Act always as a king, not a peasant. Act as a man who puts the needs of the community first. This man does not drink because he must always be vigilant, ready for when the wolves come to stalk the sheep. Even when subordinated to the imprudent, maintain your integrity and dignity. Act as an emperor in peasant clothing; act as Socrates, as Diogenes, as Epictetus, Washington, as Ashoka, as Shakyamuni, Winters, Leonidas, as Marcus. We hold to higher truths than fashion and convenience, than the cut of the clothe and wiggle of the tongue, than deceit, treachery, untruthfulness, selfishness, banality, mediocrity, superficiality. We reject the illusory world of emotion situation ethics and side strongly with virtue. We are a fortress within ourselves.

I am responsible for my own errors. I do not blame those in my trust for my own faults. I do not make excuses. I am what I am by my own will or lack of will, lack of restraint or restraint, heart or no heart. When it is time to die, I will fulfill that duty. With no whining. I will attend to the quest for honesty with serious devotion. I will recite Thomas Paine before every battle:

‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.