The Delay of Duty

The man who said, "I shall pass this way but once; any good thing, therefore, that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again," was a philosopher who well knew the evil of procrastination, and if his deeds were in keeping with his wise words the world profited doubly by his life.

The temptation to procrastinate seems to be especially subtle when we are called upon to unite in any undertaking requiring the co-operation of many. How natural it seems for us to wait until we see what others are doing or intend to do. Frequently we are tempted to postpone our efforts until our associates have done that which we consider to be their duty; forgetting that our duty should be done without regard to what others are doing, and that we cannot with propriety or certainty forecast what another should do. To yield to this temptation is to retard the progress of the enterprise and frequently to prevent the very acts which we regard as pre-requisites to action on our part.

Usually we can do nothing more profitable than to do our best, irrespective of what others are doing, and without regard to whether they are doing just what we would do under similar circumstances. And when we say similar circumstances, we forget that we do not, and cannot, know what problems our brother has been compelled to solve, nor can we measure his achievement in solving them. The success of united endeavor is insured only through the unselfishness and zeal of every individual. If "each does well his part" the outcome cannot be uncertain.

A general must have the loyal support of his entire army in order successfully to execute his plans, and the greater part of his army must move forward, when the proper time comes, without knowing the details of the campaign. All the preliminary work, the drilling of the troops, the laying in of supplies, must be done before the campaign can be entered upon, and it would be a rash commander who would press forward or disclose his plans until that work is done. The quicker this preliminary work is done, the earlier the campaign can be commenced. And after it is commenced, the individual must continue to do his duty without procrastination and without flinching. M.

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The Recognition of Greatness

February 26, 1903

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