FAVORITE TEACHINGS OF
HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE I
MANIFESTATION: FROM IDEA TO REALITY
"There is no single soul who would
not cherish the introduction of progress to Ethiopia and want to
partake of the benefits thereof. It is but through cooperation in
working side by side with the people by way of setting up schools,
drilling water-wells and the construction of roads, and it is
through the realization and devotion in solving these problems
that wishes can be interpreted in terms of tangible forms." --
January 12, 1963 [New Schools Debra Zeit]
"The combination of academic
knowledge with technical education will give great satisfaction
and will create a self-supporting individual. It is by the
combined use of the mind and the hand that crude material is
changed into an article of beauty and value." -June
12, 1963 [Bahar Dar Technical School]
"As is commonly said, ‘to start
anything is simple; to develop it and bring it to a successful
culmination takes great effort.’" -
July 2, 1963 [University Graduation]
"It is only when man becomes master
of his fate - able to determine his destiny - that he can be free
from fears and inferiority. Such an individual or a nation stands
respected by all." - July 2, 1963 [University
Graduation]
EDUCATION
"Education is a means of sharpening
the mind of man both spiritually and intellectually. It is a
two-edged sword that can be used either for the progress of
mankind or for its destruction. That is why it has been Our
constant desire and endeavor to develop our education for the
benefit of mankind." --
July 2, 1963 [University Graduation]
"We are now more than ever before
convinced that it is education that heals Africa." -
July 2, 1963 [University Graduation]
"Education develops the intellect;
and the intellect distinguishes man from other creatures. It is
education that enables man to harness nature and utilize her
resources for the well-being and improvement of his life. The key
for the betterment and completeness of modern living is
education." --
September 14, 1963 [Faculty of Law]
"But, ‘Man cannot live by bread
alone.’ Man, after all, is also composed of intellect and soul.
Therefore, education in general, and higher education in
particular, must aim to provide, beyond the physical, food for the
intellect and soul." --
September 14, 1963 [Faculty of Law]
"The opportunity for education,
afforded to the few in our country, is not given to them for a
fashion or a mode. It is given for a purpose, for a task, for a
high responsibility, for full and exhaustive use, for the benefit
of our country, and the coming generation." --
September 14, 1963 [Faculty of Law]
ERITREA
"That Eritrea, before the federal
union with Ethiopia, stayed separated for 60 years by the design
of imperialists and colonialists and not by the will of God, has
been manifested by the ultimate unity achieved."
-- January 19, 1963 [To Employees in
Eritrea]
MILITARY MIGHT
"Where there is no faith in a
civilization but only power, that civilization is surrounded with
doubt and fear and its power expresses itself in brutality"
--July, 1948 [Consecration of five Ethiopian Bishops]
"Broadly speaking, power belongs to
God Almighty. However, as members of the human race increased in
number, attacks on one another began out of jealousy and malice.
Therefore, it is quite evident that those living at the present
time when there are billions of people in the world need to
possess the power by means of which they can defend themselves,
safeguard their property and rights as well as their
country." --
January 23, 1963 [Graduation Naval College]
"The enemy should be checked from the
beginning before going far . . . ." -- January
23, 1963 [Graduation Naval College]
"Since the best chance for one
country to attack another comes through noting the weaknesses of
the attacked and the divisions of its people within, We can,
through organizing Our defence forces to the maximum and by
strengthening Our internal unity, close all openings against the
enemy." -- January
23, 1963 [Graduation Naval College]
"Our unity being Our formidable
weapon of defence, it should be kept more strengthened than Our
other forces of defence. Otherwise, the manpower and defence
weapons so organized will be used for the destruction of the
beloved country in serving the enemy’s purpose."
-- January 23, 1963 [Graduation Naval College]
" Man is basically a creature of
peace; the exigencies of our times, however, have often demanded
that in order to subdue evil and to ensure peace and prosperity
human energy has had to be applied to the machinery of
defence." -- February, 1963 [Ground Forces
Technical School]
"In former days the arms and
equipment used by the soldier and the methods and means for their
deployment on the battlefield were comparatively simple.
Industrial and technical advance has changed this considerably so
that today the use of some of the most complicated military
material has impressed into service a large body of scientists and
technicians who plan an enviable role. To keep one soldier, sailor
or airman in the field today, scores of technicians, both civilian
and in uniform, are required to support him behind the combat
area. The training and organization of such highly skilled
personnel takes tremendous efforts and a long time to build up.
Developing nations have had to depend on other friendly nations to
assist them in such training and organization; but it becomes
necessary for such nations to train their own nationals in these
technical and basic skills."
-- February, 1963 [Ground Forces Technical School]
"War is a product of the cruelty and
selfishness of man. If all of us used the good-will endowed in us
by God for the benefit of our fellowmen, the effort and wealth
expended on military training and armament would have been
unnecessary. There is no doubt that the wealth wasted in the
destruction of humans could, if properly utilized, have
contributed enormously towards the welfare of men and the
world-wide advancement of civilization. To entertain the thought
of an unarmed world at the present time appears to be like an
unattainable vision. When so many are participating in the arms
race, Ethiopia has no choice but to strengthen herself militarily
for her defence against any aggressor."
-- May 19, 1963 [Guenet Graduation]
MONEY
"Money is an instrument, but there is
no duty that can be truly accomplished with its mere persuasive
power." - September 3, 1965 [On New H.S.I.
Foundation Headquarters]
PARTICIPATION
Our endeavor to help the people also
presupposes that the people should help Us. . . . The realisation
of such a plan to effect the overall development of the national
interest requires the active participation of the people . . . .
This also calls for the coordination of the efforts exerted . . .
. -- January 19, 1963 [To Employees in Eritrea]
RESPONSIBILITY
"Man desires many things, but it is
the individual's duty and responsibility to desire the proper
things. Anyone who makes the wrong choices will be a burden, not
only to himself but to future generations. As We have mentioned
over and over again, the test of what you students have obtained
through your education will be what you are able to accomplish in
the future. Great responsibilities await you. You must show the
real worth of your education by the way in which you shoulder
these responsibilities. We are confident that you will bring a
blessing to your country, your families, to all those who have
planned and laboured for you, and to yourselves." -
July 2, 1963 [University Graduation]
"Besides, it is expected of every one
of you who have assumed this holy responsibility, that the service
you render is not founded on the mere struggle to earn your wages,
but on the wholehearted understanding of the unfortunate
situations of your fellow human beings whom you should serve with sympathy,
conviction and faith. The natural origin of every man being man
himself and thus creation, the only difference lies in the
opportunities made available." -- September 3,
1965 [On New H.S.I. Foundation Headquarters]
SCIENTIFIC AGE
Contemporary progress is characterized by
advancement in complex fields of human activity that demand the
exertion of the mind in limitless avenues of thought and action.
Scientists and technicians are therefore involved in such
complicated endeavours as sending men to the stars, exploring the
depths of the ocean, or developing the tremendous power of nuclear
energy. Until such time when We Ourselves can do these, We have to
learn hard and get Ourselves prepared for these great tasks;
particularly in the field of atomic study which shall be devoted
to peaceful use."
-- February, 1963 [Ground Forces Technical School]
"Ancillary to these major scientific
and technological projects are the many other feats of modern-day
progress by which millions of items of every day use to man and
nation in times of both peace and war are being produced. Too
often people are apt to forget, or do not take time to comprehend
the degree of toil the years of quiet plodding and perseverance
required to acquire new skills and to fashion thoughts, ideas and
experiments into the technological achievements that spell this
progress. Indeed, those so engaged deserve the highest
admiration." --
February, 1963 [Ground Forces Technical School]
"Nowadays, science has made possible
complex inventions which are put at the service of man. Yet,
however precise these instruments including computers may be in
their service, they obviously lack the perfecting human
characteristic of sympathy, goodness, generosity and selflessness
- all of which God in His ultimate wisdom granted only to human
beings. Although man has found assistance for himself in these
machines, his superiority lies in the fact that he is their
inventor and he himself is the instrument of God." -
September 3, 1965 [On New H.S.I. Foundation Headquarters]
SOCIAL SERVICE
"To follow up the case of a patient
in agony with unfailing tenacity, regardless of whether he is rich
or underprivileged, to constantly help the destitute both
economically and spiritually, these should be the prevailing aims
of persons with your type duties, as they should be of any
employer. What is more, an individual who is responsible for
humanitarian activities, or one determined to render welfare
services must be prepared to face with utmost patience and
farsightedness, the misunderstandings that might arise from the
person or persons in need of help." -
September 3, 1965 [On New H.S.I. Foundation Headquarters]
"The work of the welfare organization
is not merely the distribution of money, but also the giving of
personal warmth, of wholehearted services and spiritual
encouragement. The time we spend in the fulfillment of such duties
is the determining factor which demonstrates that the essence of
one’s individual values is not obliterated." -
September 3, 1965 [On New H.S.I. Foundation Headquarters
UNITY
"It is not necessary to enumerate
countries where the people and the entire country having lost
unity, spiritual or otherwise, have become playgrounds and
laughing stocks to outsiders. The historical events of certain
countries bear witness to this fact. Woe unto those countries
which weaken themselves by dismemberment! In our own times, there
are those expansionists who by shedding blood desire to achieve
their ambition and by dismembering themselves they are seen as
tools for alien interests. Our people from Ethiopia shed blood to
save themselves from disintegration. Those persons who believe in
freeing a country by secession are selfish and prey to outsiders.
We will not accept their motives." -- January
19, 1963 [To Employees in Eritrea]
WORK AND WEALTH
"Work and wealth are at your
disposal." --
January 12, 1963 [New Schools Debra Zeit]
"In order to amass private wealth and
benefit from it in peace and security, it is necessary to comply
with the fundamental precepts of the society. So being, even the
accumulation of private property emanates from a harmonious social
life and entails certain obligations. One of these typical
obligations would be to put one’s private capital into use.
Since wealth is acquired by hard labour it is necessary to
manifest an additional effort by using the invested capital."
-- January 19, 1963 [To Employees in Eritrea]
"There should be such a moment in any
man’s life to seek rest after completing his education. You
should not however overlook the fact that it is through ceaseless
practice and experience and by training others that you will be
able to prove your individual qualifications and worthiness. We
remind you therefore that you utilize all your thoughts and
knowledge to the ultimate objective of moral satisfaction and the
pride of your countrymen, regardless of your personal interests. Your
job takes care of you and there will not be any need to concern
yourselves with your personal affairs." --
January 23, 1963 [Graduation Naval College]
"It does not come easily to
accomplish something which will always be remembered." --
February, 1963 [Ground Forces Technical School]
"Your deeds actions in the future
will test your knowledge and your capabilities in your chosen
profession. To acquire learning and to put this learning into
practice are two different things." - May 19,
1963 [Guenet Graduation]
