Prosperity

"Everything in the world may be endured except continued prosperity."
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


This quotation brings up some very interesting questions, beyond simply "is the point it makes true."

The point that von Goethe seems to be making is that humanity will endure nearly anything, but when we become too successful for too long, we collapse in on ourselves. This trend can be seen throughout history. Whenever a people becomes prosperous for a long period of time, the individuals begin to loose the drive to better themselves and their surroundings. They loose ambition, and let others take care of them. A few lazy people does not ruin a culture, but when the entire culture is fat and lazy, it begins to collapse from its own weight. People who live in adversity and hardship become active, industrious people, because they have to in order to survive. Once a civilization has become continually prosperous, its people do not need to be smart or industrious to live comfortably, much less survive. This selfish, lazy attitude, once it has become prevalent in a society, will lead to it's eventual downfall.

America seems to be heading down this path. With such a high obesity rate, and the national past time becoming watching TV at night, is there really any question that we have had it too easy for too long?

What can be done? Well, shot of a major disaster forcing people to work to survive, the only remedy I can think of is personal. Don't fall into complacency.