Bemoaning the indulgence and laxity of the present in comparison to a more arduous, hardworking past is a time-honored tradition.
Missing Hunger
The idea that experiencing challenges and hardships improves us in some way is deeply woven into our modern culture, and not just in the form of the oversaturated superhero genre.
Silk Slippers of History
Voltaire* in the early eighteenth century asserted “history is filled with the sound of silken slippers going downstairs and wooden shoes coming up.” While this metaphorical explanation for the rise and fall of civilizations is unpopular these days, I think it has significant merit in explaining societies' evolution.
IGC Publishing 