A society is only as great as the values that it enshrines as

"A society is only as great as the values that it enshrines as part of its ethos. A society is only as great as the extent to which it is willing to defend its identity." These profound words by Gad Saad echo through the chambers of time, reminding us that the greatness of any society lies not in its material wealth or military power, but in the values it chooses to uphold and protect. A society that holds truth, justice, freedom, and compassion as part of its core identity is a society that rises above the trials of time. In contrast, a society that abandons these values, or allows them to be diluted in the face of adversity, is destined for decay and disintegration. The ethos of a people, the very essence of their moral compass, determines their ability to endure and flourish.

In the ancient world, the Greeks understood well that a society’s greatness was tied to the virtues it nurtured. Athens, the cradle of democracy, was built upon values of freedom, individual rights, and the pursuit of knowledge. The Athenians believed that the greatness of their city-state was not only in the physical beauty of its buildings or its military power but in the intellectual and moral values that guided its decisions. The very notion of democracy itself—the idea that citizens could participate in governance and defend the common good—was a reflection of the values they held most dear. Yet, when these values were under threat, as in the case of the Peloponnesian War, Athens faltered, and the spirit of the city began to erode. The values that once defined Athens were challenged, and with them, the greatness of the city-state began to crumble.

Similarly, consider the example of Rome, which reached the height of its power not solely through military conquest, but because of the values that underpinned its empire: law, order, and civic responsibility. These values were enshrined in the Twelve Tables, the early codification of Roman law, which defined the rights of citizens and the duties they owed to one another. Rome’s identity was deeply tied to the respect for these values, and its ability to defend them was critical to its continued success. However, as Rome expanded, the values that had sustained its early greatness began to falter. Corruption, decadence, and the erosion of civic responsibility led to the empire’s eventual downfall. The decline of Rome was not just a result of military failure; it was the consequence of failing to defend the identity and values that had made it great.

In the modern world, Saad’s words resonate with the challenges we face in defending the identity of our societies. Western civilization, for instance, has long been rooted in the values of liberty, individual rights, and the rule of law. Yet, in recent times, these values are being questioned and eroded. Globalization, technological advancement, and shifting political ideologies have introduced new challenges to our traditional sense of identity. As we witness the rise of authoritarianism, censorship, and identity politics, we are reminded that a society that fails to defend its core values becomes vulnerable to external forces that seek to change its very ethos.

The story of Nelson Mandela offers a powerful example of the role that values play in defending society’s identity. Under the oppressive regime of apartheid, South Africa’s government sought to erase the identity of the black majority, relegating them to second-class citizenship. Mandela, a man of immense conviction, stood as a champion of the values of justice and freedom. Despite being imprisoned for 27 years, he did not abandon the core ethos of equality and human dignity. His willingness to defend the identity of his people, against all odds, led to the eventual overthrow of apartheid and the restoration of justice in South Africa. His story reminds us that when a society is willing to defend its identity—even at great personal cost—it can transform its future and create a world that reflects its highest values.

Saad’s quote teaches us that the greatness of any society is determined not by its material success, but by the values it chooses to encompass and defend. If those values—justice, truth, equality, and freedom—are upheld, then that society is poised for greatness, capable of weathering any storm. However, if those values are abandoned, diluted, or neglected, the very identity of the society begins to disintegrate. This is a universal truth, found in the rise and fall of civilizations across history. Whether in the Athenian Agora, the Roman Forum, or in the streets of Cape Town during the struggle for freedom, we see the same principle: the society that defends its values is the society that thrives.

In our own lives, we must ask ourselves: What values do we hold most dear? And how far are we willing to go to defend them? Are we content to let the greatness of our society slip away, or will we stand firm in the face of challenges to our identity? The lesson here is not just for nations or civilizations, but for each of us individually. We must be willing to defend our personal values, to stand by what we believe in, and to act when those values are threatened. In doing so, we become the guardians of our society’s greatness—whether in our families, our communities, or the world at large. For a society is only as great as the values it chooses to embrace and the extent to which it is willing to defend them.