“Bitter are the roots of study, but how sweet their fruit.”

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This quote is often attributed to Cato of Utica, a 1st century BCE philosopher and Roman senator who fought against Julius Caesar amidst Caesar’s civil war.

It is slightly ironic that I, someone who has been declared “Caesar Viking” by my High Council acquaintances, would choose a quote by an individual whose identity was—by the time of his death—the complete opposite of the upcoming dictator perpetuo. While there were traits within my Water Vikings leadership style that can be properly considered Caesarian, such as my centralized power philosophy or command of noteworthy military campaigns, I was not as confident, nor as bellicose as he was.

The gleaming contradiction set aside, this quote—despite its connection to “studying” or “learning”—is applicable to what the Water Vikings has experienced over the past few months and will experience as Legends Cup XV approaches.

Putting in the work can seem “bitter,” especially as the rising demands of recruiting and welcoming become increasingly evident. These requirements are not inherently negative, and neither is the bitterness of putting in the work. As we ought to increase our numbers if we want to maximize our potential during Legends Cup XV, we must understand that the work is going to be difficult. As philosopher Albert Camus recorded more than half a century ago, “The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”

But what is the “sweet fruit” to be gained from active contributions? While Legends Cup XV is in the near future, the immediate outcomes of hard work is undeniable. Working together to complete difficult tasks creates a greater sense of community and pride. This is beneficial alone, but can also serve as a positive impact on our tournament abilities. Secondly, how hard we contribute as individuals may serve as a resource for future promotions and positions. Showing the leadership that you are capable of hard work will show them that you are capable of taking on harder responsibilities. By the time promotions are levied, these roles may not feel as difficult, since you can use the time you have today—through practice—to make things easier for yourself tomorrow. In fashion of Legends Cup XV’s theme: If we “play the cards right,” the sweetest fruit of all will be our army’s first Legends Cup title.

Overall, Cato’s quote applies just as much to these previous few months within the Water Vikings as it does now. As reflected in Dino’s recent post, we have reached new heights as an army and as a community. This is not because we became lucky, but we recognized that, sometimes, the work is going to be bitter.

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Cabin | Caesar Viking
High Council of Vikings

Filed under: Declarations Tagged: | cabin, lcxv, legends cup xv, speech