Obedience

The most famous of all English admirals was Nelson.  As the admiral Lord St Vincent said, “It does not become me to make comparisons, there is but one Nelson”.  Besides his great skill, he was completely fearless and in battle he wore, as usual, his admiral’s uniform bearing on the left of his chest four stars with which he had been decorated at various times.  His officers saw that these stars made him a prominent target for the riflemen posted high up in the rigging of the enemy’s ships, and they suggested that, if he would not change his uniform, he ought at least to cover up the stars.  But Nelson’s reply was, “In honour I gained them, and in honour I will die with them”.

Self-control and self-discipline

Now Nelson started at the very bottom of the Navy.  He joined his first ship when he was only 12 years old and went right through the Navy until he reached the top.  And he once said something which I want you to remember, because he knew what he was talking about, “He that will command, must first learn to obey”.  Learning to obey when we are young makes our characters stronger as we grow up, and we develop the qualities of self-control and self-discipline.  Boys and girls who are never taught to obey are pampered and spoilt, and often remain spoilt all their life.  They have never learnt to get command of themselves and so, when they are men and women, they say and do things which they are ashamed of afterwards, and no one respects them.