You here many tales now a days-that the world is absurd, that everything has changed,that moral values have died. This is all nonsense, for if you look for reality beneath the clutter of words which hide it,you will discover the eternal man. True values were not invented for the pleasure of senile moralist. They exist because without them neither society nor happiness could survive.Here,then are few rules as old as civilization itself which remain true despite the advance of science and technology.
This are the values that never change even if the world change a lot:
Live something other than one self.The man meditates ceaselessly about himself finds a thousand reasons to be unhappy. He has not accomplished everything he wanted too hard would have done; he has not gotten everything he thought he deserved: he has not been loved as he dreamed of being loved. But if he lives for ideals outside or himself-for his faith or his country, for his friends,his wife and family,he also makes him self happy.
Man must act"The joy of the soul is in action."Instead of lamenting the absurdity of , the world, let us try to transform our own little corner. It is not impossible. We cannot change the whole universe,but who hopes to do that? Our objective is much more simple:to do our job and do it well,to become a master at it. Each one works in his own field,write books,the carpenter assembles my bookshelves,the policemen directs traffic, the engineer construct, the minister governs.All of them kept busy with apparently useless activities such as games and sports. As for useful action: we know from experience that is effective: an active mayor makes a city prosperous, an active priest brings vitality to a parish,"Happy are those in whose eyes men look order."
One must believe the power of the will. It is not true that the future is predetermined. A great man can change the course of history. Any man who has the courage and the will can change his own future. Naturally,none of use it all powerful. Each man's freedom has its limit. Freedom lies between the border of the possible and the will. It is beyond my power to prevent war,but I can perform an act which,multiplied by millions, will be effective.It is not possible for me to win a battle, but it is up to me to be a courageous soldier. Since this limitations of the will is dependent on what one dares,one must not worry about his limitations but do the best he can.
The most precious of all values, is faithfulness, to promise, contracts, to others and to one self.One must be among those who can be counted upon . Faithfulness is not easy virtue. Thousands of temptation are thrown across our path."Faithfulness in marriage," said Bernard Shaw,: is no more natural to man than the cage to the tiger," Undoubtedly.No faithfulness is,"natural",It is born of a voluntary decision, constantly renewed ,which help us to rise above our natures.But it gives us lasting joy of being at peace with ourselves.I may forego an immediate pleasure to assure myself the great joy in the future of looking at my past without shame, but with pride.
Every society in which citizens live for nought but fleeting pleasures,where men no longer trust each , and whose members let themselves go is doomed. When Rome let go and ceased to set store by the values which made her great,she perished When France clung to eternal values, she was saved. Modern technology may change one's modes of action,but they neither its values,the reason for it , not the duty of faithfulness. Thus it was in the beginning and so it will always be.