"Be prepared" is the motto of the Boy Scout Brotherhood; and it is well to think about it, so as to understand why it is our motto as compared to such good and true sayings as "Do a Good Turn Daily." In one word, the reason is that "Do a Good Turn Daily" only directs us to do a part of our duty, whereas "Be Prepared" expresses and implies the whole of it.
Of course, a person who had never heard of the motto before would naturally ask the question "Be Prepared for What?" and the answer is "To do our duty." So the spirit of duty, which is defined in every point of the scout law, is implied in the motto "Be Prepared."
But why is it that preparation is necessary? Why is it that we cannot do our duty as a matter of course without planning for it in advance and taking preliminary steps?
Any man who has lived long enough and who has kept his eyes open would tell you that a constant active effort is necessary to prevent ordinary human weakness from getting hold of us in such a way as to prevent us from doing our duty. There is a natural tendency in every human being to be lazy, or self-indulgent, or addicted to some kind of selfishness; and the people who manfully overcome such tendencies are just the ones to acknowledge them fully. It is well to watch a man carefully who pretends that life is easy sailing and does not require any particular effort. Such a man is in the ignorance and blindness of being unprepared, and it is only a question of time before he will be overtaken by events which, when they come, will seem to him both terrible and surprising.
Life is a combat for the right against wrong; and it is only common sense to face the facts and to become prepared by learning to fight like good soldiers.
A great part of the enjoyment of life comes from loving one's work and doing it as well as one possibly can; but there was once a hard-working man who never would admit that work was anything but painful. He was naturally a lazy man and yet never yielded to his laziness. His mind, however, was so filled with the exertion he constantly made that he failed to get any conscious pleasure out of the results of his work. He not only declared that work was to him painful, but he regarded it as nonsense to say that it could be anything but painful to any one else.
I merely mention this man as one of a class who illustrate the natural aversion of human nature to adapt itself to the universal law of labor. Such people are in a minority, for the joy of work is quite as self-evident to others, -- when it is strengthened and enriched by the consciousness of difficulties overcome, -- as the pain of work was to the man whose sense of laziness seemed incurable.
"Be Prepared" means know beforehand, as far as possible, what your difficulties are going to be, in order that you may be strong to conquer them successfully when the time comes. Get the habit of watchful vigilance, alert attention, and vigorous action.
It is very clear that a lack of education is a great handicap in life. Even the best worker, if he be ignorant and unable to apply himself to study, cannot expect to do as much as a man who is equipped with the means of advancement. Therefore education, if accompanied by intelligence and character, is an obvious preparation for a more varied and influential life than that of the uneducated. But we must remember that education does not mean merely passing our examinations at school or college; this means education of the intellect. Unless the heart and the will are developed in just such ways as the scout law requires, the education of the intellect may even become a positive disadvantage. It is better to be ignorant of the trades, or arts and sciences, and have a practical knowledge of the workings of the moral law, than it is to be the smartest man in the world without respect or reverence; for, without these latter, life is bitter and brutal.
In the light of recent events, it is becoming more and more evident that the citizens of the United States should be prepared to resist invasion or oppression by any foreign power. The great majority of boy scouts are too young to serve as soldiers, but they could be employed in may other useful ways, -- such as guarding bridges, carrying messages, or serving as coast guards. But for this sort of work trustworthiness and efficiency are essential. A boy must know how to obey without "back talk," to carry out orders without "forgetting", to observe correctly, to keep cool, and to report accurately to his superiors. If we bear in mind the fact that we may be called upon to serve our country in such ways as these, it will give an added impetus to our scout work and deepen the significance of our motto. Then, too, a proper devotion to discipline in these matters will serve as the best preparation for the work of a soldier, should the necessity arise, when the proper age has been reached and military service for the defense of our country has become a duty. Field gymnastics, accompanied by marching tactics, are also an important part of preparation for the duties of a citizen, whether in time of peace or war.
The need of knowing one's weak spot or most urgent need is obvious in the learning of any craft, trade, or sport; but we don't realize so easily how important it is to know the weak spot in our characters. Everybody has such a weak spot, and only the born fool or "swelled head" could possible think otherwise. If I do not know my own weak spot, I am liable to be surprised and taken at a disadvantage, when, in the course of events, some one comes bumping up against it.
If, on the other hand, I am fully aware of my weakness, I can strengthen it every day and take proper precautions to meet any unexpected attack without the added weakness of surprise and confusion. By a knowledge of our weaknesses, and by taking care to provide against them beforehand, they can gradually be changed into corresponding strong points.
When we are young, we are especially inclined to be impressed by the outside bigness of things, and so we are often deceived by people who talk well and appear big and strong without really being so. One of the chief sources of solid and lasting strength is the wonderful virtue of humility which many people do not wake up to, as a vital force, until they have lived long enough to find out for themselves the hollowness of pride and pretense. The great power of humility comes from the fact that it enables us to see our faults truly as they are, without exaggerating and without excusing them, and so makes it possible for us always to "Be Prepared" against them.
If I know, for instance, that I have a natural tendency to lie, by way of excuse, when I am reproved for wrong-doing, humility will help me to acknowledge the fact and overcome the weakness, whereas pride and self-conceit would even prevent my seeing it. It is not necessary to parade one's faults, but it is the part of strength and wisdom to remember them, and so to be prepared to meet and overcome temptation at the beginning. If we always overcome the beginnings of temptation, we shall always "Be Prepared." "Obsta Principiis" -- "Overcome beginnings."
If we follow this rule, at whatever cost, the honest and brave effort of every day will help us, more than anything else, to "Be Prepared" for the duties of the next.