Today’s example is also taken from Clear and Present Danger.
Jack Ryan is visiting his dying mentor, Admiral Greer, in the hospital for the last time.
“But what about—”
“Politics? All that shit?” Greer almost laughed. “Jack, you know, when you lay here like this, you know what you think about? You think about all the things you’d like another chance at, all the mistakes, all the people you might have treated better, and you thank God that it wasn’t worse. Jack, you will never regret honesty, even if it hurts people. When they made you a Marine lieutenant you swore an oath before God. I understand why we do that now. It’s a help, not a threat. It’s something to remind you how important words are. Ideas are important. Principles are important. Words are important. Your word is the most important of all. Your word is who you are.”
That quote’s heavy-handed enough that I think the lesson is obvious. But I find the simplicity of those last few words deeply moving.
Ideas are important. Principles are important. Words are important. Your word is the most important of all. Your word is who you are.
I think American business would be vastly improved if everyone, before they took on any sort of leadership position, was required to swear an oath before God. Maybe something like this: