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everything is difficult : therefore I cannot emphasise too much the importance of building a sound and durable constitution by taking much exercise, both physical and mental, outside the normal scope of your daily work. Next in importance comes courage, physical and mental. Without courage none of your other qualities can be brought into full play. Thirdly, T lump together concentration, industry and enthusiasm. Judgement, which is the ability to accumulate knowledge and use it, is the fourth. If you have these qualities you will be able to take charge and show the way to others. Your squadron time will pass and you will have to face problems in the field of defence at higher levels, dominated by the rate of change of scientific and technological advance, and comprehensible only by trained intelligence. Thus it is important that you keep your intellect already well-grounded in academic disciplines here at Cranwell, in good trim, or you will be left far behind. You will need, if you aspire to middle and senior rank, some depth of knowledge, not only of science and technology, but of finance and international affairs, and an understanding of how the Royal Air Force, the Army and the Royal Navy should be constituted and work together in the best interests of this country. You may ask how to reach this condition. My answer to you is do not waste time. Do your daily work diligently and with a questing mind : do not leave promotion examinations to the last minute : do the reading and take these fences at the first opportunity : qualify yourself for Staff College as soon as possible : read widely and thoughtfully over the whole range of literature for which you have a taste, and your intelligence will keep in good trim. Nor will your private life suffer. Finally, sound judgements and the decisions flowing from them, are useless unless communicated clearly to those you wish to act upon them. Nor will you be successful in establishing a policy unless your advocacy is clear and persuasive. It was probably Confucius, and if it was not it is of no consequence, who said \ language be not exact, then what is said is not what is meant ; and if what is said is not what is meant, then what ought to be done remains undone.\Therefore you must acquire a superior ability to express your thoughts in words, not only on paper but in speech, because success tends to gravitate to men of judgement and decision who can also think on their feet and put their thoughts across. Build therefore upon the foundation laid at Cranwell, and aim to become an articulate man of action and integrity.\Page 146

