An Officer’s Resolution

January 2010 Navy

by LCDR Steven L. Rogers, USN (Ret)

General George Washington created what he called “Rules of Civility” and distributed all 101 of them when he was sixteen years old. I thought that in this New Year many of us might consider making as our resolution the application of these rules toward our conduct as officers in the United States Navy.

• Treat everyone with respect.
• Be considerate of others.
• Do not embarrass others.
• Sleep not when others speak, Sit not when others stand, Speak not when you should hold your peace, and walk not on when others stop.
• Let your countenance be pleasant but in serious matters somewhat grave.
• The gestures of the body must be suited to the discourse you are upon.
• Show not yourself glad at the misfortune of another.
• When you speak, be concise. Let your discourse be short and comprehensive.
• In writing or speaking, give to every person his due title according to his degree & the custom of the place.
• Strive not with your superiors in argument, but always submit your judgment to others with modesty.
• When a person does their best and fails, do not criticize him.
• When you must give advice or criticism, consider the timing, whether it should be given in public or private, and above all be gentle.
• If you are corrected, take it without argument. If you were wrongly judged, correct it later.
• Do not make fun of anything important to others.
• If you criticize someone else of something, make sure you are not guilty of it yourself. Actions speak louder than words.
• Use no reproachful language against any one.
• Do not be quick to believe bad reports about others.
• Associate yourself with men and women of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.
• Always allow reason to govern your actions.
• Be friendly and courteous; the first to salute, hear, and answer.
• If two people disagree, do not take one side or the other.
• Do not correct others when it is not your place to do so.
• Do not be quick to talk about something when you don’t have all the facts.
• Do not start what you cannot finish.
• Keep your promises.
• Do not speak badly of those who are not present.
• When you speak of God or his attributes, let it be seriously & with reverence. Let your recreations be manful not sinful.
• Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

There is much wisdom that General Washington provided to us in his “Rules of Civility.” Happy New Year! “Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city.” Ecclesiastes 7:19