DEAD VIRTUES

Modesty, self-reliance, diligence (industriousness) and thrift (carefulness). These were the four “good virtues” that signified how you lived your life in England up to the 1960’s. Then, things changed – and not for the better.

Consider modesty. Growing up, I can remember that being “reserved”, keeping a low profile was how most if not all of us thought we should act – to be seen yet not to advertise our presence. But now? Everyone and his dog can be a “star” (and want to be seen as a star) so that they can be thought of by others as someone “to be liked”; footballers as well as politicians fall into this category. Andy Warhol proclaimed that “each of us has his 15 minutes in the sun”; 15 minutes I can accept, but those who shout their self-importance on social media have gone far beyond his original concept. Behaving as a “personality” is not the same as having a personality – and perhaps those who shout the loudest suffer from not having personality!

And what about self-reliance? Gone! Few if any have this virtue, as it is far easier to let “them” (usually those in authority) lead us. However, in fairness, this is a double-edged fault; “authority” has understood that most people are sheep and have put in place the systems to ensure they lead us (on the pretext of making our lives more comfortable)… I say this is rubbish and downgrades the stature of humanity!

Again, diligence (hard work). With very few exceptions, it is now easier to allow the “authorities” to look after us, make decisions for us, even paying us when things go wrong. Yes, I am in favour of a “safety-net” approach but within strict limits. For example, I know of one man locally to me who is an alcoholic. Because of his “condition” (sickness), he is paid an additional $50 per week by the government. I would like an extra $50 per week for NOT being an alcoholic!

Finally, to thrift – the idea of saving your money until you have sufficient to buy what you want, or to save what you can for harder times. The explosion of easy credit everywhere means that there is no need to think about the future – virtually all you have to do is go to your bank, answer some questions, fill in some forms, and you can get what you want as soon as you walk out the door. I ask – is that any way to run your life?

So many questions, so many choices, so many easy options… I personally would love to return to those days when these virtues were prized and ones way of life regulated by oneself. Just like the dinosaurs, I regret those days have joined all the other “good old days” in that huge vault of “if only’s” – wherever it exists!

And we haven’t even considered honesty, yet… that’s a post for another time.

Until next time (and still proud of my virtues, and using them daily),

Peripatetic Scribe