8 Values Worth Reviving
Let’s take eight old-fashioned values out of the dustbin of history and restore them to prominence in 2025.
1. Loyalty
Loyalty to one’s family and community doesn’t, by default, exclude others, although today’s culture might have you think so. Loyalty to those you love should have a strong influence on your choices, as family and community are the foundations of a healthy society. While abstract values of justice and fairness matter, we are also bound by our commitments to each other.
2. Hard Work
In many wealthy societies, where examples of overnight success abound, more and more people are looking for easy ways to strike it rich. No longer is hard work valued for its own sake—people respect success and power no matter how it’s obtained. But old-fashioned effort matters because it points to deeper character traits such as persistence, grit, and determination that will never go out of style.
3. Frugality
While there are certainly thriving subcultures of people living frugally by choice, the vast majority of people today with access to modern markets are living at or beyond their means because of the availability of credit. However, a frugal society is less fragile than one pushing the envelope of consumption as far as it goes. Frugal people generally have learned that money alone doesn’t buy happiness.
4. Respect for Elders
As society changes faster because of technology, it’s natural that we place more emphasis on the young, who can adapt more quickly and often come up with the newest ideas. However, such an approach assumes that economic values are the highest or only kind there are. Older people are the ones who hold the greatest gifts of wisdom, experience, perspective, good judgment, and often a willingness to share what they’ve learned. One of the best things you can do is immerse yourself in their presence.
5. Integrity
It’s not that people today are immoral, but they do seem more likely to believe that the ends justify the means. Taking a principled stand is no longer respected as it was in the past. I’d love to see the old-school value of integrity restored to a place of honor in our society. Those who are honest and live by a clear set of values are laying the foundation of trust that a thriving society depends on.
6. Modesty
While there is a time and place for self-promotion and believing in yourself, modesty in style and presence are underrated traits in today’s world. Living modestly encourages us to be humble toward one another—not always seeking to outdo, but rather raising each other up. A modest society is more likely to value quieter virtues than the seemingly impressive, showy ones that lack substance.
7. Patience
The internet has ushered massive convenience into our lives—fast shipping, instant access to entertainment, and answers to most questions just a search away. One downside is that we’ve grown less patient with things that haven’t sped up. Real relationships take patience to grow, as do many character traits, unlike instantly “friending” someone online. Today, people are even coached to be less patient and move as fast as possible, but this emphasis could backfire because the most important things in life require time and long-term care.
8. Manners
While I’m not sure that I would have liked to live in drastically more formal times, I have a twinge of nostalgia for the age of manners and etiquette that seems to have passed. Good manners add an element of grace to everyday life and elevate casual encounters between strangers. I’ve always thought of manners as a simple way to show respect to others in the public sphere and at home—a feature I’d love to see more of when I’m out and about.
