“Dye yourself with the colour of dead men” is often credited as the big bang of Stoicism — a philosophy that seems as apt today as it was thousands of years ago. The quote encourages us to consume wisdom from the scholars and philosophers of the past, to soak ourselves in their teachings, and to learn from them.
Today it's commonplace to recite quotes in meetings and presentations to help us explain our thinking, and it's remarkable how often a well timed quote can sum up a feeling, idea, direction, intent, mistake or mood. Done properly, it can be the hook that people remember most, then share with their colleagues later. Some say quotes are played out and cringeworthy, which might be true. But in a true Stoic sense — who cares? Clichés are so for a reason.
