Paul Bryson

Death and Chivalry

For history’s elite warriors, death was their business. It was no metaphor or dramatization for them. Death was their coin and bread. They braced themselves to mete it out and recieve it in kind. Philosophy and literature reflects this need.

“The future springs from the past”

Sundiata, king of kings of west Africa

Additional Sources

I previously detailed seven sources for my thoughts on historical attitudes and views of elite warriors. In the intervening time, although I have not been posting, I haven’t stopped reading and thinking about chivalry and virtue. The Book of Psalms – I didn’t want to ignore one of the fundamental books in the world tradition,Continue reading “Additional Sources”

Prowess Unrestrained

Digenes Akrites as a counterexample to knightliness

Prowess, Courage, & Embracing Risk

Dealing with the risk of loss; How Courage aids the exercise of Prowess

Love in Public

Love as the core of Justice

“For the love of King Alfonso, who banished me”

A discussion of loyalty

The Virtues

But those are the values I’m discussing; the virtues I’m seeking to develop. This is what I’m looking for in these volumes.

The Sources

This is a small sampling of sources. As time goes by, I will expand this to include sources from around the world and through many cultures.

The Point of it All

There is one transcending level, and this is the most excellent of all. That person is aware of the endlessness of entering deeply into a certain Way and never thinks of himself as having finished. . . Throughout your life advance daily, becoming more skillful than today. This is never ending. from The Hagakure, YamamotoContinue reading “The Point of it All”