The Case for Civic Virtue

If we are political animals, then citizenship is our highest calling. In our culture, “citizenship” has evolved an artificially narrow connotation of having just to do with things like voting and political engagement. However, in other times, both in the Ancient World and in the Modern, it has meant much more than that. Consider the oath that Ancient Athenians took upon reaching adulthood:

This is a comprehensive ideal that challenges the individual to lead a life dedicated to the welfare of the community. It’s an orientation outward from self and towards something larger and more important. There’s an assumption of subordination here—the concerns of the city always outweigh those of the individual. This is what President Kennedy was getting at with his famous “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

The Romans had a similar ethos and even took things further. Cicero, in “On Duties,” his must-read masterpiece outlining Roman moral philosophy, argues that the duty of the citizen actually goes beyond subordination:

The Roman ideal was a society so connected, so committed to each other that individuals would see no difference between their best interests and those of the community at large. Imagine a world like that!

As I’ve gotten more into this podcasting and newsletter experiment, I’ve realized that what I’ve been after with all this creative work is motivated by something rather important. It’s an idea that’s so big it’s been hard for me to even admit to myself out of fear I may be suffering from some kind of grandiose delusion. But I feel like I’ve been called to do something and it’s a call I cannot ignore.

“Ok, Nick. What’s the mission?” 

To inspire a rebirth of civic virtue in the world. 

I feel like everything in my life has been leading to this moment—my love of history and literature, the songs and movies that make the hair on the back of my neck stand-up, what I instantly felt in my heart when the kids were born, the things I’ve said “no” to in life, the sense of responsibility I feel….

This mission is something I’ve been thinking for over 15 years actually. In fact, years ago when I left my first “real” job after law school, my plan was to write my magnum opus all about what it means to be a citizen in the modern world. Obviously, I got a little distracted. I don’t have any regrets though. What I’ve learned as an entrepreneur and investor has been invaluable to the evolution of my understanding. 

Whether you live in a democracy or not, citizenship is absolutely critical, for it is the thing that makes you more than just an individual. It’s the thing that ties you to something greater than yourself and ennobles you. Spiritual teachers talk all the time about the interconnected nature of reality and the truth of our mutual dependencies. But you don’t even need to believe all that to understand that without your community, a good life is not possible. We band together not just because it makes us better but because we have to, because we were born to do so. 

In my view, citizenship is best understood as a comprehensive ideal that governs conduct in all areas of life. It is a way of being that is motivated by an understanding that we all have responsibilities to each other. And if our aim is a good life, we simply cannot ignore or turn away from these duties.

While we face a universal demand for civic virtue, we must walk our own path. The call to citizenship manifests in unique ways but at the core it’s about orienting both the intentionality and the action of your life toward serving your community. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t also focus on improving yourself as an individual. Not at all. Personal growth is critical to the mission. The first duty of the citizen is to be a stable, contributing member of society. And you cannot do that if you don’t work on yourself. The same goes with financial life. It’s near impossible to be an effective citizen if you are struggling economically. You have a duty to keep your financial house in order as well. 

Citizenship doesn’t demand that you give up all your material possessions and work tirelessly to alleviate suffering in the world. While that is a particularly beautiful manifestation of civic virtue, it’s not required of everyone. What is required is that you accept the responsibility and seek to make positive contributions to the world, no matter how big or small, every single day. 

What’s fascinating is that life is structured in such a way that you literally cannot help but make a contribution to the world around you. You might not notice it or believe it but you are changing the world around you with every action. Even if you narcissistically pursue your self-will ad nauseam, you cannot help but be a part of something greater. In other words, life will make you a citizen whether you like it or not. Far better to simply accept the call, walk the path of civic virtue, and live to make the world a better place.

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