They say, “The devil’s greatest trick was convincing man he didn’t exist.”
I’d argue he has pulled off a grander operation in recent decades: he sabotaged the language of the virtues, of human excellence. 🧵
I’d argue he has pulled off a grander operation in recent decades: he sabotaged the language of the virtues, of human excellence. 🧵
If you compromise the words and make the virtues seem so lame that nobody has any interest in them, you have killed moral aspiration altogether.
Consider the evidence. Across the board, modern usage has systematically degraded the words:
Consider the evidence. Across the board, modern usage has systematically degraded the words:
1) Prudence becomes utilitarian calculation, bordering on cowardice.
2) Meekness becomes weakness.
3) Chastity becomes prudery.
4) Humility becomes round-shouldered self-deprecation.
5) Charity becomes niceness.
6) Temperance becomes portion control.
2) Meekness becomes weakness.
3) Chastity becomes prudery.
4) Humility becomes round-shouldered self-deprecation.
5) Charity becomes niceness.
6) Temperance becomes portion control.
7) Hope becomes wishful thinking.
8) Justice becomes whatever political outcomes are most convenient for the Regime.
9) Courage gets tainted by associated with the supposedly “stunning and brave” artists and activists who say banal and safe things.
8) Justice becomes whatever political outcomes are most convenient for the Regime.
9) Courage gets tainted by associated with the supposedly “stunning and brave” artists and activists who say banal and safe things.
10) Strength (or prowess) devolves largely into a metaphor for mental toughness.
Magnanimity (which Aquinas calls “the jewel of the virtues") suffers a different fate of simply being forgotten. Many have just never heard of it: "Magna-whatnow?"
Magnanimity (which Aquinas calls “the jewel of the virtues") suffers a different fate of simply being forgotten. Many have just never heard of it: "Magna-whatnow?"
This is next-level stuff, absolutely masterfully nefarious. Again, why would anyone care to be prudent, humble, just, etc, when these things are so unimpressive and make no claim on the heart?
It's never my intention to leave blackpills on the table, so let me offer what I believe to be the most targeted and simple remedy for reclaiming a sense of the virtues: get to training! Literal physical training.
Nothing teaches a man the possibility of improvement quite like getting stronger, faster, and more capable. Your efforts, your work, your discipline becomes a part of you, which you bring with you everywhere.
It is a moral lesson made undeniably physical and simple, and it teaches you how to get started down the path of excellence in other areas of your life. The words start to come alive in a new way once you've tasted that success.
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