5
— Strength of will, courage, and resilience in
the face of adversity, regarded as qualities and
attributes of the Finnish people.
“THE FINNS HAVE A . THEY
WILL TELL YOU IT IS THE MOST WONDERFUL
OF ALL THEIR WORDS. IT IS NOT EASILY
TRANSLATED, BECAUSE NO OTHER LANGUAGE
HAS ITS PRECISE EQUIVALENT. EVEN THE FINNS
HAVE DIFFICULTY IN DEFINING IT, FOR, LIKE SO
MUCH OF FINLAND WHICH ELUDES DEFINITION,
IT IS A THING FELT, LIKE .
THE WORD IS SISU…”
– THE NEW YORK TIMES,
JANUARY 14, 1940
