All words › Live Like a Stoic

ostracize

ὄστρακον (ostrakon, “pottery shard”)
To shut someone out of a group

To ostracize comes from ostrakon, a pottery shard Athenians used as a ballot to exile someone.

The story

Once a year Athenians could vote to exile a citizen for ten years. They scratched the name on a broken pottery shard, an ostrakon. Archaeologists have found thousands of these 'ballots'.

The Texas version

Getting kicked out of the family group chat for posting OU memes. Ostracized.

Use it at work

Watch for teams quietly ostracizing someone who disagrees. Dissent is useful.

Practice it in Skepsis

More from “Live Like a Stoic”

stoicCalm and steady no matter what happensdichotomy of controlSplit life into what you control and what you don'tdicho / tomin two + cuttingaretēBeing excellent at your purposeeudaimoniaA flourishing, well-lived lifeagōnA contest or struggleschoolA place for learningeurekaA shout of sudden discovery