How much does lettuce cost?

And how hungry are you for salad?

For the past few weeks, I've been mulling a singular quote from The Manual.

“Do not expect to equal anyone in effect without putting forth a similar effort.

...Everything has its price. How much does lettuce cost? If you are unwilling to pay a dollar for lettuce, yet you envy the man who has a bagful of lettuce because he paid five dollars, you are a fool. Do not imagine that he has gained an advantage over you — he has his lettuce, you have your coins.”

This profound idea ignited a small explosion of illustrations and metaphors in my mind and notes. Some of them may appear in this feed later, but today I don't have anything more to add.

Millions have read and reflected on this question since Epictetus posed it a year or two ago. How about you? What is it you want?

Are you willing to pay for it?

—Phil

The entire book takes about 45 minutes to read or listen to. I recommend it.