In his research published in "Al-Zawba'ah" in 1942, titled "Syrian Social Nationalist Doctrine and the Democrats' Quest for a Creed," Sa’adeh commented on some of the al-Khanfashari[1] authors who exhibited a "Sophistry negation" and considered that "we possess nothing but ‘opinions and dreams that shimmer here and there,' thus they cast lessons upon us, insisting on the necessity to resemble 'developed nations' that concern themselves with essential matters and not superficialities. They, unlike us Syrians."[2] He adds:

Indeed, many strong nations have undergone phases and stages of socio-economic thinking, and this was the case in bygone eras. However, now, our social nationalist renaissance has positioned us at the forefront of culturally advanced nations of this sort. We do not lack external social-economic foundations. Rather, we can aid others and share our insights.[3]

What pained Sa’adeh was the prevailing ignorance within society, which extended not only to the general populace but also reached some writers and literati who had lost self-confidence and neglected the study of the remarkable intellectual development occurring within our people. Instead, they had become accustomed to demanding that we "resemble developed nations" and emulate their model. Sa’adeh states:

It is ignorance, the death of the spirit, the absence of ambition and lofty ideals, and the loss of self-confidence and self-respect, among the compromised writers who were born in a dark age and whose souls have never seen the light. Therefore, one cannot expect from them, with their blind insights, to perceive colours, shades, lines, things, values, paths, forms of life and their meanings, and the lofty ideals embraced by souls born in the light and nurtured in the light.[4]

What also pained Sa’adeh was the prevailing sense of despair and fear dominating souls due to the prevailing psychological conditions in society, resulting from the loss of self-confidence, the disbelieving in the talents and capabilities of the people, and the submission to surrender. This state, which Sa’adeh considered the nation's greatest calamity, gave rise to "a group of mercenaries for foreign wills"[5] spreading fear and “convincing people that fear is the best path to life"[6] and "feeding thoughts with the poison of loss of confidence in the nation's future and submission to external actions and the current state. Thus, the general psyche of the nation became one of fear, cowardice, apprehension, evasion, and degeneration in virtues and ethics...”[7]

However, Sa’adeh confirms that the resurgent Syria with its new social nationalist philosophy is not the same as the old Syria "drifting towards illusions of those lacking national spirit and self-confidence."[8] The Syrian social nationalists have liberated themselves through the principles of social nationalism from the illusions that hindered them from seeking what befits them. They have transformed through their newfound knowledge into free fighters, conscious of the meaning of their existence, their lives, and their interests in improving and enhancing life. They work with sacrifice and dedication to triumph the beautiful virtues, noble qualities, and lofty ideals of their nation. Thanks to this national resurgence that pulled them out of darkness, ignorance, misguidance, doubt, and chaos into light, knowledge, guidance, certainty, and order, they wrestle with their free will and their pure virtues. They exert efforts, make sacrifices, give generously and bravely to awaken the societal conscience, and foster a proper national awareness in their fragmented and feeble society. Through their efforts, this society as a whole transformed into a humanistic, united, strong, free, conscious, and virtuous community – a creative and resurgent community with its free sons, striving to achieve its grand aspirations in life. It becomes a role model, an example for others, capable, with the brilliance and creativity of its people, of being a teacher and a guide to other nations.