What it means
- 1Know the motto — "Be Prepared."
- 2Prepare in mind — think ahead about what could happen and what you'd do.
- 3Prepare in body — stay fit and able to act.
- 4Apply it — plan, carry essentials, learn skills, and practice.
Motto vs. slogan
- The motto is "Be Prepared" — about readiness.
- The slogan is "Do a Good Turn Daily" — about helping others. They're different ideals.
- Lived in practice — preparedness is a plan, a kit, skills, and practice.
Notes
- "Be Prepared" is precisely about safety and readiness — the whole point is being ready to handle emergencies.
- Readiness is built beforehand — the motto's value is the preparation you do before you need it.
Going deeper
- Two words, one ethic. "Be Prepared" is Scouting's readiness philosophy in two words.
- "Any old thing." Baden-Powell's answer to "prepared for what?" captures the point: general readiness, not one scenario.
- B-P = Be Prepared. The motto shares the founder's initials.
Official source
Be Prepared: the origin story behind the Scout motto — OnScouting →The fuller treatment is on the "Be Prepared" mindset page. Baden-Powell's definition is paraphrased, not reprinted.