Every Man a King by Orison Swett Marden

CERTAIN man of no great learning, so runs an old leg- end, fell heir to a ship. He knew nothing of the sea, nothing of navigation or en- gineering, but the notion seized him to take a voyage and command his own ship. The ship was got- ten under way, the self-appointed captain al- lowing the crew to go ahead with their usual duties, as the multiplicity of operations con- fused the amateur navigator. Once headed out to sea, however, the work grew simpler, and the captain had time to observe what was going on. As he strolled on the forward deck, he saw a man turning a big wheel, now this way, now that.