Homer, a blind poet, in the 8th century BC composed a poem that would stand alongside
The Odyssey as the twin pillar of Western literature; that epic poem is The Iliad.
Spanning 24 books, it is a war story about the siege of the city of Troy,
pitting the invading Greek armies against the defending people of
Troy, or as you probably know them, the Trojans. A brutal tale of gods, kings,
and warriors fighting for glory in the Bronze Age. But if you read it closely, you realize
that Homer was writing a psychological study on how human beings function under extreme pressure.
We tend to think of the heroes of The Iliad - men like Achilles, Hector,
and Diomedes - as fearless figures who never doubted themselves. But the text tells that these
men were not immune to fear. They panicked, they weeped, they froze, and they ran away.
Today, the battlefield has simply shifted from the plains of Troy to the boardrooms,
businesses, and relationships of the modern world. Human technology has changed,
but the biological reaction to stress has not. So if you find yourself freezing in the face
of a difficult task, or waiting to feel "ready" before you act, you are fighting the same battle
that these heroes fought 3,000 years ago. So join me as we dive in together and take a look
at The 8 Ancient Laws for Doing Hard Things, and how to apply them in the 21st Century,
all from the Philosophy of The Iliad. Law 1 - The Achilles Choice
Achilles, the central figure of the poem fighting from the invading Greek side,
spends a huge portion of the story sitting in his tent, refusing to fight. On the surface,
it looks like he is just angry at his commander. But deeper down, Achilles is tortured by a choice.
He is the only hero in the text who knows exactly how his life will end, and he has to
choose between two mutually exclusive futures. His mother, the goddess Thetis, reveals to him
the "Twofold Fate." She tells him that his life can go one of two ways, but never both.
Option One: Go home, marry, have children and live a long, happy, peaceful life,
but be completely forgotten. Option Two: Stay at Troy, fight,
and die young, but his name will be remembered for thousands of years.
For a long time, Achilles is paralyzed because he wants both. He wants the immortality of the
warrior and the longevity of the farmer. But the turning point comes when he stops negotiating.
He realizes that "Meaning" is expensive. So he chooses the short, glorious life. Once he accepts
that he is going to die young, his hesitation vanishes. He storms the battlefield with a
clarity that terrifies everyone else, because he has already accepted the worst-case scenario.
The word "decide" comes from the Latin decidere, which means "to cut off." To
make a real decision means to cut off the alternative. It means killing one
version of your future so that the other may live. We are paralyzed because we want two contradictory
things at the same time: we want the reward of the risk, but the safety of the comfort zone.
You must choose your struggle. You must stand at the crossroads and consciously bid farewell to
the path you are not taking. Once you accept that every "Yes" demands a "No," the paralysis breaks.
Law 2 - The Diomedes Rule We treat courage as a prerequisite for action,
when in reality, it is a result of it. Homer explores this truth through the character of
Diomedes. In Book 5 of The Iliad, Diomedes is not the strongest hero like his fellow Greek
warrior Achilles, nor is he the smartest like Odysseus. Yet, for one specific day,
he dominates the battlefield more completely than anyone else. Why? Because he possesses a
unique psychological trait: absolute, unthinking aggression. The text describes a moment where the
chaos of war becomes overwhelming. The battlefield is confusing, terrifying, and blinded by dust.
Most men are paralyzed by sensory overload. But Diomedes does not stop to process the
fear. He moves with such ferocious speed that the goddess Athena lifts the "mist" from his
eyes. This "mist" is the cloud of confusion that blinds mortals. Once it is lifted, Diomedes sees
the world with terrifying clarity - he can even distinguish the gods walking among men.
Now, you’d think most mortals would be paralyzed by the sight of a god, but Diomedes is in such a
profound state of action that he bypasses the fear entirely. He attacks Ares, the God of War
himself. He drives his spear into the god’s belly and sends him screaming back to Mount Olympus.
Diomedes did not wait for the mist to clear so he could fight; he fought so hard that the mist
cleared. This reveals a psychological reality that modern neuroscience supports: Fear lives in the
gap. It lives in the quiet space between thinking about the task and actually doing the task.
The Diomedes Rule is the understanding that you cannot negotiate with the gap. You must shorten
it to zero. When you have to make the cold call, you pick up the phone and dial before
your internal monologue has a chance to speak. The 'mist' only lifts when you are in motion. If
you want to see this in the world clearly, and if you want to conquer the 'gods' of your own life,
you have to stop waiting for the courage to arrive, and simply attack the day until
the courage catches up with you. Law 3 - The Patroclus Strategy
Patroclus is the best friend of Achilles, but he is nothing like him. While Achilles is a
ruthless killing machine, Patroclus is described as kind, gentle, and empathetic. He is a healer,
not a destroyer. But in Book 16, the situation becomes desperate. Achilles refuses to fight
due to his wounded pride. And without him, the Trojan army breaks through the Greek defenses
and starts burning the ships. If the ships burn, every Greek soldier dies. Patroclus knows he has
to act. He also knows the truth: if he runs out there as "Patroclus," he will be ignored.
So he begs Achilles for his legendary armour. He puts it on, along with Achilles’ famous horse-hair
crested helmet. And the moment he steps onto the battlefield, something miraculous happens.
He doesn't just look like Achilles; he starts fighting like him. The Trojans panic,
believing the invincible hero has returned. Patroclus performed feats of strength he
never could have achieved as himself, simply because he was wearing the identity of a hero.
Studies show that if you put people in a doctor's white lab coat, their
attention span increases. If you put them in a formal suit, their negotiation skills improve.
The "mask" doesn't just change how others see you; it changes how you see yourself. It signals
to your brain that it is time to switch modes. So the next time you’re facing a high-pressure
situation yourself - say, a negotiation or a public speech - do not go into it as your 'default
self.' Your default self is full of doubts and insecurities. Instead, use the Patroclus
Strategy. Create an avatar. Put on the 'armor.' This might be literal - wearing a specific 'power
suit' or a watch that makes you feel formidable - or it might be mental, like adopting a persona;
for example, a fictional character best suited to that role. Wear the mask until the job is done,
and often, you will find that by the time you take it off, the courage has become real.
Law 4 - The Odysseus Anchor In Book 2, Homer writes that a false
rumor spread through the Greek camp that the war was over. The reaction was immediate. Thousands of
men dropped their weapons and stampeded toward the ships, desperate to go home. They weren't
leaving because it’s the right strategic move; they left because everyone else was running.
But in the middle of this chaos, one man stood completely still: Odysseus. He realised that if
they got on those ships, everything would be lost. He grabs the royal scepter and charges
into the mob. He physically stops commanders and shouts at them to regain their composure. He beats
soldiers who are screaming. He acts as an anchor in a storm. Single-handedly, he stops the rush
and forces the army to face the war. This is the concept of the "Odysseus
Anchor." In any difficult endeavor - whether it’s a bear market in crypto,
a round of layoffs at your company, or a shift in your industry - there will be a moment when the
Mob runs to the ships.. Your friends will tell you it’s over. The collective vibe will be one
of surrender. This is the most dangerous moment for your potential. You will feel a biological
compulsion to join them, because running with the herd feels safe. But The Iliad teaches us
that safety is often just a slow form of failure. So to apply the Odysseus Anchor, you must identify
the moments where your emotions are not yours, but reflections of the crowd. So when you feel the
urge to quit, ask yourself: "Am I quitting because my strategy failed? Or am I quitting because
everyone else is scared?" The ability to stand still when the world is in chaos is a superpower.
When the mob runs to the ships, the "hard thing" is to plant your feet, grab the scepter of your
own judgment, and stay the course. Law 5 - The Sarpedon Contract
Homer introduces us to Sarpedon, a King and ally of the Trojans. In Book 12, Sarpedon is about
to lead a suicide mission to storm the Greek fortifications. The air is thick with arrows,
heavy stones are crushing skulls, and death is almost guaranteed. In the middle of this chaos,
Sarpedon turns to his cousin Glaucus and starts talking about dinner.
He asks a simple, haunting question: "Glaucus, why do our people back home
give us the best seats at the banquet? Why do they fill our cups with the finest wine?
Why do they give us the best cuts of meat and look at us like we are gods?" A lesser
man would have answered, "Because we are royalty," or "Because we deserve it." But
Sarpedon sees the truth. He answers his own question: "We get the best food and the best
seats specifically because we stand here in the front line where the fighting is the hottest."
And in that moment, Sarpedon realized that his life is a transaction. The luxury he enjoys isn't
a gift; it is a retainer fee. The comfort of the palace is the currency used to pay for the terror
of the battlefield. He accepts the "Wine," so he is contractually obligated to accept
the "War." To take one without the other would be theft. This is the "Sarpedon Contract." It
is the understanding that your benefits and your burdens come together and you can’t separate them.
The pressure you feel isn't a sign that something is wrong; it is the evidence that you have taken
on something meaningful. So when you feel overwhelmed, conduct a "Privilege Audit." Look
at your plate. Look at the freedom, the money, the trust, or the love you have in your life. That is
the Wine. The difficult conversation you have to have today, the late night you have to work,
the crisis you have to solve, that 5:00 AM alarm clock - that is simply the price,
the war. If you want to keep the best seat at the banquet, you have to stop
complaining about the heat. You don't get to eat the meat and then run from the bill.
Law 6 - The Ajax Grind The Iliad teaches us a
brutal but necessary counter-lesson: sometimes, victory does not look like conquering the world;
sometimes, victory just looks like not dying. Homer embodies this gritty reality in the
character of Ajax the Great. Ajax is different from the other heroes. He doesn't have the flash
of Achilles or the cleverness of Odysseus. He rarely receives help from the gods. He is a giant,
silent workhorse. And in Book 15, he faces the darkest hour of the entire war. The Trojans have
broken through the defenses. They are swarming over the walls and have reached the Greek ships
with torches. If the ships burn, the Greeks have no way home; they will all be slaughtered
on the beach. Ajax ends up standing alone on the deck of a ship, wielding a massive pike,
fighting off the entire Trojan army by himself. But eventually he starts to tire. He is sweating,
he is bleeding, and he is outnumbered. He isn't advancing; in fact, he is slowly being
pushed back, inch by inch. He isn't "winning" in the traditional sense. He is just surviving.
He shouts at the Trojans, "Come closer!" and physically shoves them off the hull. For hours,
his entire existence is reduced to a single, ugly metric: keep the fire away from the wood.
He knows he can't kill them all. He knows he can't win the war today. His only job
is to be "The Wall." His job is to endure the pressure long enough for the others to regroup.
In your own life, you will also hit periods of burnout, financial recession, or personal grief.
The lesson from Ajax is that you must learn to respect the defensive game. When your business
is hitting a recession, you don't need to try and 10x your revenue. You just need to stand on
the deck and make payroll. Survival is a form of success. Holding the line is a form of victory. If
you are in a dark season right now, stop beating yourself up for not moving forward. Instead, plant
your feet. Grip the pike. Be the wall. If you are still standing when the sun comes up, you won.
Law 7 - The Hector Protocol Hector is the prince of Troy, the perfect warrior,
the good husband, the noble father. He is the "brave one." But in Book 22, he finds himself
alone outside the city walls. The gates are locked behind him. Achilles, the invincible killing
machine, is charging toward him across the plain. At this moment, Homer writes that "shivers took
hold of him." His nerve breaks completely. Hector turns around and runs. He doesn't just take a step
back; he flees in a full panic. He runs three laps around the city of Troy. The people on the walls
are watching their champion run for his life. The Greek army is watching. It is a moment of total
humiliation. The "hero" is having a panic attack. But eventually Hector realizes he cannot run
forever. He realizes that death is inevitable. So he stops, plants his feet, catches his breath and
turns around to face the man he knows will kill him. And in that moment, he exclaims "I will run
from you no longer... now my spirit drives me to stand and face you, kill or be killed!" And yes he
does die in the fight, but he dies facing forward. This is what’s known as the "Hector Protocol." The
lesson is that "trembling is permitted." If you are backstage about to give a speech and
you feel like you are going to vomit - that is the "running" and that is okay. You are not a coward;
you are a primate with an adrenaline system. The "Hard Thing" isn't becoming a person who
never gets scared. That person doesn't exist. The "Hard Thing" is becoming the person who can
feel the shivers, feel the urge to flee, and then - even if it's on the third lap - plant your feet
and turn around. Dignity isn't about winning the fight; it's about how you face the enemy.
Law 8 - The Priam Paradox King Priam’s son, Hector,
had been killed. Achilles, consumed by a dark and toxic rage, is dragging Hector’s corpse behind his
chariot every day, refusing to let the family bury him. But Priam is the King of Troy. In Book 24,
Priam’s advisors tell him to stay safe behind the walls. They tell him to send an army or
an ambassador. But Priam knows that force has failed. Anger has failed. Logic has failed. So,
he does the unthinkable. He fills a wagon with treasure, and he rides out of the city
gates - alone, at night, and unarmed. He sneaks into the Greek camp and walks into
the tent of the man who murdered his child. But he doesn't shout. He doesn't demand his
rights. Instead he kneels. He takes the hands of Achilles - the hands that killed
his son - and he kisses them. He says: "I have done what no other man on earth
has done - I have kissed the hands of the man who killed my son. Think of your own father."
This moment is the "Priam Paradox." By entering the room with zero defense, he creates a shockwave
that destroys Achilles' defenses. Achilles, who could not be stopped by armies or gods,
is broken by an old man’s tears. The rage dissolves instantly. The two enemies sit on
the floor and weep together - Priam for his son, and Achilles for his own father. Priam walks out
of that tent with his son’s body. He achieved with a whisper what ten years of war could not.
The lesson is that when you are in a conflict that seems impossible to solve - a deadlock in
a business deal, or a marriage that is falling apart - your Ego will tell you to fight harder.
It will tell you to prove you are right. But the "Hard Thing" in that moment isn't fighting;
it is surrendering the high ground. Priam teaches us that you don't always have to be the stone
wall. Sometimes, to break the cycle of conflict, you have to be the water that flows around it.
And that's our video. What did you think? Which of the eight laws will
you be considering more in the future? I know you guys rarely need prompting on this,
but let us know what's on your mind in the comments. As always, I've been Dan. You've been
awesome. And if you enjoyed this video, please make sure to check out our full philosophies
for life playlist. And for more videos to help you find success and happiness using
beautiful philosophical wisdom, don't forget to subscribe. Thanks so much for watching.