“Not to forget that you are Romanian, is the first duty of a Romanian.”Mihai Eminescu · Publicistică · 1880 · Curierul de Iași, 24 ianuarie 1880
The highest moral duty of a Romanian is to actively preserve their national identity.
Eminescu sees national identity not as a given, but as an active responsibility. Forgetting you are Romanian means losing your roots and moral bearings. For example, in a globalized world where many emigrate or adopt foreign cultures, this duty means preserving your language, customs, and solidarity with your community. It is not about exclusion, but about loyalty to your origins.
Eminescu does not speak of grand patriotism, but of a daily duty. When you choose to speak your mother tongue at home, even if you are in a foreign country, you fulfill this duty. For example, a parent who teaches their child Romanian stories, instead of foreign fairy tales, remembers their belonging. This remembrance is not an empty gesture, but an act that shapes your character. It helps you not to lose yourself in the global crowd. The next step is to see how this duty can coexist with respect for other cultures.
Why it matters In an age of migration and fluid identities, this idea helps you maintain a stable core of belonging without becoming xenophobic.