Rediscovering Enduring Virtues for a Sustainable Future

Modern society is facing a crisis of quality that calls for a reevaluation of the foundations of personal and social growth. Today, the question is especially pressing: how can we rekindle the desire to work, discipline, and self-improvement? Successful development is based not only on the ability to apply new technologies, but also on a constant inner drive to work hard and forge one’s character from childhood. Energy and discipline transform ordinary efforts into a long-term journey toward success, helping one overcome the temptation of the fleeting joy of idleness.

The second important component is a love of knowledge and a quest for deep understanding of the world. In a modern world where superficial thinking is often valued more highly, there is a need to return to an earnest search for truth. The development of reason and wisdom becomes the guarantee not only of personal well-being but also of successful social progress. Our ability to think critically and learn from mistakes allows us to look to the future with optimism and hope.

Furthermore, in times of constant change, physical endurance and adaptability are critically important. Robust physical qualities are inextricably linked to mental energy, a connection that becomes particularly evident in ever-changing social conditions and throughout life. Combining physical development with psychological flexibility helps us cope with the challenges of modern reality.

Equally essential is a spiritual orientation and a commitment to high ideals. Shunning superficial consumerism and a materialistic, mercantile approach allows one to preserve the meaning of life, bestowing inner harmony and inspiration for transforming the world. The ability to resist egocentrism—demonstrating collective responsibility—helps build a society in which every member strives for the common good.

Thus, we stand on the threshold of changes that require comprehensive development: from disciplined labor and deep knowledge to physical endurance and spiritual maturity. By returning to time-tested values, we lay the foundation for a future in which material matters do not replace meaning, and collective efforts become the source of true progress.

What qualities or skills does modern society lack for successful development?

Modern society faces a significant deficit of a number of key qualities which, according to the authors, are the guarantee of successful development. The missing qualities include the following:

1. A continual drive to work and discipline. Many texts emphasize that instead of relying on automation and ready-made solutions, one must constantly push oneself to work and resist the temptation to be idle. As it is said:
"It is necessary to constantly spur oneself on to work and to teach children to do the same. Because as soon as you start idling, the devil approaches you. This must always be kept in mind." (source: link )

2. A thirst for knowledge, sound judgment, and wisdom. The modern person often limits themselves to showing off a superficial intellect rather than engaging in deep understanding, leading to an excess of folly and a shortage of genuine wisdom:
"A fool does not love knowledge, only the exhibition of his mind. What does it mean for a fool not to love knowledge? Which qualities, then, are lacking in his soul? He has an excess of folly." (source: link )

3. Physical endurance and the readiness to adapt to change. The success of any endeavor depends not only on intellectual capabilities but also on physical qualities—especially endurance, which is closely linked to work efficiency. It is also important for a person to be able to adapt to changes in social status and life:
"In the past, both were developed equally. Is this really so? Recent studies show that the most important physical ability of a person is endurance. There is reason to consider it the key characteristic of physical development..." (source: link )
and
"But clearly, mere physical readiness is not enough for successful learning in school. A child must be prepared to change his social status." (source: link )

4. The presence of high ideals and a spiritual orientation. Some materials indicate that society has lost its direction in eternal values and high ideals, replacing them with transient material pursuits and consumerism. This leads to spiritual emptiness and a lack of clear life purpose, particularly among the younger generation:
"And I have a secret conviction that our youth suffer and long for the absence of higher goals in life. In our families, higher life goals are hardly mentioned..." (source: link )
as well as
"A person should ask himself: why does he subordinate his eternal essence to such insignificant things and focus on that which is transient, rather than eternal? If one does not choose eternity, then his life, not dedicated to Christ, will be poor and insignificant." (source: link )

5. The ability to resist egocentrism. One of the dangers of modernity is the excessive preoccupation with oneself, where a person loses the idea of transforming the world and the drive for its improvement, thereby depriving society of collective initiative:
"Self-absorption is, perhaps, the greatest temptation of youth, because a person loses the ideals of transforming the world, reshaping the world within himself." (source: link )

Thus, for successful development, modern society is advised to cultivate persistence, discipline, a love for deep knowledge, physical endurance, and the ability to adapt to life's changes. In addition, a strong spiritual orientation toward higher ideals is crucial, as it helps combat the prevailing materialistic mercantile approach and egocentrism.