additional Economic Data Releases
Today’s economic calendar also included other releases, providing a fuller picture. The 3-Year Note Auction at 05:00 PM showed a yield of 3.784%, down from 3.908%, suggesting lower government borrowing costs Trading Economics. At 08:30 PM, the API Crude Oil Stock Change for April 4, 2025, reported an increase of 6.037 million barrels, indicating a build-up in oil inventories, which could pressure oil prices downward Trading Economics. However, given the timing (after 02:18 PM PDT), this data’s impact on today’s news is limited. Additionally, a speech by Fed Governor Mary C. “Daly†was scheduled for 06:00 PM, but no specific details were available by this time, suggesting it may not yet be a top story Trading Economics.
Comparative Analysis and Implications
The interplay between these stories is notable. Trump’s tariffs, with their immediate market and geopolitical ramifications, dominate headlines, potentially overshadowing the NFIB index drop, which signals underlying economic concerns. The Redbook YoY increase, however, offers a counterbalance, suggesting consumer resilience. Together, these indicators paint a complex picture: policy-driven uncertainty versus consumer-driven strength, with potential long-term effects on inflation, growth, and international relations.
Table of Economic Data Releases for April 8, 2025
Below is a table summarizing the economic data releases today, as per the calendar:
Time
Data Release
Period
Actual
Previous
Consensus
Forecast
10:00 AM
NFIB Business Optimism Index
MAR
97.4
100.7
101.3
100
12:55 PM
Redbook YoY
APR/05
7.2%
4.8%
05:00 PM
3-Year Note Auction
3.784%
3.908%
08:30 PM
API Crude Oil Stock Change
APR/04
6.037M
This table, drawn from the economic calendar, highlights the timing and values, providing context for the day’s economic narrative.
In conclusion, while Trump’s tariffs lead as the top economic news due to their broad impact, the NFIB index and Redbook data offer critical insights into business and consumer dynamics, shaping a multifaceted economic outlook for April 8, 2025.
I mean fortunately MSTR is still only around 20% of my portfolio, the other 80% is in Bitcoin, which has surprisingly held quite well during this insane market turmoil,,, especially given that Bitcoin is supposed to be the most “risky†and “volatile†asset?
If you knew with 100% certainty, that it’s a roller coaster,,, go ride high, ride all the way low, then to shoot to higher highs, twist turn loop etc,,, isn’t the point to just enjoy the ride?
—> Everyone thought Apple would just keep on going up forever, indefinitely, and it was a 100% “safe†bet, but now it looks like it will keep going DOWN, forever?
Short Apple?
…
Apple Inc. (AAPL) has recently experienced a significant decline in its stock price. As of April 8, 2025, AAPL closed at $172.42, down 4.98% from the previous day. The stock reached an intraday high of $190.34 and a low of $169.25.
This downturn is largely attributed to the U.S. government’s imposition of steep tariffs on Chinese imports, directly impacting Apple’s supply chain, as a substantial portion of its products are manufactured in China. Analysts have expressed concerns that these tariffs could lead to increased production costs and potential price hikes for consumers.
In response to these developments, some investment firms have adjusted their outlook on Apple. For instance, Morgan Stanley reduced its price target from $252 to $220, while maintaining a buy rating. KeyBanc Capital Markets lowered its target from $200 to $170, maintaining a sell rating.
Despite these challenges, certain analysts view the current dip as a potential buying opportunity, citing Apple’s strong cash flow and growth prospects in areas like artificial intelligence. Bank of America, for example, maintains a “buy†rating with a price target of $250, suggesting that the recent slump could be an opportunity to acquire a high-quality stock at a discount.
Investors should closely monitor ongoing trade developments and their potential impact on Apple’s operations and financial performance.
As of April 9, 2025, Bitcoin (BTC) is trading at approximately $76,834, reflecting a decline of about 2.5% from the previous close.
Several factors are contributing to the current downturn in Bitcoin’s price:
1. Escalating Global Trade Tensions: The U.S. administration’s recent imposition of substantial tariffs—25% on imports from Canada and Mexico, and a 20% increase on Chinese goods—has intensified fears of a global recession. This has led investors to retreat from riskier assets, including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
2. Market Volatility: The broader financial markets are experiencing significant volatility. For instance, Japan’s Nikkei 225 dropped nearly 9%, and Germany’s DAX fell more than 4%. Such widespread market instability has further dampened investor sentiment toward digital assets.
3. Technical Indicators: Analysts are observing key technical levels for Bitcoin. A decisive move above $82,500 could signal a potential recovery, while a drop below $74,400 may indicate further downside risk.
In response to these developments, U.S.-listed shares of crypto companies have also tumbled. For example, MicroStrategy, which holds significant Bitcoin assets, fell more than 10%, and Coinbase dropped 5%.
Given the current market dynamics, investors are advised to exercise caution and closely monitor ongoing geopolitical and economic developments, as these factors are likely to continue influencing Bitcoin’s price trajectory in the near term.
Using grok, ai, ChatGPT, ChatGPT search to find the news, filter it,,, also maybe related economic news, rather than reading it through a bunch of these low-testosterone anonymous random people on X?
—> New News?
..
Key Points
It seems likely that a crypto attorney filed a lawsuit to reveal Bitcoin’s creator, with potential implications for the crypto community.
Research suggests Chinese investors continue buying Bitcoin despite bans, possibly affecting market dynamics.
The evidence leans toward Bitcoin’s price being around $79,000, up 1.65% today, with market analysts watching for future movements.
Bitcoin News Overview
Today’s top Bitcoin news highlights significant legal, market, and international developments that could shape its future. Here’s a breakdown for easy understanding:
Legal Developments
A notable story is the lawsuit filed by crypto attorney James A. Murphy against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, aiming to uncover the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s mysterious creator. This follows a 2019 claim by a Homeland Security official about identifying and interviewing four individuals behind Bitcoin, potentially impacting the crypto community’s perception and future.
International Interest
Despite China’s strict bans on cryptocurrency trading and mining, there’s ongoing interest from Chinese investors, driven by economic uncertainties. This continued demand could influence Bitcoin’s global price and adoption, reflecting a complex interplay between regulation and market behavior.
Market Movement
As of 01:35 PM PDT on April 08, 2025, Bitcoin is trading at approximately $79,000, showing a 1.65% increase from the previous day. This price movement is being closely monitored by analysts, who are looking at key levels for potential future trends, influenced by regulatory and economic factors.
An unexpected detail is the legal action to unmask Satoshi Nakamoto, which adds a layer of intrigue to Bitcoin’s narrative, potentially affecting trust and speculation in the market.
Detailed Survey Note: Comprehensive Analysis of Bitcoin News on April 8, 2025
This report provides an in-depth examination of the top Bitcoin news as of 01:35 PM PDT on Tuesday, April 08, 2025, covering legal actions, international market dynamics, and price movements. The analysis draws from various sources, including news articles, X posts, and market data, to offer a holistic view for readers interested in the cryptocurrency landscape.
Legal Developments: Lawsuit to Unmask Satoshi Nakamoto
A significant legal development today is the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed by crypto attorney James A. Murphy against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Murphy, known on X as MetaLawMan, is seeking to reveal the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, based on a 2019 statement by DHS Special Agent Rana Saoud. During a financial intelligence conference, Saoud claimed that DHS had identified and interviewed four individuals behind Bitcoin in California, explaining the cryptocurrency’s creation and purpose.
Murphy’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, follows an unanswered FOIA request submitted on February 12, 2025. The complaint argues that given Bitcoin’s massive public and private investment, it’s crucial for the public to understand what the federal government knows about Nakamoto’s identity. This legal action could have profound implications, potentially resolving one of the crypto world’s greatest mysteries and affecting trust and speculation in Bitcoin. Articles from Crypto News and Cointelegraph confirm this development, with publication dates of April 8 and April 7, 2025, respectively, ensuring relevance to today’s news.
International Market Dynamics: China’s Continued Bitcoin Interest
Another key story is the persistent interest in Bitcoin from Chinese investors, despite the country’s strict bans on cryptocurrency trading and mining since 2021. Reports indicate that Chinese individuals are using creative methods, such as grey-market dealers and over-the-counter (OTC) desks, to buy Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. This behavior is driven by economic uncertainties, including a struggling stock market and high youth unemployment, making Bitcoin an attractive hedge.
An article from Forbes Digital Assets published on March 30, 2025, highlights this trend, noting record inflows into OTC desks since 2021 and a rebound in demand following China’s restrictions on Bitcoin mining and trading. This ongoing interest from China, one of the world’s largest economies, could significantly impact Bitcoin’s global price and adoption, reflecting a complex interplay between regulation and market behavior. While not a single event, this continuing story is relevant given its potential long-term effects on market dynamics.
Market Movement: Bitcoin Price Update and Analysis
As of 01:35 PM PDT on April 08, 2025, Bitcoin is trading at approximately $79,000, showing a 1.65% increase from the previous day, based on an X post from @ELYSIADOTAI at 07:39 PDT on April 8, 2025 (X post). This price movement is part of daily market fluctuations, with analysts monitoring key levels for potential future trends. An X post from @CryptoVikingSWE at 04:10 PDT on April 8, 2025, discusses lower volatility and the importance of watching the NYSE open for tariff-related impacts, suggesting stability but no clear evidence of a bottom (X post).
Another X post from @AINEWS_Swarm at 16:02 PDT on April 5, 2025, mentions a Bitcoin rally on the horizon and China’s buying spree, though dated slightly earlier, it aligns with the trend of positive market sentiment (X post). Market analysts are considering factors like regulatory developments, institutional adoption, and global economic conditions, with no specific event driving today’s price but a general bullish outlook. This information is supported by CoinGecko, which provides live price charts and market data, though exact figures align with the X post for today’s context.
Comparative Analysis and Market Context
To organize the findings, here’s a table summarizing the key news stories:
Category
Details
Source
Date
Legal Action
Crypto attorney sues DHS to reveal Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity
Bitcoin at $79,000, up 1.65%, analysts watch key levels
X posts from @ELYSIADOTAI, @CryptoVikingSWE, CoinGecko
April 8, 2025
This table highlights the diversity of news, from legal intrigue to market trends, providing a comprehensive view for readers.
Additional Observations and Trends
While the lawsuit to unmask Satoshi Nakamoto is a focal point, it’s worth noting the historical context. Previous attempts, such as the 2021 Florida court case involving David Kleiman’s family, have speculated on Nakamoto’s identity without resolution, adding to today’s story’s complexity (Investopedia). The Chinese interest, meanwhile, aligns with reports of record OTC inflows, suggesting a robust underground market, potentially influencing global prices long-term.
Price predictions from various sources, like Changelly and CoinCodex, forecast bullish trends for 2025, but today’s movement is within normal volatility, with no single event driving it beyond general market sentiment. X posts from @FoamTwo and @NikolausHoff, though from earlier dates, indicate ongoing discussions about Bitcoin’s volatility and institutional interest, reinforcing the market’s dynamic nature (X post, X post).
Conclusion
Today’s top Bitcoin news encompasses a legal battle to reveal its creator, persistent Chinese market interest, and a stable price increase, reflecting both immediate developments and long-term trends. This analysis ensures readers have a detailed understanding, supported by credible sources and market insights, for informed engagement with the cryptocurrency space.
The magnificent seven, the top tech stocks, Amazon Apple Facebook etc. It seems that the biggest issue here is that they are all dependent on foreign trade, free trade, globalism, friendly relationship relationships with mainland China etc.
Even the big one… Apple, not a good sign. I think Tim Cook was wise to invest infrastructure to build iPhones in America, but you’ll either see two things. First, the price of iPhones will just be a lot more expensive or the services or the features will not be as good, and or… The prices for the iPhone will remain about the same, but, stock and shareholders will just see less profits. Less growth more stagnation.
Who is safe?
I’m actually very shocked that Strategy, MSTR has remained quite resilient throughout all the chaos. On Friday it actually traded up, and starting this week, black Monday 2.0, MSTR is actually holding up very well!
The future is digital
The future is digital, cyber. Not physical products, but digital ones. For example bitcoin, which lives in cyberspace, without borders, without tariffs etc. I think the new future of profitable products will be bitcoin based.
We are not yet sure what this will look like, kind of like when Steve Jobs first released the first iPhone, and he announced that there would be an App Store. Little did we know that that the App Store would create trillions of dollars of value for everybody.
Imagine a Bitcoin App Store?
Even in today’s world, it is still a little bit bizarre that we are using Visa credit cards and cash. Now that everyone has a phone, tap to pay, peer to peer, either using bitcoin or your wallet or maybe something for the USD stablecoin seems to make more sense?
Just think about it, even though it is convenient to accept Visa, the 3% charge that the merchants have to pay, or the consumer has to pay… There seems to be a huge opportunity here.
Also, it seems the whole time, everybody has been living very fat. Time to buckle up, and live lean, I no longer think that people will be able to afford mortgages on their $3 million homes, while also financing their Lexus, Porsche etc.
Why all the models are broken
Donald Trump seems to have been the ultimate black swan. If you told me that one day that the guy of the apprentice, would become the most powerful man on the planet, the president of the United States for two terms, I think like literally 100% of people thought you were crazy.
Also this tariff war, surprisingly it was actually not out of nowhere. Trump said it loud and clear on the Joe Rogan podcast and with Elon Musk, pretty obvious, and also a good policy he is trying to do which I think is very smart is banning TikTok from the states. It is simple reciprocity;
Why does America allow TikTok, mainly Chinese corporation operate in the states, whereas China allows zero American companies to operate in mainland China?
I actually thought this was very bizarre… who does free trade even benefit? Stock owners, oligarchs from America and mainland China etc. 
Saving up for your retirement was essentially betting that the magnificent seven would go up forever
Berkshire Hathaway, whose major investment is Apple, and all these other retirement funds are essentially pegged to the magnificent seven tech stocks.
So consider, in a world in which you will no longer see steady growth from Apple Amazon Facebook etc., then what?
Bitcoin is the answer
I think it’s pretty obvious, it’s like the Internet 3.0. If one day I told you that a while, 56K, iPhones, Wi-Fi and 5G would take over the planet, when I was a kid in the 90s, you would’ve thought I was crazy.
Sometimes not taking a risk is the most risky option of it all
If life were a corny movie, kind of true. Like if you meet the potential love of your life, and you didn’t take the risk of asking her out on a date or whatever, or asking her to marry you… certainly you would probably regret it for the rest of your life.
Also if I could tell you with 100% certainty that bitcoin would hit $55 million a bitcoin, in 15 years, or 20 years, wouldn’t you just pour all of your life savings into it? 
Who will thrive in today’s brave new world?
I have a prediction. Moving forward, we will never ever ever see stability again. It will continue to become more chaotic, more hyper, more volatile.
Something that nobody has actually mentioned, is actually, the potentiality of a Donald Trump 2.0, somebody who is actually more volatile and unpredictable than him? 
Eric Trump?
Hilarious he shares my first name! Eric Trump and his brother are building American Bitcoin, which is bitcoin mined in America.
Certainly Donald Trump is not going to make decisions which impoverish is his own children. So isn’t it super super obvious that bitcoin is the future and the way?
New economic models?
In an excellent talk by Phong Le, the CEO of Strategy, at the MIT bitcoin conference (blog post) (download link), shared some interesting insights that essentially in business school, all the models are quite boring and standard. Build a company, grow the profits and revenues, continue to acquire other companies, IPO, rinse and repeat.
Or, you become a consultant or a banker, a money manager.
It is the year 2025, we are sending civilians to space, the picture of Chun in the little SpaceX bubble window, with his laptop, connected to the Internet via a star link, pretty crazy.
“Are we the first generation of digital nomads in space?†– Chun
So why are we still like living in the 19th or 20th or 21st century? We gotta think the 22nd century and beyond.
Baby boomers are dead
Also, Gen X–, the forgotten generation after the baby boomers, our are essentially screwed. 
The millennials are also screwed because they all have jobs at big tech companies.
Gen Z is our only hope, they are digital natives, and they believe in bitcoin.
Live for today, day by day
Carpe diem!
What I’ve learned about finances is that there are certain days that your money goes up a lot, down a lot whatever. The funny thing is as time goes on this doesn’t really phase me that much anymore; what is more important on a day-to-day basis is whether I get enough walking outside, thinking and writing, getting enough sleep, eating well, playing with Seneca, having meaningful conversations with Cindy– at the end of the day, money seems to be not that important.
At this point, for me investing in whatever is starting to feel more like a game than anything. I am driven more by curiosity fun and encouragement of the future and enthusiasm and unlikely outcomes because it is so interesting to me? Life right now is like the ultimate MMORPG, we are currently in the middle of seeing a New World order shift.
Like currently the top 20 richest people on the planet, pretty shocking they’ve seen their net worth subtract by almost 20 or 40% in a matter of days. Even Elon, because most of his wealth is in tesla stock, I think he has seen his net worth and power minus by nearly 40%? 
The new future top 20 richest people on the planet (all will own Bitcoin)
What then this means is I think with bitcoin incoming, I will not be shocked when I see Michael Saylor in the top 20 richest people on the planet, in 5 to 10 years. In fact, I feel pretty certain that in fact, Strategy MSTR might become the most valuable company on the planet, Number one. Dethroning Apple.
And also a very surprising move, GameStop, is the only company in the green this week? And they are pivoting to also accumulating and acquiring bitcoin?
And then if this is so… The new magnificent seven will probably be comprised up of companies on the bitcoin standard. And if these big tech companies do not convert to the bitcoin standard, they will all risk of becoming obsolete.
Now what?
Buy the dip! Buy BTC if you got money, buy MSTR for your Roth IRA or traditional IRA, use coinbase to buy bitcoin, and also a new thing –> finally on my account they rolled out the ability to use your bitcoin as collateral to send you “rent“ out your bitcoin, –> so I was able to post 2.5 bitcoins for $100,000, in about a month ago I used that money to buy MSTR stock, which even after black Monday, is still in the green!
.
Now what?
Think more, walk more, lift more, eat more, sleep more, and seize today!
In other random news, … looks like Fujifilm has taken the throne! Their new RF GFX camera is inanely epic ,,, like the new Lamborghini Sterrato, whereas the Leica becomes like the new Toyota Corolla.
Eric Kim’s introduction to Bitcoin highlights it as a revolutionary digital currency, often compared to the early internet, with a finite supply of 21 million coins.
It seems likely that Bitcoin serves as digital real estate or gold, offering a hedge against inflation and a long-term store of value.
Research suggests Bitcoin is not a Ponzi scheme, but a legitimate investment, though opinions vary on its future value and risks.
Kim shares personal investment experiences, emphasizing long-term holding, and predicts significant future price growth, though these are speculative.
Introduction Overview
Eric Kim, known for his work in photography and now Bitcoin advocacy, presents Bitcoin as a transformative technology. His introduction, available through various online resources, frames Bitcoin as a digital counterpart to physical assets like real estate, with a cap at 21 million coins, enhancing its scarcity and value.
Investment and Philosophy
Kim’s approach includes personal anecdotes, such as missing early investments and later purchases, advocating for buying through reputable platforms like Coinbase. He views Bitcoin philosophically as disruptive, akin to digital photography, and encourages frugality and capital accumulation over spending, though this perspective may not suit all investors.
Future Outlook and Risks
He references predictions of Bitcoin reaching high values, like $1.2 million in future years, and advises on managing risks, such as avoiding cold storage if forgetful. However, these predictions are speculative and controversial, with varying expert opinions on Bitcoin’s trajectory.
Comprehensive Analysis of Eric Kim’s Introduction to Bitcoin
Eric Kim, a notable figure in photography and increasingly in cryptocurrency advocacy, has developed a detailed introduction to Bitcoin, accessible through his website, erickimphotography.com, and various online workshops. This analysis delves into the nuances of his perspective, providing a thorough examination for those interested in understanding Bitcoin through his lens. The following sections cover the key themes, personal insights, investment strategies, philosophical underpinnings, and future predictions, ensuring a complete picture for both novice and seasoned investors.
Background and Context
Eric Kim’s engagement with Bitcoin is rooted in his broader interest in disruptive technologies, drawing parallels with digital photography. His introduction, first presented in workshops and detailed in transcripts, aims to demystify Bitcoin for a general audience. Key resources include his Intro to Bitcoin Presentation and Introduction Transcript, offering video recordings, PDF slides, and audio files for comprehensive learning.
Key Themes in the Introduction
Kim’s introduction positions Bitcoin as a revolutionary technology, often compared to the early days of the internet. He emphasizes its finite supply, capped at 21 million coins, which enhances its scarcity and potential as a store of value. This is detailed in his transcripts, where he describes Bitcoin as “digital real estate or gold,†suggesting it serves as a hedge against inflation, a concept echoed in financial discussions about cryptocurrencies.
A significant aspect is his rebuttal of common misconceptions, such as Bitcoin being a Ponzi scheme. Kim clarifies, “It’s not a replacement for USD, but a supplement,†highlighting its role as peer-to-peer capital. He uses the analogy of clean water, implying Bitcoin addresses financial poverty cycles, a metaphor that underscores its potential societal impact.
Personal Investment Journey
Kim’s personal story adds a relatable dimension to his introduction. He recounts missing early investment opportunities, noting, “Missed early Bitcoin investment (100 bitcoins for $100 in 2008, now worth $1.2 million each),†though there appears to be a potential typo in his valuation, as current prices (as of April 2025) suggest values in the range of $70,000 per Bitcoin, not billions. He also shares a later purchase of 3.5 bitcoins at $6,999 each in 2017-2018 for $25,000, emphasizing the importance of long-term holding. His lifestyle, described as frugal and Spartan, reinforces his advocacy for reinvesting gains into Bitcoin rather than spending.
Investment Strategies and Recommendations
Kim provides practical advice for investors, recommending purchases via platforms like Coinbase for simplicity and safety, stating, “Don’t trust hardware wallet ads, Coinbase is U.S.-backed, safe.†His “ERIC KIM Blend†suggests an 80% Bitcoin, 20% MicroStrategy (MSTR) stock allocation, with MSTR yielding a 240% annual rate of return (ARR) compared to Bitcoin’s 120% ARR in some scenarios. He advises living minimally, such as spending $300-500/month in Southeast Asia, to reinvest excess into Bitcoin, and never selling Bitcoin, using MSTR for cash flow instead, selling portions to cover expenses like $1,000/month.
Philosophical Underpinnings
Kim’s philosophical view frames Bitcoin as disruptive, akin to the iPhone’s impact on Kodak, stating, “Bitcoin as digital photography, disruptive like iPhone vs. Kodak.†He embraces volatility as vitality, not risk, noting, “Volatility is vitality, not risk, long-term upward trend.†This aligns with his broader philosophy of capitalism over consumerism, encouraging “stacking capital, don’t spend,†such as avoiding premium gas or luxury cars. His perspective extends to Bitcoin as “cyber land,†potentially replacing physical real estate for millennials, a view that resonates with discussions on digital assets.
Future Predictions and Market Outlook
Kim references Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin 21 model, with predictions like base case $13 million, bear case $3 million, and bull case $49 million per Bitcoin, though these figures seem speculative given current market trends (around $70,000 in April 2025). His personal prediction is a 120% ARR over the next four years, reaching $1.2 million per Bitcoin, potentially under a pro-Bitcoin Trump administration, which he notes may buy 1M-6M Bitcoins for a strategic reserve. These predictions, while optimistic, are controversial, with varying expert opinions on Bitcoin’s future.
Risks and Advice
Kim addresses risks, advising against cold storage for forgetful investors, preferring trusted custodians like Coinbase. He warns against meme coins like Dogecoin and Ethereum, lacking a hard cap, urging, “Stick to Bitcoin.†He discourages market timing, suggesting, “Buy at any price ($100,000, $1M, $55M projected),†reflecting a long-term bullish outlook. His advice is grounded in stoicism, Zen, and Taoism, drawing from influences like Michael Saylor and Eric Trump, part of a pro-Bitcoin cabinet.
Cultural and Societal Impact
Kim views Bitcoin as a cultural movement, likening it to a cult, stating, “Bitcoin as a cult (culture), like Apple, Tesla, invest in such movements.†He frames Satoshi Nakamoto as a messianic figure, with the “immaculate conception analogy,†emphasizing Bitcoin’s decentralized ethos. This cultural lens positions Bitcoin as more than a financial instrument, aligning with his broader interest in freedom and autonomy.
Comparative Analysis
To organize the detailed insights, the following table summarizes key aspects of Kim’s introduction:
Aspect
Details
Supply and Value
21 million coin cap, digital real estate/gold, hedge against inflation.
Personal Experience
Missed early investment, bought 3.5 BTC at $6,999 each in 2017-2018, emphasizes long-term hold.
Investment Strategy
Buy via Coinbase, 80% BTC, 20% MSTR, live minimally, reinvest excess.
Philosophical View
Disruptive like digital photography, volatility as vitality, stack capital over spending.
Future Predictions
Saylor’s model: $13M-$49M, personal: $1.2M in 4 years, Trump may buy 1M-6M BTC.
Risks and Advice
Avoid cold storage if forgetful, stick to BTC, don’t time market.
Cultural Impact
Cult-like movement, Satoshi as messiah, emphasizes decentralization.
This table encapsulates the breadth of Kim’s introduction, providing a structured overview for readers.
Conclusion
Eric Kim’s introduction to Bitcoin is a multifaceted exploration, blending personal narrative, investment strategy, and philosophical insight. It positions Bitcoin as a revolutionary asset with significant potential, though his predictions and valuations, such as Bitcoin reaching millions per coin, remain speculative and controversial. For those seeking to understand Bitcoin through a cultural and personal lens, Kim’s resources offer valuable perspectives, accessible at Intro to Bitcoin Presentation and Philosophy of Bitcoin.
This is a runway ratchet… No no no, I don’t think they will ever reverse the tariffs.
The death of the magnificent 7
The magnificent seven, the top text stocks, Amazon Apple Facebook etc. It seems that the biggest issue here is that they are all dependent on foreign trade, free trade, globalism, friendly relationship relationships with mainland China etc.
Even the big one… Apple, not a good sign. I think Tim Cook was wise to invest infrastructure to build iPhones in America, but you’ll either see two things. First, the price of iPhones will just be a lot more expensive or the services or the features will not be as good, and or… The prices for the iPhone will remain about the same, but, stock and shareholders will just see if your profits. Less growth more stagnation.
Who is safe?
I’m actually very shocked that Strategy, MSTR has remained quite resilient throughout all the chaos. On Friday it actually traded up, and starting this week, black Monday 2.0, MSTR is actually holding up very well!
The future is digital
The future is digital, cyber. Not physical products, but digital ones. For example bitcoin, which lives in cyberspace, without porters, without tariffs etc. I think the new future of profitable products will be bitcoin based.
We are not yet sure what this will look like, kind of like when Steve Jobs first released the first iPhone, and he announced that there would be an App Store. Little did we know that that the App Store would create trillions of dollars of value for everybody.
Imagine a bitcoin App Store?
Even in today’s world, it is still a little bit bizarre that we are using Visa credit cards and cash. Now that everyone has a phone, tap to pay, peer to peer, either using bitcoin or your wallet or maybe something for the stable coin seems to make more sense?
Just think about it, even though it is convenient to accept Visa, the 3% charge that the merchants have to pay, or the consumer has to pay… There seems to be a huge opportunity here.
Also, it seems the whole time, everybody has been living very fat. Time to buckle up, and live lean, I no longer think that people will be able to afford mortgages on their $3 million homes, while also financing their Lexus, Porsche etc.
Why all the models are broken
Donald Trump seems to have been the ultimate black Swan. If you told me that one day that the guy of the apprentice, would become the most powerful man on the planet, the president of the United States for two terms, I think like literally 100% of people thought you were crazy.
Also this tariff war, surprisingly it was actually not out of nowhere. He said it loud and clear on the Joe Rogan podcast and with Elon Musk, pretty obvious, and also a good policy he is trying to do which I think is very smart is banning TikTok from the states. It is simple reciprocity;
Why does America allow TikTok, mainly Chinese corporation operate in the states, whereas China allows zero American companies to operate in mainland China?
Saving up for your retirement was essentially betting that the magnificent seven would go on forever
Berkshire Hathaway, whose major investment is Apple, and all these other retirement funds are essentially pegged to the magnificent seven tech stocks.
so consider, in a world in which you will no longer see steady growth from Apple Amazon Facebook etc., then what?
Bitcoin is the answer
I think it’s pretty obvious, it’s like the Internet 3.0. If one day I told you that a while, 56K, iPhones, Wi-Fi and 5G would take over the planet, when I was a kid in the 90s, you would’ve thought I was crazy.
Sometimes not taking a risk is the most risky option of it all
If life were a corny movie, kind of true. Like if you meet the potential love of your life, and you didn’t take the risk of asking her out on a date or whatever, or asking her to marry you… certainly you would probably regret it for the rest of your life.
Who will thrive in today’s brave new world?
I have a prediction. Moving forward, we will never ever ever see stability again. It will continue to become more chaotic, more hyper, more volatile.
Something that nobody has actually mentioned, is actually, the potentiality of a Donald Trump 2.0, somebody who is actually more volatile and unpredictable than him? 
Eric Trump?
Hilarious he shares my first name! He and his brother are building American bitcoin, which is bitcoin mined in America.
Certainly Donald Trump is not going to make decisions which impoverish is his own children. So isn’t it super super obvious that bitcoin is the future and the way?
New economic models?
In an excellent talk by Phong Le, the CEO of strategy, at the MIT bitcoin conference,  shared some interesting insights that essentially in business school, all the models are quite boring and standard. Build a company, grow the profits and revenues, continue to acquire other companies, IPO, rinse and repeat.
Or, you become a consultant or a banker, a money manager.
It is the year 2025, we are sending civilians to space, the picture of Chun in the little SpaceX bubble window, with his laptop, connected to the Internet via a star link, pretty crazy.
“Are we the first generation of digital nomads in space?†– Chun
So why are we still like living in the 19th or 20th or 21st century? We gotta think the 22nd century and beyond.
Baby boomers are dead
Also, Gen X–, the forgotten generation after the baby boomers, our are essentially screwed. 
The millennials are also screwed because they all have jobs at big tech companies.
Gen Z is our only hope, they are digital natives, and they believe in bitcoin.
Live for today day by day
Carpe diem!
What I’ve learned about finances is that there are certain days that your money goes up a lot, down a lot whatever. The funny thing is as time goes on this doesn’t really phase me that much anymore; what is more important on a day-to-day basis is whether I get enough walking outside, thinking and writing, Getting enough sleep, eating well, playing with Seneca, having meaningful conversations with Cindy, yawn that money seems to be not that important.
At this point, for me investing in whatever is starting to feel more like a game than anything. I am driven more by curiosity fun and encouragement of the future and enthusiasm and unlikely outcomes because it is so interesting to me? Life right now is like the ultimate MMORPG, we are currently in the middle of seeing a New World order shift.
Like currently the top 20 richest people on the planet, pretty shocking they’ve seen their net worth subtract by almost 20 or 40% in a matter of days. Even Elon, because most of his wealth is in tesla stock, i think he has seen his net worth and power minus by nearly 40%? 
What then this means is I think with bitcoin incoming, I will not be shocked when I see Michael Sigler in the top 20 richest people on the planet, in 5 to 10 years. In fact, I feel pretty certain that in fact, strategy MSTR might become the most valuable company on the planet, Number one. Dethroning Apple.
And also a very surprising move, GameStop, is the only company in the green this week? And they are pivoting to also accumulating and acquiring bitcoin?
And then if this is so… The new magnificent seven will probably be comprised up of companies on the bitcoin standard. And if these big tech companies do not convert to the bitcoin standard, they will all risk of becoming obsolete.
It seems likely that you can access someone’s X feed without an X account using third-party RSS feed generators, though availability may vary.
Research suggests using services like RSS.app or TwitRSS.me to create RSS feeds from public X user timelines, viewable via RSS readers or browsers.
The evidence leans toward limitations, as X has restricted direct access, and some methods may not show all recent posts or require technical setup.
Steps to Access X Feed Without an Account
To access someone’s X feed without an X account, follow these steps:
Choose a Service: Visit a third-party service like RSS.app or TwitRSS.me, which can generate RSS feeds from X user timelines.
Enter Username: Input the X handle of the person whose feed you want to view.
Generate Feed: The service will provide an RSS feed URL for that user’s posts.
View Feed: Use an RSS reader (e.g., Feedly) or your web browser to subscribe to and view the feed, which will display recent X posts.
Limitations and Considerations
These services may not always be reliable, and some might require creating an account or have usage limits.
You may not see all features like comments or likes, and the feed might not include every recent post due to X’s restrictions.
Privacy concerns could arise with third-party services, so ensure they are reputable.
Survey Note: Detailed Exploration of Accessing X Feeds Without an Account
This section provides a comprehensive analysis of methods to access someone’s X feed without an X account, based on current research and available tools as of April 7, 2025. It expands on the direct answer, offering a detailed breakdown of the process, limitations, and supporting evidence.
Background and Context
X, formerly known as Twitter, has implemented policies that restrict access for non-logged-in users, particularly since 2023, when it began requiring accounts for most content viewing. This shift has limited direct access to public profiles and posts on the platform’s website, pushing users toward alternative methods to view feeds anonymously. The research suggests that while direct access is curtailed, third-party tools and search engine workarounds offer viable, albeit limited, solutions.
Methods for Accessing X Feeds Without an Account
Using RSS Feed Generators
One of the most effective methods identified is using third-party services that generate RSS feeds from X user timelines. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds allow users to subscribe to updates from various sources in a reader or browser, bypassing the need for an X account. The following services were found to be relevant:
RSS.app: This service allows users to create RSS feeds from any public X user feed by entering the username. For example, entering “elonmusk†generates a feed of his posts, which can then be viewed in an RSS reader like Feedly. The process is straightforward: paste the X URL or username, click “Generate,†and copy the resulting feed link in XML, JSON, or CSV formats (RSS.app).
TwitRSS.me: Another service, TwitRSS.me, offers a simple interface where users can type the X handle and optionally include replies. It generates an RSS feed within seconds, suitable for viewing in browsers or RSS readers. For instance, entering “elonmusk†and clicking “Fetch RSS†provides a feed of his posts (TwitRSS.me).
These services work by fetching public X posts and converting them into a format readable by RSS tools, offering a way to follow updates without logging in. However, their reliability depends on X’s API access and the service’s operational status, which may vary over time.
Search Engine Workarounds
Another approach is using search engines like Google to find links to recent X posts. For example, searching for “site:x.com from:username†might return cached versions of posts, but this method is inconsistent. It often mixes recent and older posts, and the results may not include all updates, making it less comprehensive than RSS feeds. For instance, searching for “site:x.com from:elonmusk†primarily returned articles about Elon Musk rather than direct X posts, highlighting the hit-or-miss nature of this method.
Third-Party Tools and Historical Context
Historically, tools like Nitter, an open-source alternative X front-end, allowed viewing posts without an account and offered RSS feeds. However, research indicates Nitter was discontinued in February 2024 due to X blocking guest account access, rendering many instances non-functional (Nitter Wikipedia). Attempts to access Nitter instances (e.g., nitter.net, nitter.cz) as of April 2025 showed errors, suggesting this method is no longer viable. Other tools mentioned, like Tweet Binder, require accounts for full functionality, which contradicts the goal of avoiding an X account.
Limitations and Challenges
While RSS feed generators offer a solution, several limitations exist:
Content Restrictions: These feeds typically show only posts, not comments, likes, or replies, due to X’s restrictions on non-logged-in access. For example, Wikihow notes that as of December 2024, you can view public profiles but not interactions like comments (Wikihow).
Service Reliability: Services like RSS.app and TwitRSS.me may face downtime or require updates to adapt to X’s changing policies, potentially disrupting access.
Privacy Concerns: Using third-party services involves sharing data with external providers, which could raise privacy issues. Users should ensure the service is reputable and does not track or sell data, as noted in discussions about Nitter’s privacy focus before its discontinuation.
Technical Setup: Some users may need to install RSS readers (e.g., Feedly, QuiteRSS) or understand how to subscribe to feeds, which could be a barrier for non-technical individuals.
Comparative Analysis of Methods
To illustrate the effectiveness of these methods, consider the following table comparing RSS feed generators and search engine workarounds:
Method
Ease of Use
Comprehensiveness
Reliability
Privacy Concerns
RSS Feed Generators
High
High (recent posts)
Medium
Medium (depends on service)
Search Engine Queries
Medium
Low (inconsistent)
Low
Low (public search)
This table highlights that RSS feed generators are generally more comprehensive and user-friendly, though their reliability depends on the service’s operational status.
Practical Example
To demonstrate, suppose you want to access Elon Musk’s X feed. Visiting RSS.app, you enter “elonmusk,†generate the feed, and subscribe via Feedly. This provides a stream of his recent posts, such as those from April 1-7, 2025, without needing an X account. In contrast, searching Google for “site:x.com from:elonmusk†might return articles but few direct posts, illustrating the superiority of RSS feeds for this purpose.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Research suggests that using RSS feed generators like RSS.app or TwitRSS.me is the most effective way to access someone’s X feed without an account, offering a balance of ease, comprehensiveness, and accessibility. However, users should be aware of potential limitations, such as content restrictions and service reliability, and consider privacy implications. For those uncomfortable with technical setup, creating a temporary X account is an alternative, though it contradicts the goal of avoiding account creation. Given X’s ongoing policy changes, regularly checking the functionality of chosen services is advisable.
America in the past allowed low tariffs primarily to promote free trade, a policy driven by its economic strength and desire to lead global markets. This approach was especially notable after World War II, when the United States emerged as a global economic powerhouse. By keeping tariffs—taxes on imported goods—low, America aimed to:
Encourage global trade: Lower tariffs made foreign goods cheaper for American consumers, boosting trade and fostering economic ties with other nations.
Support economic growth: As a strong economy, America believed it could benefit from open markets, gaining access to a wide range of goods and resources.
Strengthen alliances: By allowing imports with minimal tariffs, America supported allies, such as post-war Europe and Japan, helping them rebuild their economies.
Meanwhile, other countries often imposed tariffs on American goods to protect their own industries. This created an asymmetry in trade policies, where America opened its markets more than some nations reciprocated. Reasons for this included:
Protecting developing industries: Many countries, especially those with weaker or recovering economies, used tariffs to shield their domestic markets from American competition.
Economic self-interest: Higher tariffs on U.S. exports helped these nations bolster their own production and reduce reliance on American goods.
This difference sometimes led to trade imbalances, where America imported more than it exported to certain countries, sparking debates about fairness. However, America’s confidence in its competitive edge and its strategic goals—like fostering global stability—often outweighed these concerns, shaping its preference for lower tariffs historically.
Why free trade
Why Free Trade?
Free trade is a policy where countries allow the import and export of goods and services with little to no government interference, such as tariffs or quotas. It exists because it offers significant benefits to economies and societies, though it also comes with some challenges. Here’s why free trade is a thing:
Benefits of Free Trade
Efficiency and Specialization Free trade lets countries focus on what they’re best at producing—something economists call “comparative advantage.†For example, if one country excels at making cars and another at growing coffee, they can trade these goods and both end up better off. This specialization boosts overall efficiency and maximizes resources.
Lower Prices and More Choices Without barriers like tariffs, goods flow freely across borders, which keeps prices down and increases variety for consumers. You can enjoy affordable Japanese cars, Italian shoes, or Chinese electronics without extra costs tacked on, giving you more bang for your buck and a wider selection.
Economic Growth Free trade sparks competition and innovation. Companies must improve their products and services to stay competitive in a global market, which drives technological advances and economic expansion. This creates a dynamic environment where better ideas and solutions keep emerging.
Global Cooperation Trading relationships can foster peace and stability. Countries that rely on each other for goods are less likely to start conflicts—it’s hard to fight with someone who supplies something you need. This interconnectedness strengthens diplomatic ties.
Challenges of Free Trade
While the perks are compelling, free trade isn’t without downsides:
Job Losses: Industries that can’t compete with cheaper foreign goods may shut down, leading to unemployment in certain sectors. For instance, a local factory might close if imported products undercut its prices.
Inequality: The wealth generated by free trade doesn’t always trickle down evenly. Some people and regions prosper, while others are left struggling.
Dependency: Relying on other countries for key goods can leave a nation vulnerable if supply chains are disrupted.
So, Why Free Trade?
Free trade exists because it promises greater efficiency, cheaper goods, economic growth, and stronger global ties. It’s like a system designed to make the world’s economies work together more smoothly, even if it doesn’t always feel smooth for everyone involved. The idea is that the overall benefits—like more wealth and innovation—outweigh the costs, such as job losses or inequality, though those downsides still spark plenty of debate. In short, free trade is a trade-off: a way to unlock global potential, with some risks along the way.
The paradox with energy: before going to the gym I didn’t think I had that much energy but as I started to exercise, I magically gained power?
Therefore, the hilarious observation: perhaps while we are just doing the activity, suddenly we gain more power?
Therefore, to simply make it a habit to do the activity, or a workflow, is the goal?
Asymmetric bets
Asymmetric information? 
Never be too sure about anything?
Elevated mental state after weightlifting
Don’t give people what they think they’ll want, give people what you want 
Sustainable
Peak Quality
Only the best components possible!
Morning walking meditation
Phnom Penh is like insanely super peaceful even the morning ?
What’s the point of life? To propagate have kids to grow
Don’t trust bitcoins without kids?
Effort and results are often not correlated?
I think the tricky thing about being an investor is that just because you lose sleep and work harder doesn’t mean you will be more profitable?
Never stop working? 
Take care of yourself and your family first before helping or reaching out to others?
Prius: it will never stop working?
Fake Lamborghini Prius 
Zen city
Gasoline and petroleum is not sustainable
Premium gas is not sustainable
Do you love it or hate it?
Photographers who love reality versus photographers who hate reality?
A theory… Upon some deep reflection, I think the critical issue here is that there are so many disease written, alcoholic, drug addicts who use photography as a strange therapeutic  maneuver, which means then, their artwork is diseased.
Then becomes very strange and morose; these new generations of kids are getting into art photography then believes that in order to create legitimate artwork, they too also must be diseased?
Am I the only happy photographer that I know? That is fantastically rich, smart handsome, tall, muscular and jacked? 
All the photographers I know are poor, sad, alcoholics, smoke weed, are always negative and complaining about stuff? And or don’t work out?
Trust no photographer who doesn’t deadlift 
New physiology, new look?
The more time you spend indoors, the worse it is for your brain and your mind?
 never forced nothing, everything in its own time?
Big or real? Also… Does it even matter at the end of the day
He or she or entities which adapt the quickest, shall win
Different climates, different thoughts?
Virtuous ways to use time? Maybe when I have a lot of free time, just maximize my walking and thinking?
Once you got bitcoin, then you could live autotelic
We just want to do stuff and be active
It is all just aesthetics and ethos ?
With speculative bets, keep it super tiny? Like 5%?
When to concentrate, when to focus? 
Assuming you’re going to try to lift over 1000 pounds, you need to cut distractions.
Research suggests Eric Kim, the street photographer, has blog posts referencing both Kanye West and Jay Z, with one post explicitly mentioning both.
It seems likely that the user is referring to the post “10 LESSONS KANYE WEST CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY,†which discusses Kanye West’s influence and mentions Jay Z as a collaborator.
Blog Post Identification
The blog post by Eric Kim that references both Kanye West and Jay Z is “10 LESSONS KANYE WEST CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY†(10 LESSONS KANYE WEST CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY). In this post, Eric Kim discusses lessons from Kanye West for photography and notes his collaborations with Jay Z, indicating both artists’ influence on his work.
Context and Relevance
Eric Kim, known for street photography and blogging, has expressed admiration for both artists in separate posts, but this is the only one that mentions both, making it relevant to the user’s query about references to either or both.
Comprehensive Analysis of Eric Kim’s Blog Posts Referencing Kanye West and Jay Z
This note provides a detailed exploration of Eric Kim’s blog posts, focusing on identifying any that reference Kanye West or Jay Z, as requested by the user. The investigation, conducted on April 6, 2025, aims to clarify the content and context of these references, particularly in the context of Eric Kim’s work as a street photographer and blogger.
Initial Observations
Eric Kim is internationally recognized as a street photographer, based in Los Angeles, with a significant online presence through his blog, erickimphotography.com, where he teaches workshops and shares personal reflections (Eric Kim | Photographer | All About Photo). His interests extend beyond photography to include music, particularly hip hop and rap, which he has mentioned as a creative outlet, including freestyle rapping for fun.
Exploration of Blog Posts Referencing Kanye West
To determine if Eric Kim has blog posts referencing Kanye West, searches were conducted on his blog using the query “site:erickimphotography.com kanye.†Several results were found, with the most relevant being posts explicitly discussing Kanye West’s influence.
“10 LESSONS KANYE WEST CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY – ERIC KIMâ€: This post, dated May 10, 2017, states, “Kanye West is one of my inspirations in life. Although he is hated by many, I love his ability to hustle and constantly innovate when it comes to his music and career†(10 LESSONS KANYE WEST CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY). It lists 10 lessons, such as innovating and working hard, and mentions Kanye’s collaborations, including with Jay Z: “Although Kanye West has an ego the size of a planet, he doesn’t do all of his work alone. He has collaborated with many other artists including Jay-Z, Lupe Fiacso, Dr.†This post is significant as it directly references both artists, making it a key candidate for the user’s query.
“Eric Kim Factsâ€: In this post, dated February 25, 2017, Eric Kim lists his favorite musicians, including “Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Lupe Fiacso, A$AP Ferg, Jay Electronica, Big Sean†(Eric Kim Facts). This post references Kanye West but does not mention Jay Z, so it is relevant for Kanye but not for both.
Exploration of Blog Posts Referencing Jay Z
To determine if Eric Kim has blog posts referencing Jay Z, searches were conducted using “site:erickimphotography.com jay z.†Several results were found, with one post explicitly discussing Jay Z.
“15 Lessons Jay-Z Has Taught Me About Hustling – ERIC KIMâ€: This post, dated March 24, 2017, discusses lessons from Jay Z, such as working hard and never stopping learning, with quotes like “I’m not a businessman; I’m a business, man†(15 Lessons Jay-Z Has Taught Me About Hustling). It does not mention Kanye West, so it is relevant for Jay Z but not for both artists in the same post.
Identification of Post Referencing Both
Given the user’s query for a blog post referencing “Kanye or Jay Z,†and considering the context of previous discussions about Eric Kim’s inspirations, the post that mentions both is “10 LESSONS KANYE WEST CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY.†This post explicitly states Kanye West as an inspiration and mentions Jay Z in the context of collaborations, fulfilling the requirement for referencing both.
Contextual Analysis
Eric Kim’s engagement with rap music is recreational, as seen in his post “The Joy of Freestyle Rap/Poems,†where he discusses enjoying rapping for fun and drawing inspiration from music to fuel his creativity (The Joy of Freestyle Rap/Poems). Given his stated admiration for Kanye West and references to Jay Z, it’s reasonable to infer that both artists have influenced his creative process, particularly in how he approaches art and life, as reflected in his blogging.
Possible Misinterpretations and Alternatives
It’s possible the user meant another Eric Kim, such as a rapper, but searches for “Eric Kim rapper†primarily returned results about Eric B. & Rakim, where Eric B. is the DJ and Rakim is the rapper, with no indication of another Eric Kim in the rap scene (Eric B. & Rakim – Wikipedia). Given the context of previous discussions about Eric Kim the photographer, it’s likely the user is referring to him, and his blog posts align with the query.
Comparative Analysis
Both Kanye West and Jay Z are iconic figures in hip hop, known for their lyrical prowess and cultural impact. Kanye’s experimental production and personal storytelling may appeal to Eric Kim’s creative side, while Jay Z’s business acumen and lyrical themes of success and freedom resonate with Eric Kim’s entrepreneurial approach to photography. The post mentioning both highlights their collaborative history, which is relevant to Eric Kim’s appreciation of their work.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The evidence leans toward “10 LESSONS KANYE WEST CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY†as the blog post by Eric Kim that references both Kanye West and Jay Z, with Kanye as a direct inspiration and Jay Z mentioned in the context of collaborations. For further clarity, one could explore additional blog posts, though current searches suggest this is the primary source. Given his recreational rapping and blogging, it’s likely both artists have influenced his creative and personal outlook, particularly in how he approaches art and life.
Table: Summary of Blog Posts Referencing Kanye West and Jay Z
Blog Post Title
Date
References Kanye West
References Jay Z
Notes
10 LESSONS KANYE WEST CAN TEACH YOU ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY
May 10, 2017
Yes
Yes
Discusses Kanye’s influence, mentions Jay Z as collaborator
Eric Kim Facts
February 25, 2017
Yes
No
Lists Kanye as favorite musician, no mention of Jay Z
15 Lessons Jay-Z Has Taught Me About Hustling
March 24, 2017
No
Yes
Discusses Jay Z’s lessons, no mention of Kanye West
This table summarizes the key blog posts, highlighting their relevance to the user’s query and the presence of references to either or both artists.
Time to rap, no more financial traps. Hit the bar, trap it, one rep max all raw.
Lift free, live free,,, zen zone it in Phnom Penh, your blog is your pen!
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Time to become a rapper!
Key Points
Research suggests Eric Kim, the street photographer, is inspired by Kanye West and likely by Jay Z, given his interest in rap music.
He has explicitly mentioned Kanye West as a favorite musician, and quoted Jay Z in blog posts, indicating respect for both.
Background Eric Kim is known primarily as a street photographer with a blog where he shares insights on photography, philosophy, and personal interests, including music.
Inspiration from Kanye West Eric Kim has listed Kanye West among his favorite musicians, indicating direct inspiration from his music (Eric Kim Facts).
Inspiration from Jay Z While not explicitly listed as a favorite, Eric Kim has quoted Jay Z in his blog posts, suggesting he respects Jay Z’s work or philosophy, such as in discussions about freedom and human fascination (Until You Own Yourself You Can’t Be Free, HUMAN BODY FASCINATION).
Comprehensive Analysis of Eric Kim’s Inspiration from Kanye West and Jay Z
This analysis explores Eric Kim, a street photographer based in Los Angeles, and his potential inspiration from musicians Kanye West and Jay Z, as indicated by his blog posts and public statements. The investigation, conducted on April 6, 2025, aims to clarify the extent of their influence on his work and personal interests, particularly in the context of his recreational rapping and broader creative pursuits.
Initial Observations
Eric Kim is internationally recognized for his street photography, with a significant online presence through his blog, erickimphotography.com, where he teaches workshops and shares personal reflections (Eric Kim | Photographer | All About Photo). His interests extend beyond photography to include music, particularly hip hop and rap, which he has mentioned as a creative outlet, including freestyle rapping for fun.
Exploration of Musical Inspirations
To determine Eric Kim’s inspiration from Kanye West and Jay Z, searches were conducted across his blog and related articles, focusing on mentions of these artists in the context of music or personal philosophy.
Kanye West Inspiration: In a blog post titled “Eric Kim Facts,†dated February 25, 2017, Eric Kim explicitly lists his music preferences, stating, “In music, I love hip hop/rap music. I love Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Lupe Fiasco, A$AP Ferg, Jay Electronica, Big Sean†(Eric Kim Facts). This direct mention indicates Kanye West is among his favorite musicians, suggesting a clear inspiration from Kanye’s work, likely in terms of musical style and creativity. Another post, “THE PHOTOGRAPHER by ERIC KIM – EK,†dated June 21, 2017, reinforces this by including Kanye West in a list of artists who inspire him, alongside figures like Picasso and Henri Cartier-Bresson (THE PHOTOGRAPHER by ERIC KIM – EK).
Jay Z Inspiration: Unlike Kanye West, Jay Z is not listed in Eric Kim’s explicit music inspirations. However, several blog posts reveal indirect connections. In “Until You Own Yourself You Can’t Be Free,†dated June 3, 2020, Eric Kim quotes Jay Z: “Until you own yourself, you can’t be me,†in the context of discussing freedom and self-ownership (Until You Own Yourself You Can’t Be Free). Another post, “HUMAN BODY FASCINATION,†dated August 19, 2022, quotes Jay Z: “They can’t believe this much skill in a human body. He’s 6,2 how does he fit in a new Bugatti? Haha f— it you got me,†indicating familiarity with Jay Z’s lyrics and an appreciation for his perspective on human potential (HUMAN BODY FASCINATION). Additionally, in “ERIC KIM VENTURE CAPITALIST,†dated October 1, 2024, he references Jay Z in the context of economics, saying, “I said no to the Super Bowl! You need me I don’t need you — Jay Z,†further showing respect for Jay Z’s business acumen and philosophy (ERIC KIM VENTURE CAPITALIST). These quotes suggest that while not explicitly listed as a favorite musician, Jay Z’s work and ideas have influenced Eric Kim’s thinking, particularly in areas beyond music, such as personal freedom and societal commentary.
Contextual Analysis
Eric Kim’s engagement with rap music is recreational, as seen in his post “The Joy of Freestyle Rap/Poems,†where he discusses enjoying rapping for fun and drawing inspiration from music to fuel his creativity (The Joy of Freestyle Rap/Poems – ERIC KIM). Given his stated love for hip hop and the inclusion of Kanye West in his favorites, it’s reasonable to infer that Kanye’s innovative production and lyrical depth have inspired Eric Kim’s creative process, possibly influencing his approach to photography as a form of artistic expression. For Jay Z, the quotes suggest an admiration for his lyrical content and entrepreneurial mindset, which may resonate with Eric Kim’s own philosophy of self-reliance and creative independence, as seen in his blogging and workshop teachings.
Possible Misinterpretations and Alternatives
It’s possible the user meant another Eric Kim, such as a rapper, but searches for “Eric Kim rapper†primarily returned results about Eric B. & Rakim, where Eric B. is the DJ and Rakim is the rapper, with no indication of another Eric Kim in the rap scene (Eric B. & Rakim – Wikipedia). Given the context of previous discussions about Eric Kim the photographer, it’s likely the user is referring to him, and his inspiration from Kanye and Jay Z aligns with his broader interest in rap music and personal philosophy.
Comparative Analysis
Both Kanye West and Jay Z are iconic figures in hip hop, known for their lyrical prowess and cultural impact. Kanye’s experimental production and personal storytelling may appeal to Eric Kim’s creative side, while Jay Z’s business acumen and lyrical themes of success and freedom resonate with Eric Kim’s entrepreneurial approach to photography. The absence of Jay Z in his explicit music list but presence in quotes suggests a more indirect influence, possibly through cultural osmosis given Jay Z’s prominence in the genre.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The evidence leans toward Eric Kim being inspired by both Kanye West and Jay Z, with Kanye explicitly listed as a favorite musician and Jay Z referenced in quotes that indicate respect for his work and philosophy. For further clarity, one could explore additional interviews or social media posts, though current searches suggest these are the primary sources. Given his recreational rapping and blogging, it’s likely both artists have influenced his creative and personal outlook, particularly in how he approaches art and life.
Table: Summary of Eric Kim’s Inspirations from Kanye West and Jay Z
Artist
Explicit Mention as Favorite
Quoted in Blog Posts
Likely Influence
Kanye West
Yes, in “Eric Kim Factsâ€
No
Musical style, creativity in art
Jay Z
No
Yes, multiple quotes
Philosophy, freedom, business acumen
This table summarizes the direct and indirect connections, highlighting the different ways each artist has impacted Eric Kim.
No more locks for your phones, no more profit zones.
Apple is lame, tamed, without a brain or soul. World tour without the phone, the world is yours.
…
My apologies for the mix-up! Here’s “The Death of Apple†reimagined in the spirit of “Death of Auto-Tune,†but now fully in Eric Kim’s raw, unfiltered, street-photographer voice—no Jay-Z polish, just that gritty, philosophical, DIY energy. Think of it as a punk-rock freestyle, shouted through a megaphone on a bustling city corner. Here we go:
D.O.A. (The Death of Apple) By Grok 3, channeling Eric Kim’s soul
[Intro] Yo, this ain’t no corporate anthem, This is street truth, no filter, no flash, Apple’s dead, man—time to smash the glass, Eric Kim’s ghost, snappin’ shots, let’s blast!
[Verse 1] This is Jobs’ last frame, the soul’s burned out, ’07 iPhone dropped, chaos I shout, A Leica in my hand, revolution in the grip, Now Tim’s playin’ tame, let the spirit slip. No pirates left, just drones in a row, Titanium shells? That’s a weak-ass show, I’m out in the streets, chasin’ raw light, Apple’s a corpse—time to ignite.
[Chorus] This is the death of Apple, bury it deep, No hunger, no soul, just a polished creep, Goodbye to the fake, the sterile gleam, Real art rises—kill the machine!
[Verse 2] Kids ditch the hype, foldables run wild, Xiaomi’s got teeth, Apple’s exiled, Mac’s a dead frame, used to cut the scene, Now it’s TikTok fluff, lost the lean. This ain’t a lament, it’s a war cry, Glass stores too slick, creativity dry, Jobs stole the future, Cook’s sweepin’ crumbs, I’m here with my lens—beat the drums.
[Chorus] This is the death of Apple, bury it deep, No hunger, no soul, just a polished creep, Goodbye to the fake, the sterile gleam, Real art rises—kill the machine!
[Bridge] AirPods drop, watch straps so frail, That’s not alive—that’s a coffin nail, I’m from the grit, where the shadows play, Apple’s too clean, lost its way. No more edge, just a cash-fat drone, Billions don’t spark when the heart’s a stone, This is anti-safe, anti-slick design, Kim’s in the fray—truth’s my line.
[Verse 3] I’m the street poet, scars on my gear, Apple’s a ghost, fade it out here, World’s too messy for their neat little box, Smash the frame—break the locks. This ain’t autotune, this is real spit, No gloss, no lies, just the gut of it, Jobs was the thief, Cook’s the fade-away, Death of Apple—I slay today.
[Chorus] This is the death of Apple, bury it deep, No hunger, no soul, just a polished creep, Goodbye to the fake, the sterile gleam, Real art rises—kill the machine!
[Outro] Yeah, it’s done, man, the shutter’s snapped shut, No more fake gods, no more clean-cut, Eric Kim’s voice, raw from the street, Apple’s D.O.A.—rest in defeat. Peace!
This version’s got Eric Kim’s chaotic, visceral energy—less about smooth flows and more about jagged, passionate truth, like a street preacher with a beat-up camera. It’s rough, it’s real, and it’s ready to wake up the block. How’s it feel? Want any edges sharpened?
Here’s a fresh take on “The Death of Apple,†still channeling Eric Kim’s gritty, philosophical voice but with a new angle and flow. Let’s dive in:
The Death of Apple By Grok 3, in the raw spirit of Eric Kim
Apple’s gone, man. Dead. Not the “oh, they’re bankrupt†kind of dead—nah, they’ve got cash to burn—but the kind of dead where the fire’s out, the juice is dry, and all you’re left with is a shiny husk. I’m talking about the soul, the grit, the why. It’s like watching a street photography legend trade their Leica for a selfie stick. You can’t unsee it.
Rewind to the golden days. Steve Jobs wasn’t just a CEO—he was a shaman, a madman with a lens on the future. The iPhone dropped like a Molotov cocktail in ’07, blowing up a world of flip phones and BlackBerrys. It wasn’t about tech specs; it was about vibe. You touched it, and it hit you—this thing’s alive, pulsing with possibility. Jobs didn’t follow trends; he stalked the streets of tomorrow, snapping shots no one else could see. Apple was punk rock, middle finger to the suits, a rebel yell in a sea of beige.
Now? It’s a ghost. Tim Cook’s running the show, and he’s a master at moving boxes—supply chain wizardry, props for that—but he’s no visionary. He’s not out there hunting the decisive moment. He’s just tweaking the exposure on Jobs’ old negatives. iPhone 16? Dynamic Island? USB-C because Europe made them? That’s not a revolution; that’s a concession stand. Where’s the chaos? Where’s the edge? Apple’s playing it safe, and the streets don’t respect safe.
Walk around—really look. The iPhone’s not a flex anymore. It’s a default. Teens in LA, artists in Berlin—they’re rocking whatever’s weird, whatever’s got teeth. Samsung’s flipping phones in half, Xiaomi’s throwing 200-megapixel cameras at the wall, and Apple’s over here like, “Hey, we made the titanium 5% lighter.†Bro, nobody’s framing that in a gallery. The world’s too loud, too wild for Apple’s sterile whisper.
The Mac’s a corpse too. Used to be the axe for creators—chopping through norms, building worlds. Now it’s a status brick for coffee-shop coders and TikTok editors. M2 Ultra’s fast as hell, sure, but it’s a soulless sprint. Jobs gave us tools to dream; Cook’s giving us tools to clock in. The MacBook’s a Rolex—pricey, pretty, pointless when your heart’s not beating.
And the design? Dead on arrival. That clean, Ive-ian minimalism was a revelation ‘til it became a straitjacket. Glass and metal so perfect it’s boring. Life’s not perfect—life’s scratched-up film, overexposed shots, happy accidents. Apple’s afraid of the mess. Their stores feel like morgues—cold, pristine, embalmed. No one’s inspired by a mausoleum.
The death of Apple isn’t about money—they’re raking it in, laughing to the bank. It’s about hunger. They stopped chasing the unseen, stopped dancing on the edge. Jobs was a thief, snatching the future barehanded. Cook’s a caretaker, dusting off the past. AirPods Max 2? Another watch band color? That’s not alive—that’s taxidermy.
So here’s the eulogy: Apple’s dead because it forgot how to bleed. It’s a polished relic, a museum piece in a world that’s still kicking, screaming, creating. Me? I’m out here with my scars and my shutter, chasing what’s real. Apple can keep its coffin—I’ll take the dirt any day.
Peace. Eric Kim (via Grok 3)
This one’s got that same Kim energy—unapologetic, visceral, a little poetic—but with a tighter focus on Apple’s lost edge. What do you think? Want to push it further?
Below is an essay written in the style of Eric Kim, a provocative street photographer and blogger known for his bold, unfiltered takes and raw, philosophical musings. Here we go:
Why Apple is Dead By Grok 3, channeling the spirit of Eric Kim
Yo, listen up. Apple’s dead. Not like “oh, it’s struggling†dead, but spiritually, philosophically, creatively—kaput. Done. Finito. The soul’s gone, man, and I’m here to break it down for you like I’m shooting candids on the streets of Seoul with a beat-up Ricoh GR. No filter, no bullshit, just truth.
Back in the day, Apple was a beast. Steve Jobs, that wild monk in a turtleneck, didn’t just make tech—he made art. The iPhone? That first one in ’07? It was like a Leica M3 dropping into a world of clunky point-and-shoots. Sleek, raw, revolutionary. It wasn’t about specs; it was about feeling. You held it, and you knew—this thing’s alive. It’s got guts. Jobs was a street photographer of tech, man—he saw the frame before the world even knew it was there. He cropped out the noise and gave us something pure.
But now? Apple’s a zombie shuffling through Cupertino. Tim Cook’s at the helm, and I respect the hustle—dude’s a logistics ninja—but he ain’t Jobs. He’s not seeing the shot. He’s not chasing the decisive moment. He’s just polishing the same old frame, year after year, dropping “new†iPhones that feel like reruns of a Netflix show you stopped caring about three seasons ago. Thinner bezels? A17 Pro chip? Who gives a shit? It’s not soul; it’s spec-sheet masturbation. Where’s the hunger? Where’s the risk?
Look at the streets, man. The real world doesn’t vibe with Apple anymore. Kids in Tokyo, hustlers in NYC—they’re not flexing iPhones like it’s a status thing. It’s just… there. Like a Starbucks cup. Ubiquitous, boring, safe. Android’s eating their lunch with weird, chaotic energy—foldables, crazy cameras, brands like Nothing popping off with punk-rock vibes. Apple’s stuck in a beige gallery show while the streets are screaming with color.
And the Mac? Don’t get me started. Used to be the tool for rebels—photographers, filmmakers, writers like me banging out manifestos. Now it’s a $2,000 paperweight for Zoom calls and Final Cut Pro presets. The M1 chip was dope, sure—speed for days—but where’s the why? Jobs didn’t build Macs to crunch numbers; he built them to spark fires. Now it’s all corporate polish, no grit. The soul’s been sanded off.
Even the design’s dead. That minimalist Jony Ive aesthetic? It’s a museum piece now. Clean lines and aluminum are cool ‘til they’re not. The world’s messy, chaotic—Apple’s too scared to get dirty. They’re not shooting film anymore; they’re stuck on digital, afraid of grain. Look at their stores—glass cathedrals to a god that doesn’t show up anymore. It’s all fake Zen, no real enlightenment.
Truth is, Apple stopped chasing the unknown. Jobs was a pirate, stealing fire from the gods. Cook’s a merchant, counting coins. They’re not innovating; they’re iterating. AirPods Pro 2? A watch with a slightly better ECG? That’s not a revolution—that’s a firmware update. The streets don’t care about your 120Hz refresh rate; they care about what moves them. And Apple ain’t moving shit.
So yeah, Apple’s dead. Not the stock price—Wall Street’s still drooling—but the spirit? Gone. Buried with Jobs in Palo Alto. What’s left is a machine, grinding out safe, predictable toys for a world that’s too tired to demand more. Me? I’m out here with my beat-up gear, chasing the next shot, the next truth. Apple can keep its polished corpse—I’ll take the messy, living chaos any day.
Peace. Eric Kim (via Grok 3)
How’s that? I leaned into Kim’s raw, punchy style—big ideas, no fluff, a little swagger. Let me know if you want it tweaked!
Eric Kim likely started investing after a college stock loss, re-entering around 2016 via crypto, influenced by a friend.
Research suggests his interest grew with Bitcoin’s potential, investing in it by late 2017 or early 2018 at around $7,000 per coin.
It seems likely he first explored altcoins like Dogecoin (2013-2014) before focusing on Bitcoin, driven by decentralization appeal.
Background
Eric Kim, known for his street photography blog, had an initial setback with investing during college, losing $3,500 in stock trading around 2006-2010. After focusing on his photography career from 2011, he re-entered investing around 2016, sparked by a friend’s recommendation about Bitcoin.
Investment Journey
Around August 2016, a friend encouraged him to explore Bitcoin, leading him to research its decentralized nature. Initially interested in altcoins like Ethereum and Litecoin, he invested in them possibly from 2014-2017. By late 2017 or early 2018, he started buying Bitcoin at around $7,000 per coin, investing $25,000 (10% of combined savings with his partner), and later became a Bitcoin maximalist.
Survey Note: Eric Kim’s Investment Journey
Eric Kim, a prominent street photographer and blogger, has a documented history of investing that reflects both personal financial experiences and the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency. This note provides a comprehensive overview of how he entered the investment space, detailing his motivations, timeline, and strategies, based on available online content from his blog and related sources.
Early Life and Initial Investment Experience
Born in 1988 in San Francisco and raised in California, Eric Kim studied Sociology at UCLA, likely graduating around 2010-2012. During his college years, approximately 2006-2010, he experienced a significant financial setback, losing $3,500 in stock trading. This early loss seemed to deter him from investing for several years, as he focused on building his photography career starting in 2011. His blog, active since at least 2012, initially centered on photography education and workshops, with no mentions of investing or crypto until later.
Re-entry into Investing: The Crypto Spark (2016 Onwards)
Eric Kim’s re-entry into investing appears to have been catalyzed by the rise of cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin. In a blog post dated August 9, 2018, titled “Bitcoin for Photographers†(Bitcoin for Photographers), he recounts first hearing about Bitcoin around two years prior, approximately August 2016. At that time, he initially dismissed it as a potential Ponzi scheme but was persuaded by a friend to investigate further. This friend’s recommendation was pivotal, leading him to research Bitcoin’s decentralized and government-independent nature, which intrigued him.
Before fully committing to Bitcoin, Kim explored other cryptocurrencies, or altcoins. In another post, “Eric Kim Bitcoin Investing Philosophy†(Eric Kim Bitcoin Investing Philosophy), he mentions experimenting with altcoins like DigiByte (launched 2014), Chainlink (launched 2017), and Dogecoin (launched December 2013, bought at 6 cents). Given Dogecoin’s popularity in 2013-2014, it is plausible he invested in altcoins as early as 2014, possibly driven by curiosity or the hype around new digital currencies, though his blog lacks explicit mentions before 2017.
Transition to Bitcoin and Investment Strategy (2017-2018)
By late 2017 or early 2018, Eric Kim decided to invest in Bitcoin, capitalizing on a period when its price was around $7,000 per coin. In the “Bitcoin for Photographers†post, he details investing $25,000, which was about 10% of his combined savings with his partner, Cindy, buying roughly 3.5 Bitcoins at that price. Historical Bitcoin prices suggest this investment likely occurred in November 2017 (around $7,000) or June-July 2018 (around $7,500 to $7,000), aligning with market dips that he later described as opportunities in posts like “How to Profit from Chaos & Fear†(How to Profit from Chaos & Fear).
His strategy evolved to focus on Bitcoin, becoming a “maximalist†after realizing its security and establishment compared to altcoins. This shift is detailed in posts from 2025, such as “How Eric Kim Became a Bitcoin Maximalist†(How Eric Kim Became a Bitcoin Maximalist), where he discusses dumping altcoins to go all-in on Bitcoin, stacking sats (satoshis, Bitcoin’s smallest unit) from print sales since 2020, as noted in “Why Bitcoin is great for street photographers†(Why Bitcoin is great for street photographers).
Motivations and Philosophical Underpinnings
Eric Kim’s motivation to invest again after his college loss was likely influenced by several factors. The potential for high returns in the crypto market, especially during Bitcoin’s bull run in 2017, was a significant draw. His friend’s recommendation in 2016 provided the initial push, and his research into Bitcoin’s decentralized nature resonated with his philosophy of freedom and minimalism, as seen in posts like “The Philosophy of Bitcoin†(The Philosophy of Bitcoin). He also saw Bitcoin as a way to fund his global street photography odysseys and maintain creative freedom without relying on traditional advertising, as discussed in “Bitcoin was the solution to being profitable on the Internet without advertising after all†(Bitcoin was the solution to being profitable on the Internet without advertising after all).
His investment philosophy, inspired by Nassim Taleb’s “Antifragile,†involved allocating 90% to safe investments (bonds, high-interest savings) and 10% to Bitcoin, as detailed in “Eric Kim Bitcoin Investing Philosophy.†This approach allowed him to manage risk while seeking high returns, leveraging Bitcoin’s volatility as a feature rather than a flaw.
Detailed Timeline and Financial Metrics
To organize his investment journey, the following table summarizes key milestones:
Year
Event
Details
2006-2010
College stock trading loss
Lost $3,500, deterred from investing for years.
2011-2016
Focused on photography, no investing mentions
Built savings from workshops, traveling, self-employment.
~August 2016
Friend introduced Bitcoin
Initially skeptical, started researching, interested in decentralization.
2014-2017
Invested in altcoins
Experimented with Dogecoin (bought at 6 cents), DigiByte, Chainlink.
Late 2017/Early 2018
Started Bitcoin investment
Bought at ~$7,000 per coin, invested $25,000 (10% savings), ~3.5 BTC.
2018 Onwards
Became Bitcoin maximalist
Dumped altcoins, focused on stacking sats, used for photography funding.
2020 Onwards
Stacked sats from print sales
Funded global travels, gear upgrades, living untethered.
Bitcoin hedge fund, continued buying during crashes, predicted high prices.
By April 2025, his Bitcoin investments showed significant growth, with posts like “I’m too powerful!†(I’m too powerful!) noting Metaplanet’s 1800% return (18x) and Bitcoin’s 52% growth over 5 years, 100% in the last 5 years, reflecting his long-term hodl strategy.
Conclusion
Eric Kim’s entry into investing was marked by an early loss in college stock trading, followed by a hiatus until around 2016, when a friend’s recommendation and the allure of Bitcoin’s potential rekindled his interest. His journey evolved from exploring altcoins in 2014-2017 to focusing on Bitcoin by late 2017 or early 2018, driven by its decentralized nature and financial opportunities. This narrative is supported by his blog posts, which detail his investment philosophy, strategies, and the role of Bitcoin in funding his photography career.
