Have you ever felt that you were held back despite your ambition?
Eco Is The Enemy is a book by Ryan Holiday about the enemy lying within you, which is your ego.
Instead, our issues come from our mindset and self-centeredness, which pulls us back.
Ego can enter different areas of our lives, whether personal or professional, and can damage important connections and opportunities.
Ryan also shared how his ego almost ruined many things in his life, as he experienced a high level of success at a young age.
The lessons from Ego is the Enemy show how humility, discipline, and perspective can lead to genuine success.

- Why Is Ego Our Enemy?
- What Is The Lesson Of Ego Is The Enemy?
- Lesson #1: Silence is Strength-especially early on any journey.
- Lesson #2: To Be or To Do: Choosing Purpose Over Recognition
- Lesson #3: Always Become a Student
- Lesson #4: Don’t Be Passionate
- Lesson#5: The Canvas Strategy
- Lesson#6: Restrain Yourself
- Lesson #7: Get Out Of Your Own Head
- Lesson #8: The Danger Of Early Pride
- What Are The Main Points In Ego Is The Enemy?
- How To Overcome Ego
- What Is The Best Line From Ego Is The enemy?
Why Is Ego Our Enemy?
Ego is the biggest obstacle to success. It is a sense of high self-worth. Self-worth is essential, but not letting down the other people.
It’s the part of us that wants others to think we’re better than them. When one has a high level of ego, they become frustrated and choose the path of self-destruction.
At that point, you are unwilling to learn and understand new things and others’ perspectives. You have become self-sabotage.
If it’s not corrected at the right time, ego can impact personal and professional growth and even lead to one’s downfall.
Being successful requires humanity, empathy, good behavior with co-workers, family, and friends, and an openness to learning new things in life.
It doesn’t matter if someone is rich or poor, young or old, male or female; you can learn something from them.
Learn how to stop your ego from getting in the way of your success.
What Is The Lesson Of Ego Is The Enemy?
Lesson #1: Silence is Strength-especially early on any journey.
Ryan shares an instance of the 1934 campaign for the government of California, the author and activist Upton Sinclair.
When he took an unusual step, he published a short book, “Governor of California and How I Ended the Poverty,” which was written in the past tense.
This book became a bestseller, but Sinclair’s campaign was a failure.
Millions of votes defeated him. During the election, he spent more time on writing the book rather than working.
Anyone can talk about himself or herself; even a child can know how to gossip. Talk, talk, talk is useless. There is a famous quote by LAO TZU.
“Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.”
Lesson #2: To Be or To Do: Choosing Purpose Over Recognition
Ryan Holiday talks about the difference between seeking recognition (to be) and doing meaningful work (to do).
Inspired by Colonel John Boyd, a military strategist, Holiday stresses the importance of valuing impact over accolades.
Boyd asked, “Do you want to be someone or do something?” He challenged people to choose between the superficial attraction of titles and the deeper satisfaction of purposeful action.
Holiday warns against focusing too much on your appearance instead of what you really want.
He encourages us to embrace humility, dedication, and clarity of purpose to create lasting value.
This chapter encourages readers to align their efforts with their genuine objectives, and to remain focused on their mission instead of being distracted by external validation.
Lesson #3: Always Become a Student
Kirk Hammett, the guitarist from the band Exodus who later joined Metallica, serves as a powerful role model.
When Hammett replaced Metallica’s original guitarist, he had a lot of pressure. Instead of letting his ego inflate after landing the high-profile gig, he sought to improve his craft.
Hammett became a student of Joe Satriani, a great guitarist and teacher. He was humble and willing to learn, even though he was successful.
He was able to hone his craft, elevate his artistic abilities, and ultimately contribute to the legendary sound of Metallica.
Ryan talks about the importance of learning and being humble in both personal and professional growth.
He says that our ego can stop us from learning because we think we know everything already.
To combat this, he suggests adopting a student mindset—being curious, being open to suggestions, and being open to learning from others, regardless of our expertise or position.
Learning over ego can help people grow and achieve meaningful accomplishments while staying grounded and open to new opportunities.
Lesson #4: Don’t Be Passionate
Ryan challenges the idea that passion is the only way to succeed.
He thinks that passion can lead to reckless decisions, burnout, and failure. Passion can make you feel proud, but it can also make it hard to make good decisions and stop you from moving forward.
Instead, he advocates for cultivating purpose, discipline, and clear thinking over raw enthusiasm.
When unchecked, passion frequently blinds individuals to reality and prevents them from achieving long-term objectives.
An example of Roosevelt, one of the famous and influential female activists in history and America’s most important First Lady, is known for her grace, her poise, and her sense of direction.
Wooden won ten awards in twelve years, including seven consecutively because he developed a system for winning and worked with his players to follow it.
Neither of them were driven by excitement nor their body was in constant motion, instead it took them to become the person they became known as. It was the process of accumulation.
This chapter offers a valuable lesson in balancing enthusiasm with practicality, focusing on steady progress and resilience rather than impulsive fervor.
Lesson#5: The Canvas Strategy
This Canva Strategy says that people should create opportunities for others to succeed. It’s about providing support so that others can be good.
Instead of focusing on recognition or status, this strategy focuses on helping others reach their goals, which leads to personal growth and future opportunities.
By being humble and serving as a “canvas” for others to shine, you develop invaluable skills, earn trust, and build lasting relationships.
A great example from the chapter is the story of Benjamin Franklin. Many people know of Benjamin Franklin’s pseudonymous letters written under the names like Silence Dogwood.
As a young apprentice, Franklin would write under pseudonyms and publish his work anonymously (with his brother’s name), allowing others to take credit while honing his craft.
This selfless deed not only enhanced his writing but also developed influential relationships.
Franklin’s skills and reputation grew over time, eventually leading to his success as a writer, scientist, and statesman.
This example illustrates the importance of putting aside ego and focusing on how you can contribute to others’ success.
It’s a reminder that being helpful behind the scenes can help you achieve your goals.
Lesson#6: Restrain Yourself
Ryan Holiday talks about how self-control and discipline are important for lasting success.
He believes that ego can often tempt us to overreact, indulge impulsively, or seek immediate gratification, which can lead to long-term setbacks.
Practicing moderation helps us stay focused, avoid unnecessary arguments, and make thoughtful choices that align with our objectives.
Holiday illustrates this concept with historical and personal anecdotes, showing how restraint often leads to strength and respect.
The message is clear: true power comes not from acting on every impulse, but from knowing when to hold back and let patience and wisdom guide your actions.
Lesson #7: Get Out Of Your Own Head
The civil War general George McClellan is the perfect example of this archetype. McClellan had the skills and resources to lead his army to victory. A brilliant man who just couldn’t get out of his own way.
Why did he turn out to be the worst Union General, even in a field of incompetent and self-absorbed leaders?
Because his constant overthinking and fear of making mistakes kept him away from acting.
He could not get out of his head, he missed the chance to make real progress because he was so caught up in imagining worst-case scenarios and striving for perfection.
His hesitation and self-doubt cost him his command and legacy.
This story hits home because we’ve all been there: stuck in our thoughts and second-guessing ourselves.
Lesson #8: The Danger Of Early Pride
Being successful early can make you feel too confident and not see your mistakes, which can stop you from improving.
Ryan uses Benjamin Franklin as an example. Franklin was a young man who was very confident and quick to point out mistakes made by others.
Christians think that being proud is wrong because it tells people they are better than they really are, like God made them.
Pride leads to arrogance and takes away humility and connection with their fellows.
The same thing happened with Franklin. His pride displeased people, and he realized it was holding him back.
Instead of letting his ego grow, he made a conscious effort to practice humility.
Franklin developed strategies to overcome his pride, such as avoiding arguments and adopting a more diplomatic tone.
This change strengthened his relationships and helped him become one of history’s most respected figures.
What Are The Main Points In Ego Is The Enemy?
If you keep these points in mind, you can be a successful person in both your personal and professional life.
Be Humble and Stay a Student
Never assume you know it all. Benjamin Franklin gained this knowledge at an early age, transforming his relationships and career by expressing humility instead of arrogance.
Focus on the Work, Not Recognition
Success comes from consistent effort, not chasing titles or applause. Holiday reminds us to prioritize doing over being, inspired by Colonel John Boyd’s famous question: “Do you want to be someone or do something?”
Check what’s important to you
Identifying what truly matters to you, rather than chasing external validation like fame or wealth. When you focus on what aligns with your values and goals, you avoid distractions and stay grounded. Passion without control can lead to reckless decisions.
Restrain Yourself
Don’t let ego tempt you into overreacting or making impulsive choices. Self-discipline helps you stay focused.
Quiet Your Inner Voice
Overthinking can lead to inaction. General George McClellan Civil War failures show how ego and doubt can keep us from achieving our goals.
Serve Others Before Yourself
The Canvas Strategy teaches that helping others succeed can open doors for your own growth, just like Benjamin Franklin did early in his career.
How To Overcome Ego
- Practice Gratitude
- Serve Others
- Embrace Failure as a Teacher
- Take Responsibility for your action
- Focus on Actions, Not Applause
- Detach from Praise and Criticism
- Surround Yourself with Grounded People
- Meditate or Reflect Regularly
What Is The Best Line From Ego Is The enemy?
“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself—and you are the easiest person to fool.
“The ego wants to be the center of attention. It wants to be recognized, respected, admired, and feared.”
“It is not the work we do that makes us great, but the ability to avoid the distractions and the distractions of ego.”
“People learn from their failures. Seldom do they learn anything from success.” It’s”
“A person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except thoughts, so he loses touch with reality and lives in a world of illusions.”
“Find canvases for other people to paint on. Be an anteambulo. Clear the path for the people above you and you will eventually create a path for yourself.”
“It’s a temptation that exists for everyone—for talk and hype to replace action.”
“It can ruin your life only if it ruins your character.”
“It’s a temptation that exists for everyone—for talk and hype to replace action.”
“Attempting to destroy something out of hate or ego often ensures that it will be preserved and disseminated forever.”