I learnt a new concept this week, from Cory Doctorow's blog: the idea of the Ulysses Pact. It comes from the part of the Odyssey where the Greek hero orders his men to tie him to the mast of his ship as they approach the lair of the Sirens, monsters whose songs lure sailors onto the rocks. Ulysses’ crew will follow the standard remedy of blocking their ears with wax, while Ulysses will become the first person to hear the deadly song and survive. As well as ordering the crew to tie him up, Ulysses tells them that, no matter what he says, no matter how much he threatens or implores them, they must not set him free.

The idea of the Ulysses Pact is for those times when we know that we will be tempted in the future to act against the values, instincts and interests that we have now. Unless we are unusually self-disciplined, we have this experience every time we embark on a diet, or exercise regime, or a course of learning: we want the good intentions of today to override the temptations of tomorrow. We adopt tactics such as purging our house of snacks, or putting gym and study sessions into our diaries. We lash ourselves to the mast of self-improvement and hope that the bonds are strong enough.