Life Lessons From the 1900s That Are Still Relevant Today

Political leaders need to tell the people what they have to know instead of what they want to hear. This was one of the most important lessons of the influenza pandemic of the 1918-1919, which killed between 50 million and 100 million people worldwide (or between 200 million and 450 million people when adjusted to the global population in 2020.)

People of authority working in government and health institutions lied about the flu at the time, saying it was a regular influenza virus, even though the symptoms were more severe — including bleeding from the mouth and eyes — and the mortality rate was higher. As a result, proper public health precautions were not taken early enough, which may have prevented thousands of deaths.

Vaccines help children as well as adults live healthier lives by preventing them from catching potentially deadly diseases, or by helping them better fight the disease if they catch it.

Smallpox, a deadly virus, was eradicated, and polio, a virus that causes paralysis, has been nearly wiped out. Worldwide, life expectancy at birth has increased from around 48 years in 1950 to around 70 years in 2017 — in part also thanks to vaccines.

This adage was brought home frequently at the start of the 20th century, with the advent of the automobile and the invention of the airplane. These changes altered small-town life in America forever.

In the early 1900s, as people tried to help alcoholics overcome their addiction they’ve learned that those with an addiction ultimately have to want to help themselves. This applies today to all types of addition, be it alcohol, drugs, cigarettes or anything else.

It is important to remember in this hyper-polarized political world that people may disagree over issues. Other people may simply be unpleasant. But not liking a person for any reason should not degenerate into hatred.

Like in the early 20th century, the economy today is evolving rapidly, requiring new skills and talents to adapt to the changing world. At the same time, talents acquired from years in the workplace are still valued. And don’t be bashful about using them. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?”

Responsibility means taking ownership of your actions and taking control of your life. This became a challenge for people in the early 20th century as life accelerated. Failure to take responsibility for who you are can result in failing in your career and your personal life.

Forgiveness is a theme revisited many times in the Bible. Among the biblical verses that discusses forgiveness is Matthew 6:14-15: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” People find it hard to forgive for several reasons — they feel that the offending party should be punished or that forgiving would condone their actions. However, forgiveness is a powerful and empowering thing.

If change means altering one’s habits and behaviors, then people have the ability to change. But the person must first recognize that his or her behaviors might be harming their lives and have the desire to make those changes.

One of the most-quoted phrases of the 20th century was by essayist and philosopher George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

We find it hard to let the past go because of how we are wired. According to physicist Frank Heile, human consciousness has a difficult time living in the present, and we recall past events that hurt us. The more we think about these events, the more attached we become to them.

Being empathetic and kind puts us in touch with our essential humanity. Buddhists believe there is enough material wealth in the modern world and that we are lacking loving-kindness and goodwill — which doesn’t cost anything.

This is one of the English language’s most famous metaphorical idioms. According to bloomsbury-international.com, the phrase first appeared in the Piqua Democrat in Piqua, Ohio: “Don’t judge a book by its cover, see a man by his cloth, as there is often a good deal of solid worth and superior skill underneath a jacket and yaller pants.” The phrase was probably well known to those in the early 20th century.

Literature is full of references to personal debt, and none are approving. The ancient Roman writer Publilius Syrus said, “Debt is the slavery of the free.” In the early 20th century, before the widespread use of credit cards and other financial instruments, large household debt was rare. Mortgages as we know them first came on the scene in 1934. Today, consumer debt is exploding. It stood at $14 trillion in the first quarter this year.

President Franklin Roosevelt sought to allay the nation’s concerns about the economy in his first inaugural address by saying “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” What people fear most is failure — in relationships or in a job, for example. According to author and psychologist Dr. Susan Jeffers (“Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway”), in order for people to overcome their fears, they must confront them.

Even though the pace of change was quickening in the early 20th century, people still spent time enjoying life’s pleasures. New modes of transportation and better roads allowed Americans of many socioeconomic strata to go on vacation, enjoy the new diversion of movies, or spend an afternoon in an urban park. Americans were also made aware of the physical benefits of exercise to fend off stress.

History is peppered with accounts of failure by those who eventually made a difference in people’s lives. Even though Thomas Edison’s inventions were changing people’s lives in the early 20th century, it is important to know he failed a thousand times before his light bulb worked. He didn’t look at it that way. “I didn’t fail 1,000 times,” he said. “The light bulb was an invention that took 1,000 steps.”

Good friends are worth holding on to, and good friendships need to be cared for and nourished. One hundred years ago, that was easier to do because many people lived and worked in the same town all their lives.

Losing control of your anger has repercussions such as hurt feelings, resentment, and regret. Culturally, losing your temper in the early 20th century was frowned upon because it was associated with losing one’s self-control and being overwhelmed by emotion that clouds reason and intellect.

The importance of exercise to reduce stress and improve one’s health was becoming more widely known in the early 20th century.

It wasn’t until the early part of the 20th century that child-labor laws were enacted and children had to attend school. By 1900, 31 states required children aged 8 to 14 to attend school. After school, lifelong learning was limited to what one read in books and newspapers. Today, lifelong learning is important for personal and professional development and more accessible.

The early part of the 20th century was called “The Age of Anxiety,” with European powers vying for military supremacy. Even though those concerns were an ocean away from the United States, Americans were concerned about getting drawn into the gathering storm. Today, the stress comes from external factors such as terrorism as well as concerns about paying for college to saving for retirement.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day.” In other words, there are no shortcuts to success. That was an axiom known to those in the early 20th century, and it applies to today.

It’s easy to procrastinate and put off what needs to be done. The Bible and ancient writings imposed a moral imperative on avoiding procrastination.

Once you’ve said something, there is no taking back your word choice. People in the early 20th century were aware of this.

“Punctuality is the soul of business,” according to a mid-19th century English proverb. Being on time took on greater importance as the world became more urban and industrialized, and as the workforce depended on mass transit and highways to get them to work on time.

If you’re a boss, losing your temper in front of those who work for you inhibits your supervisory capacity. The workplace is a professional space, and supervisors are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner. Of course, if you’re not a supervisor, this advice also applies as it can create unpleasant relationships and work environment.

Being decisive provides clarity for those working for the boss. It also instills faith in the person who is leading them. Indecisiveness is linked to not being productive. Being decisive is important not just in the workplace but in all aspects of life.

Rules should be flexible because not everyone is cut from the same cloth. When the Boston Celtics dominated the National Basketball Association in the 1960s, Coach Red Auerbach had a set of rules for his players, except for star center Bill Russell. Auerbach allowed Russell to sit and drink tea during scrimmages, and he permitted him to skip practice. By the way, the Celtics won 11 NBA titles during the Russell era.

John Graham, a self-made millionaire from the 19th century, once said, “The easiest way in the world to make enemies is to hire friends.” Hiring friends changes the dynamic between you and your pal, possibly for good. It can also alienate others in the workplace who may perceive favoritism.

Many children in the early 20th century might have read the works of Roman writers such as Seneca, who urged people to seize the day. “The whole future lies in uncertainty: Live immediately.” That lesson is no less true today.

First impressions may be deceiving, but they are lasting. Appearances counted, and men and women, regardless of social station, dressed their best for work in the cities and towns of America.

In the early 20th century, there were few government safety-net programs to protect the American family, so family members depended much more on each other than today. Still, having a supporting network and taking care of one’s family remains as true today as it always was.

Schools in the early 20th century were geared toward preparing students for the work world. Students were disciplined to complete assignments in a timely manner. For many students, the repetition of the work routine developed into work habits that carried over into their work life. Today, while the tasks may be different, the idea is just as valid.

Because there was no social media and little technology to speak of, communication was less of a complicated task in the early 20th century, but no less important. Today, colleagues, friends, and family can track our movements and follow each of our posts online. Clear communication may be of even greater importance.

People had more time to think about their goals and write them down in the early 20th century. Putting ideas on paper or in a Google document requires discipline and time, but it helps you stay organized and focused.

It has always been difficult for people to admit they were wrong — in the early 1900s and today. Hiding the truth seems easier, but it can lead to problems later. Admitting when you’re wrong actually raises your standing with others.

People in the early 20th century read more books or newspapers. Reading can be crowded out by overscheduling and overwork, but people still manage to use what leisure time they have to read books — online, in audio books, or the old fashioned way.

Each Thanksgiving, Americans count their blessings with family and friends. There is no reason we can’t express our gratitude more often than once a year, through reflection while on a walk or exercising.

In the early 1900s, America, a comparatively young nation, was open to new ideas. Being open to new ideas helps keep you young.

The lesson to be learned about leading is that you have to want to lead and accept the consequences of the responsibility.