Notes on Excellence

Excellence Notes: A Message to Garcia



The Publication

- An inspirational essay in 1899 by Elbert Hubbard
- Printed as a book and pamphlet because of popularity
- Sold over 40 million copies
- Translated in 37 different languages


The Phenomenon

- Made into a movie twice (once in 1916 and the second time in 1936)
- A popular slang expression: "take a message to Garcia"


The Backstory

- Setting: the Spanish-American War
- Garcia: A revolutionary seeking Cuban independence from Spain
- Rowan: An Army officer (West Point, class of 1881)
- Mckinley: President William Mckinley, 25th president assassinated six months into his second term (1897-1901)


The Odd Vocabulary

- perihelion: the point when a planet (like Mars) is closest to the son, and therefore is at its brightest.
- slipshod: careless, lackadaisical, slapdash, remiss
- imbecility: incapability, feebleness, stupidity
- stenographer: a person who takes in shorthand
- missive: a letter, especially a long or official one


The Message

"The world bestows its big prizes, both in money and honors, but for one thing. And that is Initiative."
- initiative: doing the right thing without being told.

ARETÉ

- excellence of any kind
- moral virtue
- fulfillment of purpose or function
- but mostly.... the act of living up to one's full potential
- involves all the abilities and potentialities available to humans