"Dust in the Wind" - A Musical Lesson in Stoicism

For some days now, I’ve had the song “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas in my head. While the lyrics and meaning of this song are instantly familiar to music listeners of a certain generation, this song’s connection to the ancient philosophy of stoicism is less obvious to the casual listener.

• YouTube: “Dust in the Wind” Official Video by Kansas

Stoicism is a highly varied philosophy that consists of practical advice for living and handling the struggles of life, and of living in harmony with the fundamental nature of the cosmos and the natural world. The heart of stoicism is the recognition of—and living in harmony with—the finitude and decaying nature of the world, and of everything we hold dear. People we love die, the monuments we build erode around us and are torn down—our legacy and accomplishments forgotten.

This endless cycle of the finite nature of things can either deeply depress us, knowing that all of the things we love are destined to die and end, or motivate us to make the most of each moment we have to be alive—in full and conscious recognition that those moments will not last.

Even a cursory look at the lyrics of “Dust in the Wind” should reveal the connection to stoic philosophy:

Dust in the Wind

I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment's gone
All my dreams pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind
All they are is dust in the wind

Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do crumbles to the ground though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
Oh, ho, ho

Now, don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away
And all your money won't another minute buy
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
Dust in the wind
Everything is dust in the wind
Everything is dust in the wind
The wind

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Kerry Livgren / Kerry A Livgren

Dust in the Wind lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

The parallels with stoicism are striking—from the moment quickly passing in the opening line, to the chorus that we are merely dust in the wind (related to the stoic viewpoint that everything decays), to our Earthly human accomplishments crumbling to the ground in the second verse, to the trappings of material possessions in the third verse (reminiscent of Marcus Aurelius’s admonition not to let ourselves become “Caesarized”).

While “Dust in the Wind” is undoubtedly one of the true classics of American songwriting, its intellectual and spiritual roots are much deeper and reflective of the warnings of ancient stoics about the dangers that have plagued mankind for all time—deluding ourselves into thinking that we can conquer the impermanence and transitory nature of things with our human conceit and ambition. But while “Dust in the Wind” may serve as an adequate course in stoicism 101, I have often held that the more proactive version of stoicism advocated by Marcus Aurelius is the real meat and heart of stoicism: being able to actively picture the death of everyone you love (including yourself), thinking about your own meagre human accomplishments in ruins and long forgotten on the ash heap of time, while still remaining joyful and thankful and proactive about building order in your own small and insignificant corner of our vast universe. That is advanced-level stoicism, beyond song lyrics and sentimentality.

Where to Find “Dust in the Wind”:

• Point of Know Return by Kansas (CD)

• Point of Know Return by Kansas (Vinyl)

For Further Reading:

• Meditations by Marcus Aurelius