The Surprising Truth About Exercise, According to Socrates
Most of us think of physical exercise as a good thing—something essential for health, discipline, and even mental well-being. But did the ancient Stoics and Socrates see it the same way?
I recently spoke with
, author of How to Think Like Socrates, about the surprising ways that Socrates and the Stoics viewed exercise. Their perspective is different from ours, and it might just change how you think about training, sports, and competition.🏛 The Ancient View on Exercise
For Socrates and the Stoics, exercise had a purpose—but they were skeptical of people who became too obsessed with it. Physical training was important, but only as a means to something greater: maintaining a clear mind, developing discipline, and ensuring the body didn’t become a burden to the intellect.
In our conversation, Donald shared some fascinating details, including:
💡 Socrates' Simple Argument for Exercise
He once told a bookish young philosopher that if sickness can cloud the mind, then neglecting the body can do the same. He argued that if you truly love wisdom, you have to care for your health—because a weak body leads to weak reasoning.
💃 Socrates’ Bizarre Morning Routine
You might imagine Socrates lifting weights or running long distances, but his actual daily workout was… dancing. He had his own personal Tai Chi-style routine, waving his arms and legs around to get the blood flowing. Even in ancient Athens, people thought it was weird.
🥇 Why the Stoics Were Skeptical of Competitive Sports
While they valued training, they also saw many athletes as egotistical—more concerned with victory and glory than real virtue. Socrates once debated an Olympic champion and asked:
“Were the opponents you beat weaker or stronger than you?” (Weaker, obviously.)
“Less skilled or more skilled?” (Less skilled.)
“Less disciplined or more disciplined?” (Less disciplined.)
And then he delivered the devastating punchline: “Then what honor is there in defeating weaker, less skilled, and less disciplined opponents?”
It’s a deep question, especially in an age of performance-enhancing drugs and extreme competitiveness. Are sports about skill and discipline—or just proving you had an advantage all along?
🤔 What Does This Mean for Us Today?
The Stoics and Socrates weren’t against exercise—but they saw it as a tool, not an end in itself. A fit body is valuable only if it helps us cultivate wisdom, self-discipline, and resilience. Winning for the sake of winning? That, they warned, is a distraction.
🔥 This conversation is packed with insights that challenge modern attitudes toward fitness, competition, and self-improvement.
🎥 Watch the full discussion here
What do you think—should we rethink how we approach exercise? Drop a comment and let me know.
Stay strong, stay Stoic,
Jon