Talk versus do

Military Review, March-April, 2008 by Edward Lee Bryan

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TALK VERSUS DO

   Operational theories of design
   translated into practical applications,
   or not.
   The journey versus the destination.
   Which is more important you ask?
   Well, how much time do you have?
   Balancing the task,
   talk versus do.
   and do versus talk.
   Please, don't concern yourself with time,
   until you see you have no time.
   Of course, by then it may prove too late.
   So discourse and inquire
   as if you have nothing to lose.
   Deliberate and dialogue
   to your very hearts desire.
   Peer through that Clausewitzian fog
   and examine that infinite potential.
   See? There's really not that much to lose.
   Explore fully that which may be inconsequential.
   and ignore the tendency to do.
   See? There's not so much to lose.
   Only,
   maybe, just maybe
   that small difference,
   that small sum,
   inconsequential really,
   which may be measured
   twixt failure and victory
   and quite often occurs
   when the talk overtakes the do.

--Major Edward Lee Bryan, School for advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth, KS