Morning Philosophy
“Men are disturbed not by things, but by the principles and notions which they form concerning things.”
— Epictetus, Enchiridion, Ch. 5
Before command can be exercised over others, it must first be exercised over one's own perceptions—a cadet's composure under pressure is forged not by controlling circumstance but by mastering interpretation. Today, when friction arises in drills, academics, or chain of command, pause before reacting and ask whether the disturbance lives in the event or in your judgment of it. This is the quiet discipline that separates officers who lead clearly from those who merely react.