Paradise Lost

When we lose honor and character, what's left?

The Lictors Bring Brutus the Bodies of His Sons by Jacques-Louis David, 1789 (public domain - Wikipedia)

“Who first seduc’d them to that foul revolt?
Th’ infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile
Stird up with Envy and Revenge, deceiv’d
The Mother of Mankind, what time his Pride
Had cast him out from Heav’n” — John Milton, 1674

I was initially intending this edition to head in another direction, but events yesterday evening prompted me to recast the die.

First, let me be clear: this is not a post about politics or policy. There will be mentions of political leaders, but this is first and foremost a newsletter about leadership, communication, and character. And this week, we've been talking about grief.

There’s so much loss this year, so much for which to grieve.

The loss of a normal work environment.

The loss of tens of millions of jobs.

The loss of mundane entertainment, like going to the movies and eating out.

The loss of family traditions, birthday celebrations, graduations, weddings, and …