The Suck Percentage: Winning The Apley: And Camus On Moderation

What percentage of life is practicing things we hate to do?

“Make him do the bike,” she joked as she strolled past.

We all laughed. I imagine both husband and wife forgot the conversation a moment later. I didn’t.

I wondered what percentage of life is spent practicing things we hate to do: riding an assault bike, making small talk with strangers …, or mowing the lawn.

Where’s the line? Is it five percent? Twenty-five? Seventy-two?

Is it different for everyone, and if so, what makes it different?

Epicurus might say life is about pleasure. And while I know that’s an oversimplification of his philosophy, I’ll leave it there.

“Pleasure is the first good. It is the beginning of every choice and every aversion. It is the absence of pain in the body and of troubles in the soul.”
— Epicurus

Interestingly, Epicurus also said, “You don’t develop courage by being happy…