Recent unrest across France serves as a stark reminder that societies thrive when the timeless cardinal virtues guide public life. The protests on October 17, which drew between 550,000 and 800,000 participants, began as a peaceful outcry over the cost of living but quickly devolved into riots that saw the historic town hall of Limoges set ablaze, stores looted and nearly 2,400 arrests.
Prudence: Planning with Reality in Mind
St. Thomas Aquinas described prudence as “right reason applied to action.” In a modern context, prudent leaders weigh long‑term consequences against short‑term pressures. A prudent parent balances a child’s future formation with immediate comforts; a prudent official assesses the realistic capacity of schools, housing and social trust before expanding immigration. France’s failure to anticipate the limits of integration—evident in the 2023 police shooting that sparked attacks on 99 town halls—illustrates the cost of neglecting this virtue.
Justice: Upholding Law and Mutual Obligation
Justice, according to Aquinas, is the habit of rendering each person his due. It includes commutative justice in personal exchanges, distributive justice in allocating community burdens, and legal justice that directs all other virtues toward the common good. The Catholic Catechism teaches that nations should welcome foreigners as far as they are able, while immigrants must obey the laws of their host country. When illegal entry is treated as optional, the very fabric of mutual obligation unravels, leading to the kind of chaos witnessed in French cities.
Fortitude and Temperance: Strength and Restraint in Public Life
Fortitude empowers individuals and societies to uphold the rule of law even when it is unpopular or costly. Temperance restrains the desire for immediate gratification, preventing destructive impulses. In France, the lack of fortitude was evident when authorities appeared unable or unwilling to protect the Limoges town hall, and the absence of temperance was clear as fringe elements turned peaceful protest into looting and arson.
The Common Good and Assimilation
The Second Vatican Council defines the common good as the conditions—peace, ordered liberty, education, economic cooperation—that allow individuals and groups to flourish. Assimilation, the practical expression of the virtues at a national level, means learning the language, accepting the constitutional framework and subordinating group claims that conflict with the common good. Aquinas warned that newcomers should not immediately share full civic participation until they embrace the common good.
France’s recent turmoil shows what happens when these habits erode. The 2023 inquiry into the town‑hall attacks found most adult offenders were French nationals from immigrant families, driven more by opportunism than ideology. This pattern points to weak integration and a failure to instill the virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance in the next generation.
What This Means for Free Societies
For any free nation that values family, faith and liberty, the lesson is clear: the virtues are not abstract theology but practical guides for public policy and community life. Governments must enforce laws impartially, require legal entry for newcomers, and foster a culture that rewards responsible citizenship. Only then can societies protect the common good and ensure that future protests remain expressions of legitimate grievance rather than pretexts for disorder.
Original reporting: Must Read Alaska (Anchorage) — read the source article.
