It is wonderful what strength of purpose and boldness and energy

The Scottish novelist and poet Walter Scott, whose words carried the weight of both romance and truth, once declared: “It is wonderful what strength of purpose and boldness and energy of will are roused by the assurance that we are doing our duty.” In this saying lies a revelation as ancient as the laws of honor: that when a man or woman knows their path is righteous, their heart becomes a furnace of courage, their hands steady, their soul unyielding. Duty awakens forces within us that comfort, ambition, or pleasure alone can never summon.

To understand strength of purpose, we must see that it does not come from chance or whim. It is not the fleeting fire of desire, but the steady flame of conviction. When one knows that they labor not for vanity, nor for selfish gain, but for a cause that is just and true, then their purpose hardens into steel. Obstacles that once seemed immovable are reduced to mere stones upon the path. For duty gives direction, and direction gives strength.

Scott also speaks of boldness. The timid heart is made brave when it knows it fights on the side of truth. Consider the soldier on the battlefield who believes in his cause. He is no longer merely flesh and blood; he is resolve incarnate. Fear still beats within him, yet it cannot rule him, for his mind whispers: “I do this not for myself, but for what must be done.” This is the boldness born of duty — not reckless, but steadfast.

History offers us a shining example in the life of Mahatma Gandhi. He was no warrior in the usual sense, neither armed nor armored. By strength of body alone, he could not have toppled an empire. Yet in his conviction that non-violence was his duty, he drew forth a power greater than armies. His energy of will, nourished by the assurance of righteousness, inspired millions to endure prison, beatings, and sacrifice, until the mightiest empire was compelled to yield. Gandhi’s strength was not his own; it was the strength of duty made flesh.

And what of energy of will? It is the inexhaustible river that flows when purpose and boldness unite. Without duty, the will grows tired, beaten down by setbacks. But when fueled by the assurance that one’s labor serves the higher good, the will becomes like a mighty engine, refusing to surrender even when the flesh cries for rest. This is why duty has moved saints to suffer gladly, patriots to endure exile, and ordinary men and women to perform extraordinary deeds.

The lesson here is clear: if you wish to be strong, do not chase only your own desires, for they are fickle. Instead, root yourself in duty — to your family, to your community, to truth, to justice. Let the knowledge that you serve something higher than yourself become your anchor. For in this knowledge, fear will diminish, and your will shall burn with unquenchable fire.

Practical wisdom follows: ask yourself daily, “What is my duty?” Perform it faithfully, no matter how small, no matter how thankless. In this way, you will build a life of purpose, courage, and enduring strength. Let not pleasure alone guide you, nor comfort alone restrain you, for these vanish in the face of hardship. But duty, once embraced, will carry you through storms and trials, giving you both dignity in life and honor in memory.

So remember, O listener, Walter Scott’s words: “Strength of purpose, boldness, and energy of will are roused by duty.” When you act not for vanity, but for what is right, you draw upon a hidden reservoir of power. In that power lies not only victory, but the noblest kind of life — one lived in service to what is greater than oneself.