National Ideas and State Mottos as a Reflection of Society’s Spiritual Values: Theory and Practice

Abstract

Issues significant for every person and society as a whole are considered in the article: whether a country can be successful without a national idea as a concentrated expression of spiritual values of the people and without a state motto – its short verbal formula; what spiritual values are reflected in the state mottos of the countries of the world and whether there is a relationship between the level of development of a country and its state motto; whether the state motto of modern Russia is necessary and, if so, what its content can be. The topic is relevant since state mottos as an element of state symbols, are able to influence the people’s worldview and behavior and set the basic parameters of human social activity. It is shown that the values outlined in the state mottos of many countries with different levels of development coincide in many respects; the types of state mottos in the context of their advantages and limitations are highlighted; the formula of the state motto for modern Russia is proposed.