Come closer, famous Odysseus—Achaea’s pride and glory— moor your ship on our coast so you can hear our song! Never has any sailor passed our shores in his black craft until he has heard the honeyed voices pouring from our lips — Book XII, The Odyssey

A Siren Song has become a generic term for temptation, and the way you deal with it is to Tie Yourself To The Mast.

These days, a lot of advice for dealing with tough situations is focused around Willpower, at the ability to be tough enough to get through any challenge. So much so that we forget the basic fact of this story:

Ulysses didn't withstand the siren's call.

He lost and gave in completely. The only thing that saved him was his lack of power to take action.

If anything, the story seems to be a warning against using Willpower/Discipline to get through tough situations. By intentionally limiting his own freedom, Odysseus is able to avoid giving into temptation. Not because he had the willpower to resist, but because he did not have the means to act.

The message is clear: When it’s time to make the choice, you’ll make the wrong one. So remove the choice. Tie Yourself To The Mast.

See Also