The one essential element in leadership is character. It is of far greater importance than mere knowledge of the technique of one’s profession, yet while years are spent in the acquisition of knowledge, seldom is the student given a critical analysis of character and its means of development. Character-building has in practice generally followed a trial-and-error system and to experience and example has been tacitly allotted that part of education. Nevertheless, it is the most important function of all education, particularly that for military and naval command.
In civil pursuits a man risks money, perhaps his own life. The normal responsibility of the officer covers the lives of his men and in his hands may be placed the honor and glory of his country. When in the presence of extreme danger and under intense excitement, an officer must rely upon his character; his success as a leader will then depend upon what he is, not upon what he says. If he would lead others through the ‘‘valley of the shadow,” he must be prepared not only to walk therein unafraid, but to impart courage to others. Without the prestige that strong character gives he cannot induce his men to follow him, even though he give the correct orders. Emerson has expressed this in the question, “How can I hear what you say, when what you are is shouting in my ears?”
To be of value to the world, knowledge must be accompanied by the power to use it properly. That power springs from the character of the individual. It is strengthened by experience, but unless a man is able to analyze and correct the causes of success or failure and to estimate justly the character and achievements of others, progress is necessarily slow.
Character is the essential inner nature of a person. It manifests itself by outward signs called characteristics. Among these may be mentioned self-reliance, self-control, initiative, patience, courage, activity, sense of justice and fairplay, loyalty and willingness to accept responsibility. There are certain characteristics that are positively bad, such as timidity, deceptiveness, sloth, over-caution, etc. Also, there are characteristics that serve good purposes when used with discretion; for example, the ability to bluff. One can hardly quarrel with the element in John Paul Jones’ character that led him to reply from the deck of his sinking ship, “I have not yet begun to fight”; or that which prompted a Confederate officer at the battle of Fredericksburg to ride into the middle of a threatening battery of Federal artillery and to order, with great vehemence and complete success, its withdrawal from position; yet there are few who court disaster with greater assurance of achieving it than the habitual bluffer.
It will be noted that these characteristics are independent of technical skill or "book knowledge,” though certainly strengthened by it. Strength of character has repeatedly overcome the handicap of poor education. It made the nearly illiterate Nathan B. Forrest a great cavalry leader and raised the self-taught Lincoln to the presidency and eternal fame.
From his characteristics as brought to view by his actions and by his associations, a man acquires a reputation; that is, he is reputed to have a certain character. Character is the measure of what he is; reputation of what he is supposed to be. The latter may not be true, for frequently when true character is disclosed, reputation is lost. “Traveling on his rep” is an opprobrious remark often made, but it must be remembered that “rep” is a vehicle we all use. In the military and naval services it is impossible for an officer to maintain a false reputation with his men; often they know him better than he knows himself, for they study him more closely. They invariably resent attempts to bluff them, though they may applaud the successful deception of outsiders. Hundreds of interested eyes note the shams, and in the judgment that follows, justice is not always done the good qualities that may be beneath them. It will be remarked hereinafter what an important factor reputation is in the development of character. Fortunate indeed is he whose character and reputation go hand in hand.
How can a man develop within himself those characteristics which searching self-analysis has shown to be missing? The answer is found in considering their origin. Character is moulded from elements drawn from three sources: heredity, environment, and the intellect.
Heredity gives only static qualities. It determines to a certain degree the quality of material with which we have to work. Without development it is wasted. Good blood, like health, can be dissipated by the generations inheriting it. The aristocratic and monarchical principle of social organization has laid great emphasis upon heredity, yet among the famous men of history the founders of three great religions, the greatest soldier, and the outstanding martyrs to scientific and political liberty were born in low estate.
Environment plays a greater part than heredity in the formation of character because its effect is more certain and can be foreseen. Perhaps, to a great degree, the value of being wellborn lies in the environment in which the child is raised. A person who lives among low surroundings, who associates with base characters, runs the grave danger of becoming like them, whether he be well-born or not. One who associates with the strong and brave has before him always an ideal toward which he must develop.
Due to the splendid group-character of naval and marine officers, an officer of the naval service enjoys a very desirable reputation among civilians. Traveling on that reputation, with the obligation of living up to it, makes a deep impress upon character, whether or not one reflects upon the subject. When one realizes that the courtesy, admiration, and even affection with which he is treated by his fellow countrymen are given, not to him personally, but to a representative of a service in which the whole nation takes pride, there is a stimulation of the desire, the determination, to be in truth worthy of that trust, to enhance rather than besmirch that reputation. One cannot assume the attributes and prerogatives of an officer and a gentleman without also assuming the obligations and striving to approach that which has been idealized.
It may appear that environment is something that is largely not in the hands of the individual, especially of officers of the military and naval services. One often hears the statement, “You must take the service as you find it.” Nothing can be farther from the truth. As man evolves his own character he reacts upon his environment and impresses upon it his own strength or weakness. When his position gives him influence over others, the effect may be very great. Due to its ever-changing personnel the service has not a stable character. Its composite character at any time is simply a reflection of the characters of its personnel. This is why histories record of certain epochs, “the service at that time had fallen to a low state of morale,” and then recount how strong characters raised it to the pinnacles of self-sacrifice, heroism, and success. Between two commands there will often be found a vast difference in conceptions of duty and discipline and in the moral quality of their personnel. Indeed, two commands are seldom alike in this respect. To learn the causes of these differences the group-characters, principally of the officers, must be studied and compared. Service reputation, rather than character, is what is subject to slight fluctuation for it is based upon past performance. A service of low repute must be brought to a high standard of character and, in time of peace, maintained there for a long time before its reputation changes. As an example of the persistence of reputation may be cited the fact that, notwithstanding the confidence won by the loyalty and achievements of the Army and Navy of the United States, there is a fear of military dominance that sways so many Americans that it has prevented us from ever having a properly developed military policy and has launched us unprepared into every war. Large numbers of our ancestors came from countries whose international aspirations required the maintenance of huge armaments; these, being available, were used to uphold the internal political status quo and to prevent social progress. It is a peculiarity of the human mind that it blames the weapon more than the directing power. Thus, thousands who fled to America for political and social freedom took with them a hatred and fear of the military as the personification of tyranny. That old reputation exhibits its power today in inadequate measures for national defense.
Greater than heredity and environment is the intellect. Heredity is the seed, environment the soil in which the plant flourishes; the mind is the master without whom the garden would fall into decay.
The power of mind in the formation of character, in the development of mental and moral qualities, is almost limitless. A man is literally what he thinks. Even the so-called spontaneous acts of men are controlled and directed by the quality of their prior thoughts. Can any man become master of himself to such a degree that he can surely apply the rules of proper conduct in great emergencies? While bravery is one of the most nearly universal of human virtues, it is probably true that no man can predict exactly what his course would be when brought suddenly face to face with death, when the instinct of self-preservation is strongest. Nevertheless, he would he subconsciously controlled by those characteristics that were strongest in him, and, given a moment's thought, would follow consciously the dictates of his code.
The operation of the conscious mind may he paralyzed temporarily by surprise; the subconscious mind is always alive and active. Characteristics can be so strengthened that they are no longer attributes of the conscious mind only, put on as it were like a garment; they may be made part of the moral fiber of the individual. Fear depends for effect upon surprise and unfamiliar surroundings. One who has foreseen danger and pictured himself meeting it may tremble but will not fail when it presents itself. Marshal Turenne, finding himself shaking as he went into battle, said, "You tremble, body? Well, you would tremble more if you knew where I am going to take you!” He who would be a hero in the eyes of others must first be a hero to himself.
To entertain thoughts of justice, strength and honor is not sufficient; they must be put into practice. In the little affairs of daily routine in time of peace one can prepare himself for the great events and trials of war. A man does not acquire by accident the courage that enables him to give up his life in a just cause without regret or fear, nor does genius, except in minor degree, enable him to assume great responsibilities without wavering.
The power of example must always be kept in mind. An officer who lets his men see that he is always cool-headed, not given to violent language, courageous without allowing himself to be drawn into brawls, subordinate to proper authority, yet never afraid to assume the initiative in emergencies, will find that they will try hard to emulate his example. He need never fear their response to the call of duty when given by him.
Adverse conditions can serve to strengthen rather than to discourage. After looking them over carefully to be sure that they are not bogies of one’s own imagination and appraising them at their true value, one should set himself determinedly to beat them —and never say, “I can’t.” A man who does not believe in himself can never accomplish anything but the most meager results. The will to do brings forth the belief that we can do.
The effect of thought upon circumstances and opportunity should be noted in considering the subject of character. If an officer is, in his thoughts, just, strong and honorable, he commands respect and receives it by the force of his character. Chances to do things worth while appear to present themselves spontaneously to him. If, on the other hand, he is negligent, petty and unjust in his mental attitude, he invites the condemnation of his superiors and the contempt of his subordinates. Luck never seems to break right for him; circumstances are always against him.
While thought is all-powerful in the formation of character, man is always master of his thoughts and can make them what he will. No artifice, no uniform, can hide him from what he is in his thoughts. An officer of high character is the product of noble thinking, no matter what the handicap of birth and environment, while he who entertains weak and vicious thoughts will develop a low and bestial character from the finest beginnings and in the best environment.
The last word can never be written in an analysis of character. When we attain the heights that rise before us today we will find an enlarged horizon, new pinnacles to climb. We can, as we progress, strengthen ourselves for the future. As officers we have before us a definite goal; to become true leaders of men. Let us seek those qualities that have made for success in the past and make them our ideals. We must develop within ourselves the power to progress; study our environment and improve it; guard our thoughts and hold them high.