When Orders Conflict

Story: “When Orders Conflict”

A young man about to enter the regular army was talking with an old soldier. The old soldier had been giving him some strong advice on the subject of obeying orders. “But suppose, General,” said the young man, “orders sometimes conflict. What am I to do in a case like that?”

“Well, in the first place,” replied the old soldier, “they never will if they emanate from persons who have the right to order. If you find yourself at some time seemingly subject to such conditions, you may depend upon it that there has been a mistake somewhere. In that case, however, the safe way is to find out who the superior is and obey him.”