Scoutings grundare skrev att varje ledare måste vara beredd att leda ensam. Han använde uttrycket paddling your own canoe.

How to be happy through rich or poor

A canoe trip is lake a voyage of life.
An old ‘un ought to hand on piloting hints.
The only true Success is Happiness.
Two steps to Happiness are: Taking life as a game and giving out Love.
Happiness is not mere pleasure not the outcome of wealth.
It is the result of active work rather than passive enjoyment of pleasure.
Your success depends on your own individual effort in the voyage of life,
And the avoidance of certain dangerous Rocks.
Self-education, in continuation of what you have learned at school, is necessary.
Go forward with confidence.
Paddle your own canoe!

Paul Theroux var pojkscout som liten och kom med tiden att skriva många klassiska reseskildringar. Själv fastnade jag för The Happy isles of Oceania – Paddling the Pacific om hans resa i Oceanien med en hopfällbar kajak. Kanske är det ingen slump att jag gått och köpt mig en hopfällbar kajak till i sommar. En Folbot Yukon.