The Truth Shall Make You Free

J.C. Penney lost everything he had on his first retail establishment in Longmost, Colorado in 1899 after refusing to bribe an instrumental hotel chef with booze each week, but he learned he would never compromise his values. In 1971, when Penney was 95 years old, he left a 1,660-store empire that he built without compromising his values and principles. “I believe in adherence to the Golden Rule and would rather be known as a man of values than a merchant”. His values and unwavering dedication to doing what was right, left him with personal stock worth $24 million and annual sales of $4.1 billion at the time of his death. His values meant more than success, but by operating by his principles and the Golden Rule, great success came his way. Stand true to your convictions, follow not the road of compromise when it comes to your values, and stick to what is right, as eventually truth will always triumph.

West Point, The Citadel, and other institutions recite the below in services to help guide their path to excellence and true success. A reminder to strive for more, fight for truth, justice, and doing what is right.

Cadet Prayer

Encourage us in our endeavor to live above the common level of life. Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half-truth when the whole can be won. Endow us with courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble and worthy, that scorns to compromise with vice and injustice and knows no fear when truth and right are in jeopardy.