Interviewing… @classicalwisdom
Today, we’re asking , a publication that aims to “promote and preserve the love of ancient history, philosophy, mythology and literature,” a few interesting questions. Read on to learn why the modern world still needs to learn from the Classics, get some advice on starting out in the field, and even hear which ancient speech/conversation they’d most like to hear. And if you’d like to join their readership - nearly 100,000 subscribers as of publication, so they must be doing something right! - you can do so by clicking on the button below; their posts are some of the best on this platform, and you’ll receive many in your inbox for free.
How did your newsletter begin, and how has it developed over time?
Classical Wisdom was conceived around twelve years ago over a long lunch in a classic parrilla restaurant in Buenos Aires, Argentina. My longtime friend and sometimes business partner, Bill Bonner, had acquired Les Belles Lettres, the last publishing house dedicated to producing new and critical translations of the classical texts. It was, of course, a “labor of love.” That is, a business that was more noble than profitable - and Bill was looking for someone who would try to find a way to make the preservation and promotion of the Classics a self-sustaining endeavour. I happily co-founded Classical Wisdom with him shortly afterwards.
In 2022, Classical Wisdom moved to Substack to become an entirely independent, reader-supported newsletter. It’s grown from a lunchtime handshake to a community of almost 100,000 enthusiastic readers in all 50 US States and across 197 countries around the world. I’m truly honoured to have such a wonderful group (a rare treat on the internet!) as we bring the ancient world to modern minds.
Why do you think the modern world still needs to learn from the Classics?
Where to begin? The simplest answer is that humans haven't changed much. Cicero's reflections on grief still resonate as deeply today as they did in the first century BC. The stoic wisdom of Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius can guide us through modern struggles with anxiety, anger, and gratitude. Aristotle's teachings on friendship, love, and virtue still offer profound insight into navigating life's complexities.
Studying the past is not only fascinating but essential, as it can offer a toolbox for life: wisdom to make us better individuals, stronger citizens, and more compassionate human beings. The Classics provide us with countless examples from history (good and bad alike) to help us understand current events, and prepare for the future.
Moreover, even a basic familiarity with the ancient men and women, their ideas and myths, opens a huge world of understanding for modern minds. It helps us appreciate and contemplate all the subsequent ideas and works that were built on these foundations, as well as see the references threaded throughout western culture. It’s like putting on x-ray glasses to reveal a multi-coloured, multi-dimensional world of history.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out with classical literature and philosophy?
It can be easy to feel overwhelmed or to not know where to start, but don’t let that stop you. Just enjoy one book at a time and let the pieces connect as you go. Also, don’t think that the Classics will be boring: they are anything but! So many of the works and stories are genuinely enthralling. Many times you will be shocked by how fascinating it is and wonder why they haven’t made more movies on the topic.
But if you are looking for a practical starting point, the first step for many is simply with the epics. Read Homer. If you enjoy philosophy, Plato’s dialogues or Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations are a great place to begin. If you are a thespian or love mythology, Sophocles and Euripides are page turners. If history is your beef, Herodotus’ Histories or Suetonius’ Twelve Caesars are wonderful. Whenever you can, take the time to read some of the original works; engaging in texts that have survived thousands of years (for a reason) is sublime and inspiring.
On your Classics-focused podcast, where you've featured some amazing speakers, what have been the standout moments for you?
Oh... that’s tricky! I’m wary of picking favourites, but honestly I can say I have learned so much in each and every conversation. Sure, sometimes I might have lower expectations depending on my original interest in the topic, but I have always finished the discussion genuinely delighted at what I have learned. Often the less I knew about the subject beforehand, the more rewarding the interview.
If you could travel back in time to attend one ancient speech, lecture, or debate, whose would it be, and what would you hope to hear?
This is an absolutely fantastic question! Obviously Pericles’ funeral oration as well as Socrates’ Apologia are the first to come to mind - but personally I’d like to be a fly on the wall for some of the conversations we don’t know as much about, such as Aspasia teaching Socrates about love or the (probably apocryphal) trial of Agnodice. I’d also love to just hang out with Mark Antony and Cleopatra, and attend her ‘most expensive’ banquet. I imagine they would be hilarious, but it would be amazing to see one of history’s most exciting moments from their front row seats.
