Depend upon yourself. Make your judgement trustworthy by

The words of Grantland Rice—“Depend upon yourself. Make your judgement trustworthy by trusting it. You can develop good judgement as you do the muscles of your body—by judicious, daily exercise. To be known as a man of sound judgement will be much in your favor.”—resound with the voice of ancient counsel, the kind that fathers once gave to sons and elders to their tribes. They remind us that the greatest treasure a man or woman can possess is not wealth, nor power, nor beauty, but sound judgement, tested by life and proven by discipline.

To depend upon yourself is the first command. The world is full of voices, each clamoring for your ear, each declaring its wisdom to be supreme. But if you lean only on others, you will sway like a reed in the wind, never rooted, never strong. The ancients knew that the one who cannot stand upon his own conviction is easily led astray, while the one who has forged his inner compass can walk through storms unshaken. This is no call to arrogance, but to the noble task of learning to trust the wisdom that grows within through trial and reflection.

Rice declares that judgement is like a muscle, and this truth is profound. A muscle weakens if unused, but grows strong through daily exercise. So it is with discernment. If you avoid decisions, if you flee responsibility, your judgement withers, and when the great test comes, you will falter. But if, day by day, you weigh choices with care, if you learn from failure and refine your mind through honest reflection, then your judgement will be honed like a sword, ready for any trial. Strength does not come in a single moment, but by daily exercise, and so too does wisdom.

History gives us examples of those who trained their judgement and became legends. Consider George Washington, who in the turmoil of revolution was faced with countless choices where hesitation could have doomed a nation. He was not born with perfect judgement; rather, through years of service, error, and reflection, he forged it. By the time he was called to lead, his judgement had become so steady that even his enemies respected it. He proved Rice’s words: that to be known as a man of sound judgement is to carry a reputation that opens doors, earns loyalty, and shapes destiny itself.

But the opposite is also true. Those who ignore this discipline, who lean only on impulse or the opinions of the crowd, are soon destroyed by their own folly. Kings who ruled by whim, generals who rushed into battle without wisdom, leaders who bent to flattery—all have been cast down by unsound judgement. Their names are remembered not for greatness, but for ruin. For in the eyes of men, nothing is more dangerous than a fool in power, and nothing more precious than a leader whose judgement can be trusted.

The lesson for us is plain: cultivate your judgement as you would cultivate your strength. Do not shrink from decisions, but face them with honesty. When you err, do not despair, but learn, for each mistake can be the hammer that shapes your wisdom. When you succeed, do not grow proud, but reflect, for even in triumph lies a lesson. Seek counsel from the wise, but let your mind weigh and your heart decide, so that you may stand upon your own strength.

Practical action is simple but demanding. Each day, pause to consider your choices—why you make them, what principles guide them, and what outcomes they bring. Write them down, and review them as a smith examines his work, finding flaws to correct and strengths to refine. Test yourself in small matters, so that when the great test comes, you are ready. In this way, your judgement will grow strong, your confidence firm, and your reputation steady as stone.

So let Rice’s words be written upon your heart: “Depend upon yourself. Exercise your judgement daily. Strive to be known as one of sound judgement.” For riches may be stolen, beauty fades, and power shifts with time, but the man or woman whose judgement is trusted will always find respect, influence, and peace. This is the ancient path, and it lies open before you—walk it with courage, and you will not be led astray.