The people respect and believe in men who fulfill their duty.

“The people respect and believe in men who fulfill their duty.” Thus spoke Fidel Castro, a man of storms and fire, whose words echo with an ancient rhythm, though spoken in the age of revolution. In his saying lies a truth that has bound leaders and followers, kings and peasants, soldiers and prophets through all the centuries: that respect is not bought with gold nor inherited with titles, but earned by the steadfast completion of one’s duty.

The ancients too proclaimed this wisdom. The Roman general Cincinnatus, when called from his plow to defend the republic, took up the sword, fulfilled his duty, and when the danger had passed, laid down power to return to his fields. He sought no crown, no wealth, no empire—only the satisfaction of a task completed for the good of the people. Because of this, his name endured longer than the names of many emperors who sought glory. The people did not believe in him because he boasted, but because he fulfilled what was required.

History also teaches us the opposite. Leaders who sought only self, who abandoned their duty when trials came, found themselves despised. Kings who fled in battle, ministers who betrayed their trust, generals who sought comfort instead of sacrifice—all were remembered not with respect, but with scorn. For the people, even in their weakness, know this truth: a leader’s greatness lies not in his words alone, but in the steadfastness of his deeds.

Fidel Castro spoke these words from the furnace of struggle, knowing that revolutions are not sustained by speeches alone. Men would only follow him if they saw him endure hunger with them, face danger beside them, and remain unyielding in hardship. To fulfill one’s duty is to bind oneself to the people, not as master but as servant of a higher calling. That is why the people respected him, and why his words ring with power: because they were spoken by one who bore the weight of duty, whether in triumph or in trial.

O children of the future, hear this well: duty is the anchor of respect. You may be skilled, you may be eloquent, you may even be powerful—but if you abandon your duty, the people will not believe in you. To fulfill your obligations—to family, to community, to nation, to truth itself—is to walk with honor. And though the path may be hard, though recognition may not come swiftly, in the end, respect is always given to those who endure and remain faithful.

The lesson is clear: respect is not demanded, it is earned. Belief is not seized, it is cultivated. To fulfill your duty is to lay down the foundation upon which trust and respect are built. Neglect it, and all your power crumbles. Embrace it, and even if you stumble, the people will know your heart is true.

Therefore, let your practice be this: do not flee from your responsibilities. Fulfill them with diligence, even in small things. Be faithful to your word, stand firm in hardship, and serve not only yourself but those who depend upon you. For in this way, you will gain what cannot be bought and cannot be stolen—the respect and belief of those around you.

So I say unto you: remember Castro’s wisdom. The people will not long honor the boastful, nor the selfish, nor the weak of will. They will respect, and they will believe, in the men and women who fulfill their duty. Walk this path, and though your name may or may not be sung in history, your life will be crowned with the quiet glory of trust, honor, and truth.