It’s hard to make people smarter. Intelligence is stubborn that way. But this isn’t true for politeness, responsibility, punctuality, or respectfulness. It isn’t true for being law-abiding, reliable, or hardworking. These traits aren’t glamorous, but they are teachable for almost everyone. They’re within reach, and they matter.

These are the quiet virtues that keep a life steady and on track. The broader point is that there are many traits people can improve that we rarely emphasize. And it’s odd—we seem uncomfortable with the idea of encouraging moral development. Earlier generations weren’t. They openly talked about shaping character, about cultivating honesty, integrity, hard work. In public discussion today, we shy away from this. Yet in private, many parents still try to teach their children these values.