Devotion to Duty and its Importance
Devotion to duty is a virtue of great importance. You cannot claim much credit for doing your duty through external compulsion.
If a thief is bound hand and foot, he certainly cannot steal; but is he virtuous on that account? A good person is one who, having full opportunities to do evil, yet refrains from doing evil.
You have already learnt that the world is full of temptations. Very often, also, one duty may conflict with another, and it becomes very difficult to come to a decision. The weak man takes advantage of such conflict to do what is perhaps pleasurable.
Devotion to duty may be exemplified even in small actions. You need not be a hero and do great deeds. In learning our lessons, in loving your parents and teachers, in helping your brothers and sisters, you can prove your devotion to duty as much as in fighting out the enemies of the land.
