Famed Finnish sniper Simo Hayha during the Winter War, Russia's invasion of Finland. An excellent exemplar of Sisu.
Sisu is a Finnish word that means something akin to English expressions such as guts, but encompassing a never give up in the face of overwhelming odds mindset.
"They have a word in Finnish called sisu, which basically means guts. It’s the strongest word in the Finnish language. You tell a Finn he doesn’t have sisu, that’s like spitting in his face." ~ Arthur Lydiard
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisu
From the above linked Wikipedia article:
Sisu is extraordinary determination in the face of extreme adversity, and courage that is presented typically in situations where success is unlikely. It expresses itself in taking action against the odds, and displaying courage and resoluteness in the face of adversity; in other words, deciding on a course of action, and then adhering to it even if repeated failures ensue. It is in some ways similar to equanimity, though sisu entails an element of stress management.
The English "gutsy" invokes a similar metaphor (one also found in other languages): the Finnish usage derives from sisus, translated as "interior", and as "entrails" or "guts". See also the colloquial phrase "intestinal fortitude". Another closely related English concept evokes the metaphor grit.
Sisu is also the title of a 2022 Finnish World War Two thriller about a Finnish ex-commando contending with German SS troops. Think Rambo in Finland and German soldiers instead of cops. As I have not seen it I cannot further comment on it, but I suppose the commando is seen as an exemplar of sisu. Below, another link explaining Sisu.
https://truescandinavia.com/what-does-sisu-mean-in-finnish/
Copied from the above link:
Courage in Adversity: Sisu is the courage to face difficulties head-on. Whether it’s a personal challenge or a societal struggle, sisu empowers individuals to confront adversity without backing down. It’s about finding strength within oneself to navigate the storm.
Perseverance and Tenacity: Sisu is not about immediate success; it’s about the journey. It’s the grit to persevere through obstacles and the determination to keep going even when success seems distant. Finnish people often attribute their resilience to the presence of sisu in their character.
Integrity and Honesty: Sisu is not just about facing external challenges; it’s also about internal strength. It involves staying true to one’s values and maintaining integrity in the face of difficulties. Honesty, both with oneself and others, is a fundamental aspect of sisu.
"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." ~ Calvin Coolidge
It seems like there has been an upsurge in antisisuism, that is, a philooshphy that opposes the philosophy of sisu, what with college students needing safe spaces, children not playing outside and a sort of general atmosphere of fearfulness, so I am here urging everyone to take a stand against antisisuism. It's probably part of the new control from the top paradigm, with everyone to be controlled by an un-elected elite, sisu and it's various worldwide counterparts are in the way.
"I have so much respect for people in the service. The mental strength it takes to do what they do is unbelievable." ~ Torrey DeVitto
A major producer of sisu in the US were the boy scouts, so naturally they came under intense fire. Since it was obvious to any thinking person that the boy scouts could not allow homosexual scout leaders, and people would not allow their boys to be so endangered, that was exactly what was proposed. It was claimed that anyone opposing such a heinous operation was a backward homophobe, a throwback to uncivilized prehistory, and just a bad person. Peoples fear of being seen as out of it prevailed, and a valuable source of national sisu was severely compromised.
Boy Scouts aside, if our country is to endure sisu must be encouraged in our youth, so we must all be on the lookout for sources of antisisuism and oppose them.
Sports help foster sisu, but organized sports in public schools are often limited to the talented few. Our military academies recognize the importance and require all to cadets to participate in sports, so I think that the schools could in principle do something to make sure everyone competes at some level. Fewer video games and more outdoor games would be in order.
"You can train your mental strength just like you train your body. If your body looks fit or ripped, it looks strong, and you can flex your muscles. So, physically, you have a certain strength. Mentally, it's the same thing. You can train your psychological strength." ~ Wladimir Klitschko
https://drp314.substack.com/p/willpower
The epidemic of divorce and the phenomenon of boys being raised by their mothers with little input from the fathers should be recognized as fostering antisisuism, and should be opposed for that reason as well as many others.
Certainly I do not have all the answers, but my plea here is that people recognize antisisuism as an important societal issue.
Sisu may begin making a comeback as times get worse. There is a saying: Hard times make strong men. Strong men make good times. Good times make weak men. Weak men make hard times. Hard times make strong men...
Let's not wait for the hard times.
https://drp314.substack.com/p/be-a-warrior-in-a-garden
Stay Brave, Stay Free, Develop Sisu
"As I have not seen it I cannot further comment on it, but I suppose the commando is seen as an exemplar of sisu,"
I saw it last year. It's not a Hellywood slick production and the story was probably written in crayon - albeit by an old school Marine. It is gory, and over-the-top violent. As cinematic art, I hated it. As a story, I found it incredible. That said, I loved the message - which I think was the main point - and I'd heartily recommend it to anyone who needs to see that message described.
Great research. That picture of a Boy Scout or whatever they call them now is heart breaking. As a former Scout, I never dreamed they would end up like this!