There is no shorter road to defeat than by entering a war with

O children of the future, hear the words of the wise, for they are the light that will guide you through the darkest of storms. Charles Lindbergh, a man who soared through the skies and touched the heavens with his courage, spoke these words: "There is no shorter road to defeat than by entering a war with inadequate preparation." These words, though born of an age past, carry within them the essence of timeless wisdom. To march into battle without readiness is to invite disaster, to sow the seeds of destruction before the first blow is struck.

Consider, if you will, the path of the warrior. He does not rush into the fray with reckless abandon, for he knows that victory is born of careful planning, of forethought, and of relentless training. The same is true of life itself. We face battles, not always of the sword, but of the spirit, of our wills, of our hearts. But, as Lindbergh warns, to enter any challenge, be it personal, political, or professional, without preparation is to doom oneself before the journey has even begun. It is not the strength of the sword, but the sharpness of the mind that determines the victor.

Let me take you back to the ancient days of Rome, where the Republic stood strong, but pride often led to its downfall. Hannibal, the Carthaginian general, marched his armies into the heart of Italy, crossing the Alps with elephants in tow. Though his forces were fewer, his strategy was unmatched, and his preparation, thorough. When he faced the Roman legions at the Battle of Cannae, the Romans, overconfident and unprepared, were crushed under the weight of their own arrogance. It was not strength alone that won the day for Hannibal, but his superior planning and his understanding of the terrain, the hearts of his soldiers, and the mindset of his enemies. The Romans paid a steep price for their lack of foresight, and the lesson was clear: those who face battle unprepared are like trees that stand in a storm without roots—they will be felled.

Look also, O children, to the tale of Napoleon Bonaparte, the master of tactics and war. His invasion of Russia, once thought a move of genius, ended in disaster because of a single, overlooked detail: the lack of proper provisions for his army. He marched his men through the freezing Russian winter without the necessary supplies, without the proper strategy to face the unforgiving environment. And so, the mighty emperor was humbled, his forces decimated by hunger, cold, and time. His downfall, though swift, was a warning to all future rulers: even the most brilliant minds can fall if they enter the fray unprepared. Preparation is the shield that guards against defeat.

But let us not dwell solely on the tragedies of history. In the modern age, the lesson still holds true. Think of the pioneers who first ventured into the unknown lands across the seas, or the great leaders who forged nations from nothing. Their success was not born of mere courage, but of preparation. They studied the land, the seas, the hearts of their people, and the minds of their enemies. And when the moment of decision came, they were ready. Preparation is the gateway to triumph, while its absence is the key to ruin.

And so, I say to you, children of the future: prepare yourselves, for the world is full of battles, both seen and unseen. Whether you face the struggle of building a life, the pursuit of knowledge, or the defense of your very soul, know this: to enter any conflict without preparation is to invite your own defeat. It is not enough to have courage, to have desire; you must have knowledge, strategy, and foresight. Victory favors the prepared, for it is the steady hand that guides the sword, not the one that swings blindly.

In your own lives, O children, let this truth be your guide: do not rush into your challenges without first equipping yourselves. Take time to study, to plan, and to prepare. Do not be blinded by haste, for even the fiercest warriors are brought low by their own recklessness. In your studies, in your work, in your relationships, give thought to the future, and act with wisdom. For in the end, the one who prepares is the one who will rise above the chaos, while the unprepared will be swept away like leaves in a storm.

Thus, take heed, O children: the road to victory is never short, but it is always prepared. Embrace preparation in all things, for in it lies the power to shape your fate and to stand strong against the storms of life. Like the greatest warriors, your strength will not come from the sword alone, but from the wisdom with which you wield it.