"The present dominant values (xenophilia, cosmopolitanism, narcissistic individualism, humanitarianism, bourgeois economism, hedonism, homophilia, permissiveness, etc.) are actually anti-values"

Guillaume Faye

"The present dominant values (xenophilia, cosmopolitanism, narcissistic individualism, humanitarianism, bourgeois economism, hedonism, homophilia, permissiveness, etc.) are actually anti-values – values of devirilising weakness, since they deplete a civilization's vital energies and weaken its defensive or affirmative capacities."

Guillaume Faye (“Why We Fight”)

Guillaume Faye, born on November 7, 1949, was a French journalist, writer, and political theorist associated with the European New Right. He was known for his critiques of modern Western civilization and his advocacy for what he termed “archeofuturism,” a blend of traditional values with future-oriented technological progress. Faye’s work often centered on themes of cultural decline, identity, and the need for a revival of European civilization.

In the quote, "The present dominant values (xenophilia, cosmopolitanism, narcissistic individualism, humanitarianism, bourgeois economism, hedonism, homophilia, permissiveness, etc.) are actually anti-values – values of devirilising weakness, since they deplete a civilization's vital energies and weaken its defensive or affirmative capacities," Faye is expressing his deep concern over the moral and cultural trajectory of Western society.

The meaning of this quote is that Faye views the dominant values in contemporary Western societies—such as cosmopolitanism, excessive individualism, and humanitarianism—as weakening the very foundations of civilization. He refers to these as “anti-values,” suggesting that rather than strengthening society, they erode its core identity, vitality, and ability to defend itself. In his critique, values like xenophilia (an excessive love for foreign cultures), hedonism, and permissiveness undermine the cultural cohesion and assertiveness needed for a civilization to thrive.

Faye's idea of “devirilising weakness” refers to his belief that these values strip society of its strength, courage, and assertiveness—traits that he believes are necessary for the survival of any culture. For Faye, Western civilization is in decline because it has embraced ideologies that prioritize comfort, tolerance, and materialism over the more vital and masculine qualities of defense, honor, and cultural pride. In his view, this leaves Europe vulnerable, both in terms of its ability to assert its identity and defend itself against external threats.

This quote reflects Faye’s broader argument that a revival of traditional, virile values is necessary to restore the “vital energies” of Western civilization and ensure its survival in the face of internal decay and external pressures. His critique is aimed not just at liberalism but at the broader cultural shifts he saw as leading to the decline of Western nations.