From Fianna Fáil, October 24, 1914.
I.
The two virtues that will give Ireland victory at this crisis are wisdom and daring. If we are wise we will take, in view of our title to independence and international standing, a sense of the responsibility that independence should give. There is a common English argument that our complete liberty would be a permanent menace to English liberty. Now we should have no hesitation in refuting that. Our sole purpose is the establishment of Irish independence. We have no desire whatever to become a permanent menace to any neighbour. But we are not going, because of such an argument, to allow our neighbour continue a permanent menace to us. The surest guarantee of the integrity of the two countries is the independence of both.
II.
But if we had all the natural virtues, yet lacked daring, we could not free Ireland. In battle, to be daring is more than half the battle—it is practically the whole battle. It is often confused with recklessness, but there is a vast difference. The reckless man never thinks and plunges wildly. The daring man is a born thinker and a deep one. In his every movement in a crisis there is swift choice and clear decision. Daring combines all the virtues for victory—foresight, readiness, adaptability, and at the psychological moment vigour and swift action. Therefore, if you would serve Ireland, comrades, be daring. Pledge yourself to the cause and you have taken the first risk and have got the first whiff of danger. It is braved; after that the question of danger is irrelevant: for your path is forward. The secret of the daring man’s success is his readiness to brave instant annihilation, not through indifference but in the deep knowledge that the daring of one man will inflame the spirit of thousands, and if he fails many will fill his place. Think thus for Ireland, though you be shot to-morrow, for so shall Ireland be free. And in this your thought you shall be wise, and in your daring invincible.