Great Books Ep 26: To Surrender or Not? Navigating Ego, Values, and Relationships

If one person in a group is more powerful, is it better to cede leadership to that person? Or is it better to fight on, standing up for one’s values?

“What, again, if I were to lay down my shield and helmet, lean my spear against the wall and go straight up to noble Achilles?”

~ The Iliad - Book XXII (Samuel Butler Translation. p156 / v103)

Brief Summary

Hector refuses to go into the city and stays back to fight Achilles. Achilles chases Hector around the wall. Hector stops to face Achilles when Deiphob…