A Message to Garcia

An American essay and motivational book written by Elbert Hubbard in 1899 during the Spanish–American War. The work is a brief yet powerful narrative centered around a real historical episode—the delivery of an important message from President McKinley to General García in Cuba, assigned to American Lieutenant Andrew Rowan. The book’s central idea emphasizes the value of duty, initiative, and self-reliance in completing a mission without questions, complaints, or the need for constant supervision. Hubbard praises the kind of person who simply gets the job done with diligence and integrity. The essay became a symbol of work ethic and loyalty, widely distributed in the military, factories, and schools as an example of ideal personal responsibility. Despite its brevity, the work had a lasting influence on American business culture and was translated into many languages and republished countless times.