A Message to Garcia is a short inspirational essay by Elbert Hubbard, first published in 1899. It uses the story of a messenger sent to reach Cuban general Calixto García to argue for initiative, loyalty, and finishing a task without excuses. It is worth listening to as a brief reflection on duty and perseverance.
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Cover of the original edition (Project Gutenberg, public domain).
Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.
Opening of the book
Portrait: Elbert Hubbard Image of Title Page
Copyright 1914 by Elbert Hubbard
APOLOGIA
HORSE SENSE
If you work for a man, in Heaven's name work for him. If he pays wages that supply you your bread and butter, work for him, speak well of him, think well of him, and stand by him, and stand by the institution he represents. I think if I worked for a man, I would work for him. I would not work for him a part of his time, but all of his time. I would give an undivided service or none. If put to the pinch, an ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness.
If you must vilify, condemn, and eternally disparage, why, resign your position, and when you are outside, damn to your heart's content. But, I pray you, so long as you are a part of an institution, do not condemn it. Not that you will injure the institution—not that—but when you disparage the concern of which you are a part, you disparage yourself. And don't forget—“I forgot” won't do in business.
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