It came from my father, who had gained it through experience. As a young soldier he did his duty so well that he was made an officer on the battlefield—in the Prussian Army an almost unheard-of achievement. Later, as a law-court clerk, he worked hard and well, earned a free conscience and so at home was a relaxed, contented man. Happiness to him was simply work’s greatest by-product.
“Only when you have done your full duty,” he said, “are you completely happy.” That is what he meant by “going the last mile”. Like most youngsters, I would have much-preferred playing ball to conjugating Latin verbs, but Father insisted that mastering my studies was my chief duty. “Concentrate,” he urged me, his pointed beard bristling with earnestness. “Do not let yourself be diverted until you are finished—not even if a cannon goes off at your elbow.”
This story is from the March 2021 edition of Reader's Digest India.
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This story is from the March 2021 edition of Reader's Digest India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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