ThreeClassics:

TheScienceofGettingRich

AcresofDiamonds

AsaManThinketh

ThemostfamousworksofWallaceD.Wattles,RussellH.Conwell,andJamesAllenallinone

volume!

Three Classics: The Science of Getting Rich, Acres of Diamonds, As aManThinketh-ThemostfamousworksofWallaceD.Wattles,RussellH.Conwell,andJamesAllenallinonevolume!

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BriefBiographiesoftheAuthors

WallaceDeloisWattles(1860–1911)wasanearlyAmericansuccesswriterwhobecamewidelypopularintheNewThoughtandself-helpmovement.Althoughhe wrote many books and articles and was a popular speaker on the lecturecircuit,mostofwhatweknowabouthispersonallifecamefromthewritingsofhisdaughter.Wattles'bestknownworkisthe1910book,TheScienceofGettingRich, in which he explained how to become wealthy. He claimed to havepersonally tested the principles he described. They apparently worked, foralthough he had livedmost of his life in poverty, in his later years he was aprosperousman.

Russell Herman Conwell (1843–1925) was an American Baptist minister,lawyer,writer,andoutstandingorator.Heisbestrememberedasthefounderandfirst president of TempleUniversity in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, and for hislectureandbook,AcresofDiamonds.Conwell studied lawat theAlbanyLawSchool and became a lawyer. He was a reporter for the Boston EveningTraveller,writingfor themoncivilwarbattlefieldsandthenonanaround-the-worldtriponwhichhewasinductedintotheChineseFreemasons.James Allen (1864-1912) was a British philosophical writer, known for hisinspirationalbooksandpoetry.Allen'sbooks illustrate theuseof thepowerofthoughttoincreasepersonalcapabilities.Althoughheneverachievedgreatfameor wealth in his lifetime, his works continue to influence people around theworld.Allen'smostfamousbook,AsaManThinketh,waspublishedin1902.Itisnowconsideredaclassicself-helpbook.Itsunderlyingpremiseisthatnoblethoughtsmakeanobleperson,whilelowlythoughtsmakeamiserableperson.

Whatis“NewThought”?

NewThoughtwasa spiritualmovementwhichdeveloped in theUnitedStatesduringthelate19thcentury.Itemphasizedmetaphysicalbeliefswhichplaceditoutsidethetraditionalist teachingsofthemainstreamreligionsofthetime.TheNew Thought movement consisted of a loosely allied group of religiousdenominations, secular membership organizations, authors, philosophers, anddynamic individuals. They shared beliefs concerning the effects of positive

thinking, the lawof attraction, healing, divine life force, creative visualizationandpersonalpower.

The first exponent of metaphysical healing, and thus seen as one of the firstproponents of New Thought in the U.S., was Phineas Parkhurst Quimby.AnotherpractitionerwasJohnBoveeDods(1795-1862),whoalsowroteseveralbooksexpoundingthethesisthatdiseaseoriginatesintheelectricalimpulsesofthenervoussystemandiscurablebyachangeofbelief.ThementalscienceoftheministerWarrenFeltEvans,afollowerofQuimby's,alsocontributedtothedevelopmentofthismovement.

AlthoughNewThoughtisneithermonolithicnordoctrinaire,ingeneralmoderndayadherentsbelievethattheirinterpretationof"God"or"InfiniteIntelligence"issupreme,universal,andeverlasting.Theybelieve thatdivinitydwellswithineachperson and that all people are spiritual beings, and as Jesus commanded,one of the highest spiritual principles is loving one another unconditionally.They also believed what Napoleon Hill taught, which in a nutshell was:Whateveryoucanthinkandbelieve,youcanachieve.

The most famous serial publication of the New Thought movement was TheNautilus, founded in1898byElizabethTowneandpublishedongoinguntil itsdiscontinuation inAugust 1953,when Towne retired at the age of 88. Townealso published, under the "Elizabeth Towne" imprint, books consisting ofmaterial which had run in serialized form in the magazine, then supplyingintroductionstothecompiledworks.

NewThoughtgrew tremendouslydue toaconfluenceof factors.General self-improvement, as proposed famously by Benjamin Franklin’s essays, had longbeenathemeinAmericanliteratureandlife.Thiswasjoinedwiththedreamsofprosperity which had enabled a new middle class to grow. The expansion ofeconomicopportunity at the closeof thenineteenth century seemed topresentthepossibilityofragstorichesforanyonewhotriedhardenoughandbelievedinthemselves.NewThoughtpromisedthataffluencecouldbeachieved;infact,itaffirmed that Godwanted all people to be prosperous. Through its prosperitytechniques,NewThoughtshowedthemiddleclassthatspirituallyaffluenceand

financialsuccessweredesirableandgood.

ThethreemajorreligiousdenominationswithintheNewThoughtmovementareReligiousScience,UnityChurch,andtheChurchofDivineScience.Therearemany other smaller sects under the New Thought umbrella as well. NewThought is customarily differentiated from Christian Science and medicalpsychotherapy.Someof thecentral tenants that are sharedbetween thegroupsinclude:InfiniteIntelligenceorGodisomnipotentandomnipresent:Spiritistheultimaterealityandtruehumanself-hoodisdivine;Divinelyattunedthoughtisapositiveforceforgood;andalldiseaseismentalinoriginand“Right”thinkinghasahealingeffect.

Although it has largely faded from public consciousness, the New Thoughtmovement produced a lasting effect on modern Western society. It was onedoorway though which the Eastern spiritual practices such as yoga andmeditationcametotheWest.Itwasalsotheancestorformuchoftoday’s“self-help” or “self-improvement” programs and practices. Most recently, theteachingsof theNewThoughtmovement found renewedexpression in thehitfilmandbest-sellingbook,TheSecret,writtenandproducedbyRhondaByrne.Itrevivedinterestinmanyoftheauthorsoftheperiod,mostnotablyWallaceD.Wattles,whowroteTheScienceofGettingRich,andCharlesHaanel,whowroteTheMasterKeySystem.OtherkeythinkersoftheNewThoughtperiodincludeJames Allen, RalphWaldo Trine, Arnold Bennett, Thomas Troward,WilliamWalkerAtkinsonandChristianD.Larson.

TheScienceofGettingRich

byWallaceD.Wattles

(1910)

Publisher’sNote

TheScienceofGettingRichstandsasoneofthemostfamousbooksproducedintheNewThoughtera.It iswrittenasastepbystepguidethat takesthereaderfromsimplebasicunderstandingstopracticalstepsthatcanbetakentogeneratewealth andhappiness. It has been consistently in print since it publication. Itsbasic theme is thatwe live in an abundant universe and that by sending forthclearmentalimagesandrequestwewillinturnreceiveblessingsback.Byusingthismethod,theonlylimittowhatcanbeachievediswhatonecanimage.

OriginalAuthorNote

THISbookispragmatical,notphilosophical;apracticalmanual,notatreatiseupontheories.Itisintendedforthemenandwomenwhosemostpressingneedis formoney;whowish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward. It is forthosewhohave,sofar,foundneitherthetime,themeans,northeopportunitytogo deeply into the study of metaphysics, but who want results and who arewilling to take the conclusions of science as a basis for action,without goingintoalltheprocessesbywhichthoseconclusionswerereached.

Itisexpectedthatthereaderwilltakethefundamentalstatementsuponfaith,just as hewould take statements concerning a law of electrical action if theywerepromulgatedbyaMarconioranEdison;and, taking thestatementsuponfaith, that he will prove their truth by acting upon them without fear orhesitation.Everymanorwomanwhodoes thiswill certainly get rich; for thescience herein applied is an exact science, and failure is impossible. For thebenefit,however,ofthosewhowishtoinvestigatephilosophicaltheoriesandsosecurealogicalbasisforfaith,Iwillherecitecertainauthorities.

ThemonistictheoryoftheuniversethetheorythatOneisAll,andthatAllisOne;ThatoneSubstancemanifests itselfas theseemingmanyelementsof thematerialworld-isofHinduorigin,andhasbeengraduallywinningitswayintothethoughtofthewesternworldfortwohundredyears.Itisthefoundationofallthe Oriental philosophies, and of those of Descartes, Spinoza, Leibnitz,Schopenhauer,Hegel,andEmerson.

ThereaderwhowoulddigtothephilosophicalfoundationsofthisisadvisedtoreadHegelandEmersonforhimself.

InwritingthisbookIhavesacrificedallotherconsiderationstoplainnessandsimplicity of style, so that allmight understand.Theplanof action laid downhereinwasdeducedfromtheconclusionsofphilosophy;ithasbeenthoroughlytested,andbearsthesupremetestofpracticalexperiment;itworks.Ifyouwishtoknowhow the conclusionswere arrived at, read thewritingsof the authorsmentioned above; and if you wish to reap the fruits of their philosophies inactualpractice,readthisbookanddoexactlyasittellsyoutodo---

Chapter1

WHATEVERmaybesaidinpraiseofpoverty,thefactremainsthatitisnot

possible to livea reallycompleteorsuccessful lifeunlessone is rich.Nomancan rise tohisgreatestpossibleheight in talentor souldevelopmentunlesshehasplentyofmoney;fortounfoldthesoulandtodeveloptalenthemusthavemanythingstouse,andhecannothavethesethingsunlesshehasmoneytobuythemwith.

Amandevelopsinmind,soul,andbodybymakinguseofthings,andsocietyissoorganizedthatmanmusthavemoneyinordertobecomethepossessorofthings; therefore, thebasisof all advancement formanmustbe the scienceofgettingrich.

The object of all life is development; and everything that lives has aninalienablerighttoallthedevelopmentitiscapableofattaining.

Man'srighttolifemeanshisrighttohavethefreeandunrestricteduseofallthethingswhichmaybenecessarytohisfullestmental,spiritual,andphysicalunfoldment;or,inotherwords,hisrighttoberich.

Inthisbook,Ishallnotspeakofrichesinafigurativeway;tobereallyrichdoes not mean to be satisfied or contented with a little. Noman ought to besatisfiedwithalittleifheiscapableofusingandenjoyingmore.ThepurposeofNature is theadvancementandunfoldmentof life;andeverymanshouldhaveallthatcancontributetothepower;elegance,beauty,andrichnessoflife;tobecontentwithlessissinful.

Themanwhoownsallhewantsforthelivingofallthelifeheiscapableoflivingisrich;andnomanwhohasnotplentyofmoneycanhaveallhewants.Lifehasadvancedsofar,andbecomesocomplex, thateventhemostordinarymanorwoman requiresagreat amountofwealth inorder to live inamanner

thatevenapproachescompleteness.Everypersonnaturallywantstobecomeallthat they are capable of becoming; this desire to realize innate possibilities isinherent in human nature; we cannot help wanting to be all that we can be.Successinlifeisbecomingwhatyouwanttobe;youcanbecomewhatyouwanttobeonlybymakinguseofthings,andyoucanhavethefreeuseofthingsonlyasyoubecome rich enough tobuy them.Tounderstand the scienceofgettingrichisthereforethemostessentialofallknowledge.

Thereisnothingwronginwantingtogetrich.Thedesireforrichesisreallythedesire for a richer, fuller, andmore abundant life; and that desire is praiseworthy.Themanwhodoesnotdesiretolivemoreabundantlyisabnormal,andso themanwhodoesnotdesire tohavemoneyenough tobuyall hewants isabnormal.

Therearethreemotivesforwhichwelive;weliveforthebody,weliveforthemind,weliveforthesoul.Nooneoftheseisbetterorholierthantheother;all are alike desirable, and no one of the three--body,mind, or soul--can livefullyifeitheroftheothersiscutshortoffulllifeandexpression.Itisnotrightornobletoliveonlyforthesoulanddenymindorbody;anditiswrongtolivefortheintellectanddenybodyorsoul.

Weareallacquaintedwiththeloathsomeconsequencesoflivingforthebodyanddenyingbothmindandsoul;andwesee that real lifemeans thecompleteexpressionofallthatmancangiveforththroughbody,mind,andsoul.Whateverhecansay,nomancanbereallyhappyorsatisfiedunlesshisbodyislivingfullyineveryfunction,andunlessthesameistrueofhismindandhissoul.Whereverthere isunexpressedpossibility,or functionnotperformed, there isunsatisfieddesire.Desireispossibilityseekingexpression,orfunctionseekingperformance.

Mancannotlivefullyinbodywithoutgoodfood,comfortableclothing,andwarmshelter;andwithoutfreedomfromexcessivetoil.Restandrecreationarealsonecessarytohisphysicallife.

Hecannotlivefullyinmindwithoutbooksandtimetostudythem,withoutopportunityfortravelandobservation,orwithoutintellectualcompanionship.

Tolivefullyinmindhemusthaveintellectualrecreations,andmustsurroundhimself with all the objects of art and beauty he is capable of using andappreciating.

Tolivefully insoul,manmusthave love;and love isdeniedexpressionbypoverty.

Aman's highest happiness is found in the bestowal of benefits on those heloves;lovefindsitsmostnaturalandspontaneousexpressioningiving.Themanwhohasnothingtogivecannotfillhisplaceasahusbandorfather,asacitizen,orasaman.It is in theuseofmaterial thingsthatamanfindsfull lifeforhis

body, develops his mind, and unfolds his soul. It is therefore of supremeimportancetohimthatheshouldberich.

Itisperfectlyrightthatyoushoulddesiretoberich;ifyouareanormalmanorwomanyou cannot help doing so. It is perfectly right that you should giveyourbestattentiontotheScienceofGettingRich,foritisthenoblestandmostnecessaryofallstudies.Ifyouneglectthisstudy,youarederelictinyourdutytoyourself, to God and humanity; for you can render to God and humanity nogreaterservicethantomakethemostofyourself.

Chapter2

THEREisaScienceofgettingrich,anditisanexactscience,likealgebraor

arithmetic.Therearecertainlawswhichgoverntheprocessofacquiringriches;once these laws are learned and obeyed by any man, he will get rich withmathematicalcertainty.

Theownershipofmoneyandpropertycomesasaresultofdoingthingsinacertainway; thosewho do things in thisCertainWay,whether on purpose oraccidentally,getrich;whilethosewhodonotdothingsinthisCertainWay,nomatterhowhardtheyworkorhowabletheyare,remainpoor.

Itisanaturallawthatlikecausesalwaysproducelikeeffects;and,therefore,anymanorwomanwholearnstodothingsinthiscertainwaywillinfalliblygetrich.

Thattheabovestatementistrueisshownbythefollowingfacts:Gettingrich isnotamatterofenvironment, for, if itwere,all thepeople in

certainneighborhoodswouldbecomewealthy;thepeopleofonecitywouldallberich,whilethoseofothertownswouldallbepoor;ortheinhabitantsofonestatewouldrollinwealth,whilethoseofanadjoiningstatewouldbeinpoverty.

But everywhere we see rich and poor living side by side, in the sameenvironment,andoftenengagedinthesamevocations.Whentwomenareinthesame locality, and in the same business, and one gets rich while the otherremains poor, it shows that getting rich is not, primarily, a matter ofenvironment.Someenvironmentsmaybemorefavorablethanothers,butwhentwomeninthesamebusinessareinthesameneighborhood,andonegetsrichwhiletheotherfails,itindicatesthatgettingrichistheresultofdoingthingsinaCertainWay.

Andfurther,theabilitytodothingsinthiscertainwayisnotduesolelytothepossessionoftalent,formanypeoplewhohavegreattalentremainpoor,whileotherwhohaveverylittletalentgetrich.

Studyingthepeoplewhohavegotrich,wefindthattheyareanaveragelotinallrespects,havingnogreatertalentsandabilitiesthanothermen.It isevidentthattheydonotgetrichbecausetheypossesstalentsandabilitiesthatothermenhavenot,butbecausetheyhappentodothingsinaCertainWay.

Getting rich is not the result of saving, or "thrift"; many very penuriouspeoplearepoor,whilefreespendersoftengetrich.

Norisgettingrichduetodoingthingswhichothersfailtodo;fortwomeninthe same business often do almost exactly the same things, and one gets richwhiletheotherremainspoororbecomesbankrupt.

Fromallthesethings,wemustcometotheconclusionthatgettingrichistheresultofdoingthingsinaCertainWay.

IfgettingrichistheresultofdoingthingsinaCertainWay,andiflikecausesalwaysproducelikeeffects,thenanymanorwomanwhocandothingsinthatway can become rich, and the whole matter is brought within the domain ofexactscience.

The question arises here,whether thisCertainWaymay not be so difficultthatonlya fewmay follow it.This cannotbe true, aswehave seen, so far asnatural ability is concerned.Talentedpeopleget rich, andblockheadsget rich;intellectuallybrilliantpeoplegetrich,andverystupidpeoplegetrich;physicallystrongpeoplegetrich,andweakandsicklypeoplegetrich.

Somedegreeofabilitytothinkandunderstandis,ofcourse,essential;butinsofarnaturalabilityisconcerned,anymanorwomanwhohassenseenoughtoreadandunderstandthesewordscancertainlygetrich.

Also,wehaveseenthatitisnotamatterofenvironment.Locationcountsforsomething; one would not go to the heart of the Sahara and expect to dosuccessfulbusiness.Gettingrichinvolvesthenecessityofdealingwithmen,andofbeingwheretherearepeopletodealwith;andifthesepeopleareinclinedtodealinthewayyouwanttodeal,somuchthebetter.Butthatisaboutasfarasenvironmentgoes.

Ifanybodyelseinyourtowncangetrich,socanyou;andifanybodyelseinyourstatecangetrich,socanyou.

Again, it isnotamatterofchoosingsomeparticularbusinessorprofession.Peoplegetrichineverybusiness,andineveryprofession;whiletheirnextdoorneighborsinthesamevocationremaininpoverty.

It is true that youwill do best in a businesswhich you like, andwhich iscongenialtoyou;andifyouhavecertaintalentswhicharewelldeveloped,youwilldobestinabusinesswhichcallsfortheexerciseofthosetalents.

Also,youwilldobest inabusinesswhichissuitedtoyourlocality;anice-creamparlorwoulddobetterinawarmclimatethaninGreenland,andasalmon

fisherywillsucceedbetterintheNorthwestthaninFlorida,wheretherearenosalmon.

But,asidefromthesegenerallimitations,gettingrichisnotdependentuponyourengaginginsomeparticularbusiness,butuponyourlearningtodothingsinaCertainWay.Ifyouarenowinbusiness,andanybodyelseinyourlocalityisgettingrichinthesamebusiness,whileyouarenotgettingrich,itisbecauseyouarenotdoingthingsinthesameWaythattheotherpersonisdoingthem.

No one is prevented from getting rich by lack of capital. True, as you getcapital the increase becomesmore easy and rapid; but onewho has capital isalreadyrich,anddoesnotneed toconsiderhowtobecomeso.Nomatterhowpooryoumaybe,ifyoubegintodothingsintheCertainWayyouwillbegintogetrich;andyouwillbegintohavecapital.Thegettingofcapitalisapartoftheprocessofgettingrich;anditisapartoftheresultwhichinvariablyfollowsthedoing of things in the Certain Way. You may be the poorest man on thecontinent, andbedeeply indebt; youmayhaveneither friends, influence, norresources;butifyoubegintodothingsinthisway,youmustinfalliblybegintogetrich,forlikecausesmustproducelikeeffects.Ifyouhavenocapital,youcangetcapital;ifyouareinthewrongbusiness,youcangetintotherightbusiness;ifyouareinthewronglocation,youcangototherightlocation;andyoucandoso by beginning in your present business and in your present location to dothingsintheCertainWaywhichcausessuccess.

Chapter3

NOman is kept poor because opportunity has been taken away from him;

becauseotherpeoplehavemonopolizedthewealth,andhaveputafencearoundit.Youmaybeshutofffromengaginginbusinessincertainlines,butthereareotherchannelsopentoyou.Probablyitwouldbehardforyoutogetcontrolofanyofthegreatrailroadsystems;thatfieldisprettywellmonopolized.Buttheelectric railway business is still in its infancy, and offers plenty of scope forenterprise; and it will be but a very few years until traffic and transportationthrough the airwill become a great industry, and in all its brancheswill giveemploymenttohundredsofthousands,andperhapstomillions,ofpeople.Whynot turn your attention to the development of aerial transportation, instead ofcompetingwithJ.J.Hillandothersforachanceinthesteamrailwayworld?

Itisquitetruethatifyouareaworkmanintheemployofthesteeltrustyouhaveverylittlechanceofbecomingtheowneroftheplantinwhichyouwork;but it is also true that if youwill commence to act in aCertainWay, you can

soonleavetheemployofthesteeltrust;youcanbuyafarmoffromtentofortyacres, and engage in business as a producer of foodstuffs. There is greatopportunity at this time for men who will live upon small tracts of land andcultivatethesameintensively;suchmenwillcertainlygetrich.Youmaysaythatitisimpossibleforyoutogettheland,butIamgoingtoprovetoyouthatitisnotimpossible,andthatyoucancertainlygetafarmifyouwillgotoworkinaCertainWay.

At different periods the tide of opportunity sets in different directions,accordingtotheneedsofthewhole,andtheparticularstageofsocialevolutionwhichhasbeenreached.Atpresent,inAmerica,itissettingtowardagricultureandthealliedindustriesandprofessions.To-day,opportunityisopenbeforethefactoryworker inhis line.It isopenbefore thebusinessmanwhosupplies thefarmermorethanbeforetheonewhosuppliesthefactoryworker;andbeforetheprofessional man who waits upon the farmer more than before the one whoservestheworkingclass.

There is abundance of opportunity for theman who will go with the tide,insteadoftryingtoswimagainstit.

Sothefactoryworkers,eitherasindividualsorasaclass,arenotdeprivedofopportunity.Theworkersarenotbeing"keptdown"by theirmasters; theyarenotbeing"ground"bythetrustsandcombinationsofcapital.Asaclass,theyarewheretheyarebecausetheydonotdothingsinaCertainWay.IftheworkersofAmerica chose to do so, they could follow the example of their brothers inBelgium and other countries, and establish great department stores and co-operativeindustries;theycouldelectmenoftheirownclasstooffice,andpasslaws favoring the development of such co-operative industries; and in a fewyearstheycouldtakepeaceablepossessionoftheindustrialfield.

TheworkingclassmaybecomethemasterclasswhenevertheywillbegintodothingsinaCertainWay;thelawofwealthisthesameforthemasitisforallothers.Thistheymustlearn;andtheywillremainwheretheyareaslongastheycontinuetodoastheydo.Theindividualworker,however,isnothelddownbythe ignoranceor themental slothfulnessofhisclass;hecan follow the tideofopportunitytoriches,andthisbookwilltellhimhow.

Nooneiskeptinpovertybyashortnessinthesupplyofriches;thereismorethanenoughforall.ApalaceaslargeasthecapitolatWashingtonmightbebuiltforeveryfamilyonearthfromthebuildingmaterialintheUnitedStatesalone;andunderintensivecultivation,thiscountrywouldproducewool,cotton,linen,and silk enough to cloth each person in the world finer than Solomon wasarrayedinallhisglory;togetherwithfoodenoughtofeedthemallluxuriously.

Thevisiblesupplyispracticallyinexhaustible;andtheinvisiblesupplyreally

isinexhaustible.Everything you see on earth is made from one original substance, out of

whichallthingsproceed.NewFormsareconstantlybeingmade,andolderonesaredissolving;butall

areshapesassumedbyOneThing.ThereisnolimittothesupplyofFormlessStuff,orOriginalSubstance.The

universe ismadeoutof it;but itwasnotallused inmaking theuniverse.Thespacesin,through,andbetweentheformsofthevisibleuniversearepermeatedand filled with the Original Substance; with the formless Stuff; with the rawmaterialofallthings.Tenthousandtimesasmuchashasbeenmademightstillbemade,andeven thenweshouldnothaveexhausted the supplyofuniversalrawmaterial.

Noman, therefore, is poor because nature is poor, or because there is notenoughtogoaround.

Nature is an inexhaustible storehouse of riches; the supply will never runshort. Original Substance is alive with creative energy, and is constantlyproducingmoreforms.Whenthesupplyofbuildingmaterialisexhausted,morewillbeproduced;whenthesoilisexhaustedsothatfoodstuffsandmaterialsforclothingwill no longer grow upon it, itwill be renewed ormore soilwill bemade.Whenallthegoldandsilverhasbeendugfromtheearth,ifmanisstillinsuch a stage of social development that he needs gold and silver, more willproducedfromtheFormless.TheFormlessStuffrespondstotheneedsofman;itwillnotlethimbewithoutanygoodthing.

Thisistrueofmancollectively;theraceasawholeisalwaysabundantlyrich,andifindividualsarepoor,itisbecausetheydonotfollowtheCertainWayofdoingthingswhichmakestheindividualmanrich.

TheFormlessStuff is intelligent; it is stuffwhich thinks. It is alive, and isalwaysimpelledtowardmorelife.

It is the natural and inherent impulse of life to seek to livemore; it is thenatureofintelligencetoenlargeitself,andofconsciousnesstoseektoextenditsboundariesandfindfullerexpression.TheuniverseofformshasbeenmadebyFormlessLivingSubstance, throwing itself into form inorder to express itselfmorefully.

The universe is a great Living Presence, alwaysmoving inherently towardmorelifeandfullerfunctioning.

Nature is formed for the advancement of life; its impelling motive is theincreaseoflife.Forthiscause,everythingwhichcanpossiblyministertolifeisbountifully provided; there can be no lack unlessGod is to contradict himselfandnullifyhisownworks.

Youarenotkeptpoorbylackinthesupplyofriches;itisafactwhichIshalldemonstratealittlefartheronthateventheresourcesoftheFormlessSupplyareatthecommandofthemanorwomanwhowillactandthinkinaCertainWay.

Chapter4

THOUGHT is the only power which can produce tangible riches from the

Formless Substance. The stuff fromwhich all things aremade is a substancewhichthinks,andathoughtofforminthissubstanceproducestheform.

OriginalSubstancemovesaccordingtoitsthoughts;everyformandprocessyouseeinnatureisthevisibleexpressionofathoughtinOriginalSubstance.AstheFormlessStuffthinksofaform,ittakesthatform;asitthinksofamotion,itmakesthatmotion.Thatisthewayallthingswerecreated.Weliveinathoughtworld,which is part of a thought universe.The thought of amoving universeextended throughout Formless Substance, and the Thinking Stuff movingaccordingtothatthought,tooktheformofsystemsofplanets,andmaintainsthatform.ThinkingSubstancetakestheformofitsthought,andmovesaccordingtothethought.Holdingtheideaofacirclingsystemofsunsandworlds,ittakestheformofthesebodies,andmovesthemasitthinks.Thinkingtheformofaslow-growingoaktree,itmovesaccordingly,andproducesthetree,thoughcenturiesmay be required to do the work. In creating, the Formless seems to moveaccording to the lines ofmotion it has established; the thought of an oak treedoes not cause the instant formation of a full-grown tree, but it does start inmotiontheforceswhichwillproducethetree,alongestablishedlinesofgrowth.

Everythoughtofform,heldinthinkingSubstance,causesthecreationoftheform,butalways,oratleastgenerally,alonglinesofgrowthandactionalreadyestablished.

The thoughtofahouseofacertainconstruction, if itwere impresseduponFormlessSubstance,mightnotcausetheinstantformation,of thehouse;but itwould cause the turning of creative energies already working in trade andcommerce into such channels as to result in the speedybuildingof thehouse.Andiftherewerenoexistingchannelsthroughwhichthecreativeenergycouldwork, thenthehousewouldbeformeddirectlyfromprimalsubstance,withoutwaitingfortheslowprocessesoftheorganicandinorganicworld.

No thought of form can be impressed upon Original Substance withoutcausingthecreationoftheform.

Manisa thinkingcenter,andcanoriginate thought.All the forms thatmanfashionswithhishandsmustfirstexist inhis thought;hecannotshapeathinguntilhehasthoughtthatthing.Andsofarmanhasconfinedhiseffortswhollytothe work of his hands; he has applied manual labor to the world of forms,seeking to change or modify those already existing. He has never thought oftrying to cause the creation of new forms by impressing his thoughts uponFormlessSubstance.

Whenmanhas a thought-form,he takesmaterial from the formsofnature,andmakesanimageoftheformwhichisinhismind.Hehas,sofar,madelittleornoefforttoco-operatewithFormlessIntelligence;towork"withtheFather."He has not dreamed that he can "do what he seeth the Father doing." Manreshapesandmodifiesexistingformsbymanuallabor;hehasgivennoattentiontothequestionwhetherhemaynotproducethingsfromFormlessSubstancebycommunicating his thoughts to it.We propose to prove that hemay do so; toprovethatanymanorwomanmaydoso,andtoshowhow.Asourfirststep,wemustlaydownthreefundamentalpropositions.

First,we assert that there is one original formless stuff, or substance, fromwhich all things aremade.All the seeminglymany elements are but differentpresentationsofoneelement;allthemanyformsfoundinorganicandinorganicnature are but different shapes, made from the same stuff. And this stuff isthinkingstuff;athoughtheldinitproducestheformofthethought.Thought,inthinking substance, produces shapes. Man is a thinking center, capable oforiginal thought; if man can communicate his thought to original thinkingsubstance,hecancausethecreation,orformation,ofthethinghethinksabout.Tosummarizethis:-There is a thinking stuff fromwhich all things aremade, andwhich, in its

originalstate,permeates,penetrates,andfillstheinterspacesoftheuniverse.Athought,inthissubstance,producesthethingthatisimagedbythethought.Man can form things in his thought, and, by impressing his thought upon

formlesssubstance,cancausethethinghethinksabouttobecreated.It may be asked if I can prove these statements; and without going into

details,IanswerthatIcandoso,bothbylogicandexperience.Reasoning back from the phenomena of form and thought, I come to one

originalthinkingsubstance;andreasoningforwardfromthisthinkingsubstance,Icometoman'spowertocausetheformationofthethinghethinksabout.

Andbyexperiment,Ifindthereasoningtrue;andthisismystrongestproof.Ifonemanwhoreadsthisbookgetsrichbydoingwhatittellshimtodo,that

isevidenceinsupportofmyclaim;butifeverymanwhodoeswhatittellshimtodogetsrich,thatispositiveproofuntilsomeonegoesthroughtheprocessandfails.Thetheoryistrueuntiltheprocessfails;andthisprocesswillnotfail,foreverymanwhodoesexactlywhatthisbooktellshimtodowillgetrich.

IhavesaidthatmengetrichbydoingthingsinaCertainWay;andinordertodoso,menmustbecomeabletothinkinacertainway.Aman'swayof doing things is thedirect result of thewayhe thinksabout

things.To do things in a way youwant to do them, youwill have to acquire the

ability to think thewayyouwant to think; this is the first step towardgettingrich.To think what you want to think is to think TRUTH, regardless of

appearances.Everymanhasthenaturalandinherentpowertothinkwhathewantstothink,

butitrequiresfarmoreefforttodosothanitdoestothinkthethoughtswhicharesuggestedbyappearances.Tothinkaccordingtoappearanceiseasy;tothinktruth regardless of appearances is laborious, and requires the expenditure ofmorepowerthananyotherworkmaniscalledupontoperform.

There is no labor from which most people shrink as they do from that ofsustained and consecutive thought; it is thehardestwork in theworld.This isespecially truewhen truth is contrary to appearances.Every appearance in thevisibleworldtendstoproduceacorrespondingforminthemindwhichobservesit;andthiscanonlybepreventedbyholdingthethoughtoftheTRUTH.

To lookupon theappearanceofdiseasewillproduce the formofdisease inyourownmind,andultimatelyinyourbody,unlessyouholdthethoughtofthetruth,whichisthatthereisnodisease;itisonlyanappearance,andtherealityishealth.

Tolookupontheappearancesofpovertywillproducecorrespondingformsinyourownmind,unlessyouholdtothetruththatthereisnopoverty;thereisonlyabundance.

To thinkhealthwhensurroundedby theappearancesofdisease,or to thinkricheswheninthemidstofappearancesofpoverty,requirespower;buthewhoacquires thispowerbecomesaMASTERMIND.Hecanconquer fate;hecanhavewhathewants.

Thispower canonlybe acquiredbygettingholdof thebasic factwhich isbehind all appearances; and that fact is that there is one Thinking Substance,fromwhichandbywhichallthingsaremade.

Then we must grasp the truth that every thought held in this substancebecomesa form,and thatmancanso impresshis thoughtsupon itas tocause

themtotakeformandbecomevisiblethings.Whenwe realize this,we loseall doubt and fear, forweknow thatwecan

create what we want to create; we can get what we want to have, and canbecomewhatwewanttobe.Asafirststeptowardgettingrich,youmustbelievethethreefundamentalstatementsgivenpreviouslyinthischapter;andinordertoemphasizethem.Irepeatthemhere:-There is a thinking stuff fromwhich all things aremade, andwhich, in its

originalstate,permeates,penetrates,andfillstheinterspacesoftheuniverse.Athought,inthissubstance,producesthethingthatisimagedbythethought.Man can form things in his thought, and, by impressing his thought upon

formlesssubstance,cancausethethinghethinksabouttobecreated.Youmustlayasideallotherconceptsoftheuniversethanthismonisticone;

andyoumustdwelluponthisuntilitisfixedinyourmind,andhasbecomeyourhabitual thought. Read these creed statements over and over again; fix everyworduponyourmemory,andmeditateuponthemuntilyoufirmlybelievewhatthey say. If a doubt comes to you, cast it aside as a sin. Do not listen toargumentsagainstthisidea;donotgotochurchesorlectureswhereacontraryconceptofthingsistaughtorpreached.Donotreadmagazinesorbookswhichteachadifferentidea;ifyougetmixedupinyourfaith,allyoureffortswillbeinvain.

Do not askwhy these things are true, nor speculate as to how they can betrue;simplytakethemontrust.

Thescienceofgettingrichbeginswiththeabsoluteacceptanceofthisfaith.

Chapter5

YOUmust get rid of the last vestige of the old idea that there is a Deity

whosewill it is thatyoushouldbepoor,orwhosepurposesmaybeservedbykeepingyouinpoverty.

TheIntelligentSubstancewhichisAll,andinAll,andwhichlivesinAllandlives in you, is a consciously Living Substance. Being a consciously livingsubstance,Itmusthavethenatureandinherentdesireofeverylivingintelligenceforincreaseoflife.Everylivingthingmustcontinuallyseekfortheenlargementofitslife,becauselife,inthemereactofliving,mustincreaseitself.

Aseed,droppedintotheground,springsintoactivity,andintheactoflivingproduces a hundred more seeds; life, by living, multiplies itself. It is foreverBecomingMore;itmustdoso,ifitcontinuestobeatall.

Intelligence is under this same necessity for continuous increase. Every

thought we think makes it necessary for us to think another thought;consciousness is continually expanding. Every fact we learn leads us to thelearning of another fact; knowledge is continually increasing. Every talentwecultivatebringstothemindthedesiretocultivateanothertalent;wearesubjecttotheurgeoflife,seekingexpression,whicheverdrivesusontoknowmore,todomore,andtobemore.

Inordertoknowmore,domore,andbemorewemusthavemore;wemusthavethingstouse,forwelearn,anddo,andbecome,onlybyusingthings.Wemustgetrich,sothatwecanlivemore.

Thedesireforrichesissimplythecapacityforlargerlifeseekingfulfillment;everydesireistheeffortofanunexpressedpossibilitytocomeintoaction.Itispower seeking to manifest which causes desire. That which makes you wantmoremoneyisthesameasthatwhichmakestheplantgrow;itisLife,seekingfullerexpression.

TheOneLivingSubstancemustbesubjecttothisinherentlawofalllife;itispermeatedwith thedesire to livemore; that iswhyit isunder thenecessityofcreatingthings.

TheOneSubstancedesirestolivemoreinyou;henceitwantsyoutohaveallthethingsyoucanuse.

It is the desire of God that you should get rich. Hewants you to get richbecausehecanexpresshimselfbetterthroughyouifyouhaveplentyofthingstouse in giving him expression.He can livemore in you if you have unlimitedcommandofthemeansoflife.

Theuniversedesiresyoutohaveeverythingyouwanttohave.Natureisfriendlytoyourplans.Everythingisnaturallyforyou.Makeupyourmindthatthisistrue.

Itisessential,howeverthatyourpurposeshouldharmonizewiththepurposethatisinAll.

Youmustwantreallife,notmerepleasureofsensualgratification.Lifeistheperformanceoffunction;andtheindividualreallylivesonlywhenheperformsevery function,physical,mental,andspiritual,ofwhichhe iscapable,withoutexcessinany.

Youdonotwanttogetrichinordertoliveswinishly,forthegratificationofanimaldesires;thatisnotlife.Buttheperformanceofeveryphysicalfunctionisapartoflife,andnoonelivescompletelywhodeniestheimpulsesofthebodyanormalandhealthfulexpression.

You do not want to get rich solely to enjoy mental pleasures, to getknowledge,togratifyambition,tooutshineothers,tobefamous.Allthesearea

legitimate part of life, but themanwho lives for the pleasures of the intellectalonewillonlyhaveapartiallife,andhewillneverbesatisfiedwithhislot.

Youdonotwanttogetrichsolelyforthegoodofothers,toloseyourselfforthe salvationofmankind, to experience the joysofphilanthropyand sacrifice.Thejoysofthesoulareonlyapartoflife;andtheyarenobetterornoblerthananyotherpart.

Youwanttogetrichinorderthatyoumayeat,drink,andbemerrywhenitistimetodothesethings; inorderthatyoumaysurroundyourselfwithbeautifulthings,seedistantlands,feedyourmind,anddevelopyourintellect;inorderthatyoumaylovemenanddokindthings,andbeabletoplayagoodpartinhelpingtheworldtofindtruth.

Butrememberthatextremealtruismisnobetterandnonoblerthanextremeselfishness;botharemistakes.

Get ridof the idea thatGodwantsyou to sacrificeyourself forothers, andthatyoucansecurehisfavorbydoingso;Godrequiresnothingofthekind.

Whathewantsisthatyoushouldmakethemostofyourself,foryourself,andforothers;andyoucanhelpothersmorebymakingthemostofyourselfthaninanyotherway.

You canmake themost of yourself only by getting rich; so it is right andpraiseworthy that you should give your first and best thought to the work ofacquiringwealth.

Remember, however, that the desire of Substance is for all, and itsmovementsmustbeformorelifetoall;itcannotbemadetoworkforlesslifetoany,becauseitisequallyinall,seekingrichesandlife.

IntelligentSubstancewillmake things foryou, but itwill not take thingsawayfromsomeoneelseandgivethemtoyou.Youmust get rid of the thought of competition.You are to create, not tocompeteforwhatisalreadycreated.Youdonothavetotakeanythingawayfromanyone.Youdonothavetodrivesharpbargains.Youdonothavetocheat,ortotakeadvantage.Youdonotneedtoletanymanworkforyouforlessthanheearns.

Youdonothavetocovetthepropertyofothers,ortolookatitwithwishfuleyes;nomanhasanythingofwhichyoucannothavethelike,andthatwithouttakingwhathehasawayfromhim.

Youaretobecomeacreator,notacompetitor;youaregoingtogetwhatyouwant,but in suchaway thatwhenyouget it everyothermanwillhavemorethanhehasnow.

Iamawarethattherearemenwhogetavastamountofmoneybyproceeding

in direct opposition to the statements in the paragraph above, andmay add awordofexplanationhere.Menoftheplutocratictype,whobecomeveryrich,dososometimespurelybytheirextraordinaryabilityontheplaneofcompetition;and sometimes they unconsciously relate themselves to Substance in its greatpurposes and movements for the general racial upbuilding through industrialevolution. Rockefeller, Carnegie, Morgan, et al., have been the unconsciousagents of the Supreme in the necessarywork of systematizing and organizingproductiveindustry;andintheend,theirworkwillcontributeimmenselytowardincreasedlifeforall.Theirdayisnearlyover;theyhaveorganizedproduction,andwillsoonbesucceededbytheagentsofthemultitude,whowillorganizethemachineryofdistribution.

Themulti-millionaires are like the monster reptiles of the prehistoric eras;theyplayanecessarypartintheevolutionaryprocess,butthesamePowerwhichproducedthemwilldisposeofthem.Anditiswelltobearinmindthattheyhavenever been really rich; a record of the private lives ofmost of this classwillshowthattheyhavereallybeenthemostabjectandwretchedofthepoor.

Riches secured on the competitive plane are never satisfactory andpermanent;theyareyoursto-day,andanother'stomorrow.Remember,ifyouaretobecomerichinascientificandcertainway,youmustriseentirelyoutofthecompetitive thought. You must never think for a moment that the supply islimited.Justassoonasyoubegintothinkthatallthemoneyisbeing"cornered"and controlled by bankers and others, and that youmust exert yourself to getlawspassed to stop thisprocess, and soon; in thatmomentyoudrop into thecompetitivemind,andyourpowertocausecreationisgoneforthetimebeing;andwhat isworse, youwill probably arrest the creativemovements you havealreadyinstituted.

KNOW that there are countless millions of dollars' worth of gold in themountainsoftheearth,notyetbroughttolight;andknowthatiftherewerenot,morewouldbecreatedfromThinkingSubstancetosupplyyourneeds.

KNOW that the money you need will come, even if it is necessary for athousandmentobeledtothediscoveryofnewgoldminesto-morrow.Never look at the visible supply; look always at the limitless riches in

FormlessSubstance,andKNOWthattheyarecomingtoyouasfastasyoucanreceiveandusethem.Nobody,bycorneringthevisiblesupply,canpreventyoufromgettingwhatisyours.

Soneverallowyourselftothinkforaninstantthatallthebestbuildingspotswillbetakenbeforeyougetreadytobuildyourhouse,unlessyouhurry.Neverworry about the trusts and combines, and get anxious for fear theywill sooncometoownthewholeearth.Nevergetafraidthatyouwilllosewhatyouwant

becausesomeotherperson"beatsyoutoit."Thatcannotpossiblyhappen;youare not seeking any thing that is possessed by anybody else; you are causingwhatyouwanttobecreatedfromformlessSubstance,andthesupplyiswithoutlimits.Sticktotheformulatedstatement:--There is a thinking stuff fromwhich all things aremade, andwhich, in its

originalstate,permeates,penetrates,andfillstheinterspacesoftheuniverse.Athought,inthissubstance,producesthethingthatisimagedbythethought.Man can form things in his thought, and, by impressing his thought upon

formlesssubstance,cancausethethinghethinksabouttobecreated.

Chapter6

WHENIsaythatyoudonothavetodrivesharpbargains,Idonotmeanthat

youdonothavetodriveanybargainsatall,orthatyouareabovethenecessityforhavinganydealingswithyourfellowmen.Imeanthatyouwillnotneedtodealwiththemunfairly;youdonothavetogetsomethingfornothing,butcangive to everymanmore than you take from him. You cannot give everymanmoreincashmarketvaluethanyoutakefromhim,butyoucangivehimmoreinusevaluethanthecashvalueofthethingyoutakefromhim.Thepaper,ink,andothermaterialinthisbookmaynotbeworththemoneyyoupayforit;butiftheideassuggestedbyitbringyouthousandsofdollars,youhavenotbeenwrongedbythosewhosoldit toyou; theyhavegivenyouagreatusevalueforasmallcashvalue.

LetussupposethatIownapicturebyoneofthegreatartists,which,inanycivilizedcommunity, isworththousandsofdollars.I takeit toBaffinBay,andby"salesmanship"induceanEskimotogiveabundleoffursworth$500forit.Ihavereallywrongedhim,forhehasnouseforthepicture;ithasnousevaluetohim;itwillnotaddtohislife.

ButsupposeIgivehimagunworth$50forhisfurs;thenhehasmadeagoodbargain.Hehasuseforthegun;itwillgethimmanymorefursandmuchfood;itwilladdtohislifeineveryway;itwillmakehimrich.

Whenyourisefromthecompetitivetothecreativeplane,youcanscanyourbusinesstransactionsverystrictly,andifyouaresellinganymananythingwhichdoesnotaddmore tohis life than the thinghegiveyou inexchange,youcanaffordtostopit.Youdonothavetobeatanybodyinbusiness.Andifyouareinabusinesswhichdoesbeatpeople,getoutofitatonce.

Giveeverymanmoreinusevaluethanyoutakefromhimincashvalue;thenyouareaddingtothelifeoftheworldbyeverybusinesstransaction.

Ifyouhavepeopleworkingforyou,youmusttakefromthemmoreincashvaluethanyoupaytheminwages;butyoucansoorganizeyourbusinessthatitwillbefilledwiththeprincipleofadvancement,andsothateachemployeewhowishestodosomayadvancealittleeveryday.

Youcanmakeyourbusinessdoforyouremployeeswhatthisbookisdoingfor you.You can so conduct your business that itwill be a sort of ladder, bywhich every employeewhowill take the troublemay climb to riches himself;andgiventheopportunity,ifhewillnotdosoitisnotyourfault.

And finally, because you are to cause the creation of your riches fromFormless Substancewhich permeates all your environment, it does not followthattheyaretotakeshapefromtheatmosphereandcomeintobeingbeforeyoureyes.

Ifyouwantasewingmachine,forinstance,IdonotmeantotellyouthatyouaretoimpressthethoughtofasewingmachineonThinkingSubstanceuntilthemachineisformedwithouthands,intheroomwhereyousit,orelsewhere.Butifyouwantasewingmachine,holdthementalimageofitwiththemostpositivecertainty that it isbeingmade,or ison itswaytoyou.Afteronceforming thethought,havethemostabsoluteandunquestioningfaiththatthesewingmachineiscoming;neverthinkofit,orspeak,ofit,inanyotherwaythanasbeingsuretoarrive.Claimitasalreadyyours.

Itwill be brought to you by the power of the Supreme Intelligence, actingupon the minds of men. If you live in Maine, it may be that a man will bebroughtfromTexasorJapantoengageinsometransactionwhichwillresultinyourgettingwhatyouwant.

If so, thewholematterwill be asmuch to thatman's advantage as it is toyours.

DonotforgetforamomentthattheThinkingSubstanceisthroughall,inall,communicatingwithall,andcaninfluenceall.ThedesireofThinkingSubstanceforfullerlifeandbetterlivinghascausedthecreationofallthesewingmachinesalreadymade;anditcancausethecreationofmillionsmore,andwill,whenevermensetitinmotionbydesireandfaith,andbyactinginaCertainWay.

You can certainly have a sewing machine in your house; and it is just ascertainthatyoucanhaveanyotherthingorthingswhichyouwant,andwhichyouwillusefortheadvancementofyourownlifeandthelivesofothers.

You need not hesitate about asking largely; "it is your Father's pleasure togiveyouthekingdom,"saidJesus.

OriginalSubstancewantstoliveallthatispossibleinyou,andwantsyoutohaveallthatyoucanorwilluseforthelivingofthemostabundantlife.

If you fix uponyour consciousness the fact that the desire you feel for the

possessionof riches isonewith thedesireofOmnipotence formorecompleteexpression,yourfaithbecomesinvincible.

OnceIsawalittleboysittingatapiano,andvainlytryingtobringharmonyoutofthekeys;andIsawthathewasgrievedandprovokedbyhisinabilitytoplayrealmusic.Iaskedhimthecauseofhisvexation,andheanswered,"Icanfeelthemusicinme,butIcan'tmakemyhandsgoright."ThemusicinhimwastheURGEofOriginalSubstance, containingall thepossibilitiesof all life; allthatthereisofmusicwasseekingexpressionthroughthechild.

God, theOne Substance, is trying to live and do and enjoy things throughhumanity. He is saying "I want hands to build wonderful structures, to playdivineharmonies,topaintgloriouspictures;Iwantfeettorunmyerrands,eyestoseemybeauties, tonguestotellmightytruthsandtosingmarveloussongs,"andsoon.

Allthatthereisofpossibilityisseekingexpressionthroughmen.Godwantsthosewhocanplaymusictohavepianosandeveryotherinstrument,andtohavethemeanstocultivatetheirtalentstothefullestextent;Hewantsthosewhocanappreciate beauty to be able to surround themselveswith beautiful things;Hewants those who can discern truth to have every opportunity to travel andobserve;Hewantsthosewhocanappreciatedresstobebeautifullyclothed,andthosewhocanappreciategoodfoodtobeluxuriouslyfed.

Hewants all these things because it isHimself that enjoys and appreciatesthem;itisGodwhowantstoplay,andsing,andenjoybeauty,andproclaimtruthandwearfineclothes,andeatgoodfoods."itisGodthatworkethinyoutowillandtodo,"saidPaul.

The desire you feel for riches is the infinite, seeking to expressHimself inyouasHesoughttofindexpressioninthelittleboyatthepiano.

Soyouneednothesitatetoasklargely.YourpartistofocalizeandexpressthedesiretoGod.This is a difficult pointwithmost people; they retain something of the old

ideathatpovertyandself-sacrificearepleasingtoGod.Theylookuponpovertyas a part of the plan, a necessity of nature. They have the idea that God hasfinishedHiswork,andmadeallthatHecanmake,andthatthemajorityofmenmuststaypoorbecausethereisnotenoughtogoaround.Theyholdtosomuchofthiserroneousthoughtthattheyfeelashamedtoaskforwealth;theytrynottowant more than a very modest competence, just enough to make them fairlycomfortable.

Irecallnowthecaseofonestudentwhowastoldthathemustgetinmindaclearpictureofthethingshedesired,sothatthecreativethoughtofthemmightbeimpressedonFormlessSubstance.Hewasaverypoorman,livinginarented

house,andhavingonlywhatheearnedfromdaytoday;andhecouldnotgraspthefactthatallwealthwashis.So,afterthinkingthematterover,hedecidedthathemight reasonably ask for a new rug for the floor of his best room, and ananthracite coal stove to heat thehouseduring the coldweather.Following theinstructionsgiven in this book, heobtained these things in a fewmonths; andthen it dawned upon him that he had not asked enough.Hewent through thehouse in which he lived, and planned all the improvements he would like tomakeinit;hementallyaddedabaywindowhereandaroomthere,untilitwascompleteinhismindashisidealhome;andthenheplanneditsfurnishings.

Holding thewholepicture inhismind,hebegan living in theCertainWay,and moving toward what he wanted; and he owns the house now, and isrebuildingitaftertheformofhismentalimage.Andnow,withstilllargerfaith,heisgoingontogetgreaterthings.Ithasbeenuntohimaccordingtohisfaith,anditissowithyouandwithallofus.

Chapter7

THE illustrationsgiven in the lastchapterwillhaveconveyed to the reader

thefactthatthefirststeptowardgettingrichistoconveytheideaofyourwantstotheFormlessSubstance.

This is true,andyouwillsee that inorder todoso itbecomesnecessary torelateyourselftotheFormlessIntelligenceinaharmoniousway.

To secure this harmonious relation is a matter of such primary and vitalimportance that I shall give some space to its discussion here, and give youinstructions which, if you will follow them, will be certain to bring you intoperfectunityofmindwithGod.

Thewholeprocessofmentaladjustmentandatonementcanbesummedupinoneword,gratitude.

First, you believe that there is one Intelligent Substance, from which allthingsproceed;second,youbelievethatthisSubstancegivesyoueverythingyoudesire; and third, you relate yourself to it by a feeling of deep and profoundgratitude.

Many people who order their lives rightly in all other ways are kept inpovertybytheirlackofgratitude.HavingreceivedonegiftfromGod,theycutthewireswhichconnectthemwithHimbyfailingtomakeacknowledgment.

It is easy tounderstand that thenearerwe live to the sourceofwealth, themorewealthweshallreceive;anditiseasyalsotounderstandthatthesoulthatisalwaysgratefullivesinclosertouchwithGodthantheonewhichneverlooks

toHiminthankfulacknowledgment.The more gratefully we fix our minds on the Supreme when good things

cometous,themoregoodthingswewillreceive,andthemorerapidlytheywillcome; and the reason simply is that themental attitude of gratitude draws themindintoclosertouchwiththesourcefromwhichtheblessingscome.

Ifitisanewthoughttoyouthatgratitudebringsyourwholemindintocloserharmonywiththecreativeenergiesoftheuniverse,consideritwell,andyouwillseethatitistrue.Thegoodthingsyoualreadyhavehavecometoyoualongtheline of obedience to certain laws.Gratitudewill leadyourmindout along thewaysbywhichthingscome;anditwillkeepyouincloseharmonywithcreativethoughtandpreventyoufromfallingintocompetitivethought.

GratitudealonecankeepyoulookingtowardtheAll,andpreventyoufromfallingintotheerrorofthinkingofthesupplyaslimited;andtodothatwouldbefataltoyourhopes.

There is aLawofGratitude, and it is absolutely necessary that you shouldobservethelaw,ifyouaretogettheresultsyouseek.

The law of gratitude is the natural principle that action and reaction arealwaysequal,andinoppositedirections.

ThegratefuloutreachingofyourmindinthankfulpraisetotheSupremeisaliberation or expenditure of force; it cannot fail to reach that to which itaddressed,andthereactionisaninstantaneousmovementtowardsyou.

"DrawnighuntoGod,andHewilldrawnighuntoyou."Thatisastatementofpsychologicaltruth.

And if your gratitude is strong and constant, the reaction in FormlessSubstancewillbestrongandcontinuous;themovementofthethingsyouwantwillbealwaystowardyou.NoticethegratefulattitudethatJesustook;howHealways seems tobe saying, "I thankThee,Father, thatThouhearestme."Youcannotexercisemuchpowerwithoutgratitude;foritisgratitudethatkeepsyouconnectedwithPower.

But the value of gratitude does not consist solely in getting you moreblessingsinthefuture.Withoutgratitudeyoucannotlongkeepfromdissatisfiedthoughtregardingthingsastheyare.

Themomentyoupermityourmindtodwellwithdissatisfactionuponthingsas theyare,youbegin to loseground.Youfixattentionuponthecommon, theordinary, thepoor,andthesqualidandmean;andyourmindtakes theformofthese things. Then you will transmit these forms or mental images to theFormless,andthecommon,thepoor,thesqualid,andmeanwillcometoyou.

Topermityourmindtodwellupontheinferior is tobecomeinferiorandtosurroundyourselfwithinferiorthings.

On theother hand, to fix your attentionon thebest is to surroundyourselfwiththebest,andtobecomethebest.

TheCreativePowerwithinusmakesus into the imageof that towhichwegiveour attention.WeareThinkingSubstance, and thinking substance alwaystakestheformofthatwhichitthinksabout.

The grateful mind is constantly fixed upon the best; therefore it tends tobecomethebest;ittakestheformorcharacterofthebest,andwillreceivethebest.

Also, faith isbornofgratitude.Thegratefulmindcontinuallyexpectsgoodthings,andexpectationbecomesfaith.Thereactionofgratitudeuponone'sownmindproducesfaith;andeveryoutgoingwaveofgratefulthanksgivingincreasesfaith.Hewhohasno feelingofgratitudecannot longretaina living faith;andwithoutalivingfaithyoucannotgetrichbythecreativemethod,asweshallseeinthefollowingchapters.

It is necessary, then, to cultivate the habit of being grateful for every goodthingthatcomestoyou;andtogivethankscontinuously.

And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you shouldincludeallthingsinyourgratitude.

Do not waste time thinking or talking about the shortcomings or wrongactionsofplutocratsortrustmagnates.Theirorganizationoftheworldhasmadeyouropportunity;allyougetreallycomestoyoubecauseofthem.

Do not rage against, corrupt politicians; if it were not for politicians weshouldfallintoanarchy,andyouropportunitywouldbegreatlylessened.

Godhasworkedalongtimeandverypatientlytobringusuptowhereweareinindustryandgovernment,andHeisgoingrightonwithHiswork.ThereisnottheleastdoubtthatHewilldoawaywithplutocrats,trustmagnates,captainsofindustry, and politicians as soon as they can be spared; but in the meantime,beholdtheyareallverygood.

Rememberthattheyareallhelpingtoarrangethelinesoftransmissionalongwhichyourricheswillcometoyou,andbegratefultothemall.Thiswillbringyou into harmonious relations with the good in everything, and the good ineverythingwillmovetowardyou.

Chapter8

TURNbacktochapter6andreadagainthestoryofthemanwhoformeda

mentalimageofhishouse,andyouwillgetafairideaoftheinitialsteptowardgettingrich.Youmustformaclearanddefinitementalpictureofwhatyouwant;

youcannottransmitanideaunlessyouhaveityourself.Youmust have it before you can give it; andmany people fail to impress

Thinking Substance because they have themselves only a vague and mistyconceptofthethingstheywanttodo,tohave,ortobecome.Itisnotenoughthatyoushouldhaveageneraldesire forwealth"todogoodwith";everybodyhasthatdesire.

Itisnotenoughthatyoushouldhaveawishtotravel,seethings,livemore,etc. Everybody has those desires also. If you were going to send a wirelessmessagetoafriend,youwouldnotsendthelettersofthealphabetintheirorder,and let him construct the message for himself; nor would you take words atrandom from the dictionary. You would send a coherent sentence; one whichmeant something. When you try to impress your wants upon Substance,remember that itmust be done by a coherent statement; youmust knowwhatyouwant,andbedefinite.Youcannevergetrich,orstartthecreativepowerintoaction,bysendingoutunformedlongingsandvaguedesires.

Gooveryourdesires justas themanIhavedescribedwentoverhishouse;seejustwhatyouwant,andgetaclearmentalpictureofitasyouwishittolookwhenyougetit.

Thatclearmentalpictureyoumusthavecontinuallyinmind,asthesailorhasinmind theport towardwhichhe is sailing theship;youmustkeepyour facetowarditallthetime.Youmustnomorelosesightofitthanthesteersmanlosessightofthecompass.

Itisnotnecessarytotakeexercisesinconcentration,nortosetapartspecialtimes forprayer andaffirmation,nor to "go into the silence,"nor todooccultstunts of anykind.There things arewell enough, but all youneed is to knowwhatyouwant,andtowantitbadlyenoughsothatitwillstayinyourthoughts.

Spendasmuchofyourleisuretimeasyoucanincontemplatingyourpicture,butnooneneedstotakeexercisestoconcentratehismindonathingwhichhereallywants;itisthethingsyoudonotreallycareaboutwhichrequireefforttofixyourattentionuponthem.

Andunlessyoureallywanttogetrich,sothatthedesireisstrongenoughtoholdyourthoughtsdirectedtothepurposeasthemagneticpoleholdstheneedleof the compass, it will hardly be worth while for you to try to carry out theinstructionsgiveninthisbook.

Themethodshereinsetforthareforpeoplewhosedesireforrichesisstrongenoughtoovercomementallazinessandtheloveofease,andmakethemwork.

Themoreclear anddefiniteyoumakeyourpicture then, and themoreyoudwelluponit,bringingoutallitsdelightfuldetails,thestrongeryourdesirewillbe; and the stronger your desire, the easier itwill be to hold yourmind fixed

uponthepictureofwhatyouwant.Somethingmoreisnecessary,however,thanmerelytoseethepictureclearly.

Ifthatisallyoudo,youareonlyadreamer,andwillhavelittleornopowerforaccomplishment.

Behindyourclearvisionmustbe thepurposetorealize it; tobringitout intangibleexpression.

Andbehind thispurposemustbean invincibleandunwaveringFAITHthatthe thing is already yours; that it is "at hand" and you have only to takepossessionofit.

Liveinthenewhouse,mentally,untilittakesformaroundyouphysically.Inthementalrealm,enteratonceintofullenjoymentofthethingsyouwant.

"Whatsoeverthingsyeaskforwhenyepray,believethatyereceivethem,andyeshallhavethem,"saidJesus.

Seethethingsyouwantasiftheywereactuallyaroundyouallthetime;seeyourselfasowningandusingthem.Makeuseoftheminimaginationjustasyouwillusethemwhentheyareyourtangiblepossessions.Dwelluponyourmentalpicture until it is clear and distinct, and then take the Mental Attitude ofOwnershiptowardeverythinginthatpicture.Takepossessionofit, inmind,inthe full faith that it is actually yours. Hold to this mental ownership; do notwaiverforaninstantinthefaiththatitisreal.

Andrememberwhatwassaidinaproceedingchapteraboutgratitude;beasthankfulforitallthetimeasyouexpecttobewhenithastakenform.Themanwho can sincerely thank God for the things which as yet he owns only inimagination, has real faith. He will get rich; he will cause the creation ofwhatsoeverhewants.

Youdonotneedtoprayrepeatedlyforthingsyouwant;itisnotnecessarytotellGodaboutiteveryday.

"Usenotvainrepetitionsastheheathendo,"saidJesussaidtohispupils,"foryourFatherknoweththeyehaveneedofthesethingsbeforeyeaskHim."

Yourpartistointelligentlyformulateyourdesireforthethingswhichmakeforalargerlife,andtogetthesedesirearrangedintoacoherentwhole;andthentoimpressthisWholeDesireupontheFormlessSubstance,whichhasthepowerandthewilltobringyouwhatyouwant.

Youdonotmakethisimpressionbyrepeatingstringsofwords;youmakeitbyholdingthevisionwithunshakablePURPOSEtoattainit,andwithsteadfastFAITHthatyoudoattainit.

Theanswertoprayerisnotaccordingtoyourfaithwhileyouaretalking,butaccordingtoyourfaithwhileyouareworking.

You cannot impress themind of God by having a special Sabbath day set

apart to tellHimwhatyouwant,and the forgettingHimduring the restof theweek.Youcannot impressHimbyhaving specialhours togo intoyourclosetandpray,ifyouthendismissthematterfromyourminduntilthehourofprayercomesagain.

Oral prayer is well enough, and has its effect, especially upon yourself, inclarifying your vision and strengthening your faith; but it is not your oralpetitionswhichgetyouwhatyouwant. Inorder toget richyoudonotneeda"sweet hour of prayer"; you need to "praywithout ceasing."And by prayer Imeanholdingsteadilytoyourvision,withthepurposetocauseitscreationintosolidform,andthefaiththatyouaredoingso.

"Believethatyereceivethem."The whole matter turns on receiving, once you have clearly formed your

vision.Whenyouhaveformedit,itiswelltomakeanoralstatement,addressingthe Supreme in reverent prayer; and from that moment you must, in mind,receivewhatyouaskfor.Live in thenewhouse;wear thefineclothes; ride inthe automobile; go on the journey, and confidently plan for greater journeys.Thinkandspeakofallthethingsyouhaveaskedforintermsofactualpresentownership. Imagine an environment, and a financial condition exactly as youwant them, and live all the time in that imaginary environment and financialcondition.Mind,however,thatyoudonotdothisasameredreamerandcastlebuilder; hold to the FAITH that the imaginary is being realized, and to thePURPOSEtorealizeit.Rememberthatitisfaithandpurposeintheuseoftheimaginationwhichmake the difference between the scientist and the dreamer.Andhavinglearnedthisfact,itisherethatyoumustlearntheproperuseoftheWill.

Chapter9

TOsetaboutgettingrichinascientificway,youdonottrytoapplyyourwillpowertoanythingoutsideofyourself.Youhavenorighttodoso,anyway.Itiswrongtoapplyyourwilltoothermenandwomen,inordertogetthemtodowhatyouwishdone.

Itisasflagrantlywrongtocoercepeoplebymentalpowerasit istocoercethembyphysicalpower.Ifcompellingpeoplebyphysicalforcetodothingsforyou reduces them to slavery, compelling them bymentalmeans accomplishesexactlythesamething;theonlydifferenceisinmethods.Iftakingthingsfrompeople by physical force is robbery, them taking things by mental force is

robberyalso;thereisnodifferenceinprinciple.Youhavenorighttouseyourwillpoweruponanotherperson,even"forhis

owngood";foryoudonotknowwhatisforhisgood.Thescienceofgettingrichdoesnot requireyou to applypoweror force to anyotherperson, in anywaywhatsoever.Thereisnottheslightestnecessityfordoingso;indeed,anyattempttouseyourwilluponotherswillonlytendtodefeatyourpurpose.

Youdonotneed toapplyyourwill to things, inorder tocompel them tocometoyou.That would simply be trying to coerce God, and would be foolish anduseless,aswellasirreverent.YoudonothavetocompelGodtogiveyougoodthings,anymorethanyouhavetouseyourwillpowertomakethesunrise.Youdonothavetouseyourwillpowertoconqueranunfriendlydeity,ortomakestubbornandrebelliousforcesdoyourbidding.Substance is friendly to you, and ismore anxious to give youwhat youwantthanyouaretogetit.Togetrich,youneedonlytouseyourwillpoweruponyourself.

Whenyouknowwhattothinkanddo,thenyoumustuseyourwilltocompelyourselftothinkanddotherightthings.Thatisthelegitimateuseofthewillingettingwhatyouwant--touseitinholdingyourselftotherightcourse.UseyourwilltokeepyourselfthinkingandactingintheCertainWay.

Donottrytoprojectyourwill,oryourthoughts,oryourmindoutintospace,to"act"onthingsorpeople.

Keepyourmindathome;itcanaccomplishmoretherethanelsewhere.Useyourmind to formamental imageofwhatyouwant, and tohold that

visionwithfaithandpurpose;anduseyourwill tokeepyourmindworkingintheRightWay.

Themoresteadyandcontinuousyourfaithandpurpose,themorerapidlyyouwill get rich, because you will make only POSITIVE impressions uponSubstance;andyouwillnotneutralizeoroffsetthembynegativeimpressions.

Thepictureofyourdesires,heldwith faithandpurpose, is takenupby theFormless, andpermeates it togreatdistances-throughout theuniverse, for all Iknow.

As this impression spreads, all things are setmoving toward its realization;every living thing, every inanimate thing, and the things yet uncreated, arestirred towardbringing intobeing thatwhichyouwant.All forcebegins tobeexerted in that direction; all things begin tomove toward you. Theminds ofpeople, everywhere, are influenced toward doing the things necessary to thefulfillingofyourdesires;andtheyworkforyou,unconsciously.

ButyoucancheckallthisbystartinganegativeimpressionintheFormlessSubstance.Doubtorunbeliefisascertaintostartamovementawayfromyouasfaithandpurposearetostartonetowardyou.Itisbynotunderstandingthisthatmostpeoplewhotrytomakeuseof"mentalscience"ingettingrichmaketheirfailure.Everyhourandmomentyouspend ingivingheed todoubtsandfears,everyhouryouspendinworry,everyhour inwhichyoursoul ispossessedbyunbelief, sets a current away from you in the whole domain of intelligentSubstance. All the promises are unto them that believe, and unto them only.NoticehowinsistentJesuswasuponthispointofbelief;andnowyouknowthereasonwhy.

Sincebeliefisallimportant,itbehoovesyoutoguardyourthoughts;andasyourbeliefswillbeshapedtoaverygreatextentbythethingsyouobserveandthinkabout,itisimportantthatyoushouldcommandyourattention.

Andhere thewill comes intouse; for it is byyourwill that youdetermineuponwhatthingsyourattentionshallbefixed.

Ifyouwanttobecomerich,youmustnotmakeastudyofpoverty.Thingsarenotbroughtintobeingbythinkingabouttheiropposites.Healthis

never to be attained by studying disease and thinking about disease;righteousnessisnottobepromotedbystudyingsinandthinkingaboutsin;andnooneevergotrichbystudyingpovertyandthinkingaboutpoverty.

Medicineasascienceofdiseasehasincreaseddisease;religionasascienceofsinhaspromotedsin,andeconomicsasastudyofpovertywillfilltheworldwithwretchednessandwant.

Donot talkaboutpoverty;donot investigate it,orconcernyourselfwith it.Nevermindwhatitscausesare;youhavenothingtodowiththem.

Whatconcernsyouisthecure.Donotspendyourtimeincharitablework,orcharitymovements;allcharity

onlytendstoperpetuatethewretchednessitaimstoeradicate.Idonotsaythatyoushouldbehardheartedorunkind,andrefusetohearthe

cryofneed;butyoumustnottrytoeradicatepovertyinanyoftheconventionalways. Put poverty behind you, and put all that pertains to it behind you, and"makegood."

Getrich;thatisthebestwayyoucanhelpthepoor.Andyoucannotholdthementalimagewhichistomakeyourichifyoufill

yourmindwith pictures of poverty. Do not read books or papers which givecircumstantial accounts of the wretchedness of the tenement dwellers, of thehorrors of child labor, and so on.Donot read anythingwhich fills yourmindwithgloomyimagesofwantandsuffering.

Youcannothelpthepoorintheleastbyknowingaboutthesethings;andthe

wide-spreadknowledgeofthemdoesnottendatalltodoawaywithpoverty.Whattendstodoawaywithpovertyisnotthegettingofpicturesofpoverty

intoyourmind,butgettingpicturesofwealthintothemindsofthepoor.Youarenotdesertingthepoorintheirmiserywhenyourefusetoallowyour

mindtobefilledwithpicturesofthatmisery.Povertycanbedoneawaywith,notbyincreasingthenumberofwell todo

peoplewho think about poverty, but by increasing the number of poor peoplewhopurposewithfaithtogetrich.

Thepoordonotneedcharity;theyneedinspiration.Charityonlysendsthema loaf of bread to keep them alive in their wretchedness, or gives them anentertainmenttomakethemforgetforanhourortwo;butinspirationwillcausethem to rise out of theirmisery. If youwant to help the poor, demonstrate tothemthattheycanbecomerich;proveitbygettingrichyourself.

Theonlywayinwhichpovertywilleverbebanishedfromthisworld isbygetting a large and constantly increasing number of people to practice theteachingsofthisbook.

Peoplemustbetaughttobecomerichbycreation,notbycompetition.Everymanwhobecomes rich by competition throws downbehind him the

ladderbywhichherises,andkeepsothersdown;buteverymanwhogetsrichbycreationopensawayforthousandstofollowhim,andinspiresthemtodoso.

Youarenotshowinghardnessofheartoranunfeelingdispositionwhenyourefusetopitypoverty,seepoverty,readaboutpoverty,orthinkortalkaboutit,ortolistentothosewhodotalkaboutit.UseyourwillpowertokeepyourmindOFFthesubjectofpoverty,andtokeepitfixedwithfaithandpurposeONthevisionofwhatyouwant.

Chapter10

YOU cannot retain a true and clear vision of wealth if you are constantly

turning your attention to opposing pictures, whether they be external orimaginary.

Donottellofyourpasttroublesofafinancialnature,ifyouhavehadthem,do not think of them at all.Do not tell of the poverty of your parents, or thehardships of your early life; to do any of these things is to mentally classyourself with the poor for the time being, and it will certainly check themovementofthingsinyourdirection.

"Letthedeadburytheirdead,"asJesussaid.Putpovertyandallthingsthatpertaintopovertycompletelybehindyou.

Youhaveacceptedacertaintheoryoftheuniverseasbeingcorrect,andarerestingallyourhopesofhappinessonitsbeingcorrect;andwhatcanyougainbygivingheedtoconflictingtheories?

Donotreadreligiousbookswhichtellyouthattheworldissooncomingtoanend;anddonotreadthewritingofmuck-rakersandpessimisticphilosopherswhotellyouthatitisgoingtothedevil.

Theworldisnotgoingtothedevil;itisgoingtoGod.ItiswonderfulBecoming.True, there may be a good many things in existing conditions which are

disagreeable; but what is the use of studying them when they are certainlypassingaway,andwhenthestudyofthemonlytendstochecktheirpassingandkeep them with us? Why give time and attention to things which are beingremoved by evolutionary growth,when you can hasten their removal only bypromotingtheevolutionarygrowthasfarasyourpartofitgoes?

Nomatterhowhorribleinseemingmaybetheconditionsincertaincountries,sections, or places, you waste your time and destroy your own chances byconsideringthem.

Youshouldinterestyourselfintheworld'sbecomingrich.Think of the riches the world is coming into, instead of the poverty it is

growingoutof;andbearinmindthattheonlywayinwhichyoucanassisttheworldingrowingrichisbygrowingrichyourselfthroughthecreativemethod--notthecompetitiveone.

Giveyourattentionwhollytoriches;ignorepoverty.Wheneveryouthinkorspeakofthosewhoarepoor,thinkandspeakofthem

asthosewhoarebecomingrich;asthosewhoaretobecongratulatedratherthanpitied.Thentheyandotherswillcatchtheinspiration,andbegintosearchforthewayout.

BecauseIsaythatyouaretogiveyourwholetimeandmindandthoughttoriches,itdoesnotfollowthatyouaretobesordidormean.

Tobecomereallyrichisthenoblestaimyoucanhaveinlife,foritincludeseverythingelse.Onthecompetitiveplane, thestruggle toget rich isaGodlessscrambleforpoweroverothermen;butwhenwecomeintothecreativemind,allthisischanged.

All that ispossible in thewayofgreatnessandsoulunfoldment,of serviceandloftyendeavor,comesbywayofgettingrich;allismadepossiblebytheuseofthings.

If you lack for physical health, you will find that the attainment of it isconditionalonyourgettingrich.

Only those who are emancipated from financial worry, and who have the

meanstoliveacare-freeexistenceandfollowhygienicpractices,canhaveandretainhealth.

Moral and spiritual greatness is possible only to those who are above thecompetitivebattle for existence; andonly thosewhoarebecoming richon theplaneofcreativethoughtarefreefromthedegradinginfluencesofcompetition.If your heart is set on domestic happiness, remember that love flourishes bestwherethereisrefinement,ahighlevelofthought,andfreedomfromcorruptinginfluences; and these are to be found only where riches are attained by theexerciseofcreativethought,withoutstrifeorrivalry.

Youcanaimatnothingsogreatornoble,Irepeat,astobecomerich;andyoumustfixyourattentionuponyourmentalpictureofriches,totheexclusionofallthatmaytendtodimorobscurethevision.

You must learn to see the underlying TRUTH in all things; you must seebeneathallseeminglywrongconditionstheGreatOneLifeevermovingforwardtowardfullerexpressionandmorecompletehappiness.

Itisthetruththatthereisnosuchthingaspoverty;thatthereisonlywealth.Somepeopleremaininpovertybecausetheyareignorantofthefactthatthere

iswealth for them; and these can best be taught by showing them theway toaffluenceinyourownpersonandpractice.

Othersarepoorbecause,whiletheyfeelthatthereisawayout,theyaretoointellectually indolent toput forth themental effortnecessary to find thatwayandbytravel it;andfor these theverybest thingyoucandois toarouse theirdesirebyshowingthemthehappinessthatcomesfrombeingrightlyrich.

Others still arepoorbecause,while theyhave somenotionof science, theyhave become so swamped and lost in the maze of metaphysical and occulttheoriesthattheydonotknowwhichroadtotake.Theytryamixtureofmanysystemsandfailinall.Forthese,again,theverybestthing,todoistoshowtherightwayinyourownpersonandpractice;anounceofdoingthingsisworthapoundoftheorizing.

Theverybest thingyoucandofor thewholeworld is tomake themostofyourself.

YoucanserveGodandman innomoreeffectiveway thanbygetting rich;thatis,ifyougetrichbythecreativemethodandnotbythecompetitiveone.

Another thing.Weassert that this bookgives indetail theprinciples of thescienceofgettingrich;andifthatistrue,youdonotneedtoreadanyotherbookuponthesubject.Thismaysoundnarrowandegotistical,butconsider: thereisno more scientific method of computation in mathematics than by addition,subtraction,multiplication,anddivision;noothermethodispossible.Therecanbebutoneshortestdistancebetweentwopoints.Thereisonlyonewaytothink

scientifically, and that is to think in theway that leadsby themost direct andsimple route to thegoal.Nomanhasyet formulatedabrieferor lesscomplex"system"thantheonesetforthherein;ithasbeenstrippedofallnon-essentials.Whenyou commenceon this, lay all others aside; put themout of yourmindaltogether.

Readthisbookeveryday;keepitwithyou;commitittomemory,anddonotthink about other "systems" and theories. If you do, you will begin to havedoubts, and to be uncertain andwavering in your thought; and then youwillbegintomakefailures.

Afteryouhavemadegoodandbecomerich,youmaystudyothersystemsasmuchasyouplease;butuntilyouarequitesurethatyouhavegainedwhatyouwant, do not read anything on this line but this book, unless it be the authorsmentionedinthePreface.

And readonly themostoptimistic commentson theworld's news; those inharmonywithyourpicture.

Also, postpone your investigations into the occult. Do not dabble intheosophy, Spiritualism, or kindred studies. It is very likely that the dead stilllive,andarenear;butiftheyare,letthemalone;mindyourownbusiness.

Whereverthespiritsofthedeadmaybe,theyhavetheirownworktodo,andtheirownproblems to solve; andwehaveno right to interferewith them.Wecannothelpthem,andit isverydoubtfulwhethertheycanhelpus,orwhetherwehaveanyright to trespassupontheir timeif theycan.Let thedeadandthehereafteralone,andsolveyourownproblem;getrich.Ifyoubegintomixwiththe occult, you will start mental cross-currents which will surely bring yourhopestoshipwreck.Now,thisandtheprecedingchaptershavebroughtustothefollowingstatementofbasicfacts:There is a thinking stuff fromwhich all things aremade, andwhich, in its

originalstate,permeates,penetrates,andfillstheinterspacesoftheuniverse.Athought,inthissubstance,Producesthethingthatisimagedbythethought.Man can form things in his thought, and, by impressing his thought upon

formlesssubstance,cancausethethinghethinksabouttobecreated.Inordertodothis,manmustpassfromthecompetitivetothecreativemind;

hemustformaclearmentalpictureofthethingshewants,andholdthispicturein his thoughts with the fixed PURPOSE to get what he wants, and theunwaveringFAITHthathedoesgetwhathewants,closinghismindagainstallthatmaytendtoshakehispurpose,dimhisvision,orquenchhisfaith.

And in addition to all this,we shallnowsee thathemust live andact in aCertainWay.

Chapter11

THOUGHT is the creative power, or the impelling forcewhich causes the

creativepowertoact;thinkinginaCertainWaywillbringrichestoyou,butyoumustnotrelyuponthoughtalone,payingnoattentiontopersonalaction.Thatisthe rock upon which many otherwise scientific metaphysical thinkers meetshipwreck--thefailuretoconnectthoughtwithpersonalaction.

We have not yet reached the stage of development, even supposing such astagetobepossible,inwhichmancancreatedirectlyfromFormlessSubstancewithoutnature'sprocessesortheworkofhumanhands;manmustnotonlythink,buthispersonalactionmustsupplementhisthought.

By thought you can cause the gold in the hearts of the mountains to beimpelled toward you; but it will not mine itself, refine itself, coin itself intodouble eagles, and come rolling along the roads seeking its way into yourpocket.

Under the impelling power of the Supreme Spirit, men's affairs will be soorderedthatsomeonewillbeledtominethegoldforyou;othermen'sbusinesstransactionswillbesodirectedthatthegoldwillbebroughttowardyou,andyoumust so arrange your own business affairs that youmay be able to receive itwhen it comes to you.Your thoughtmakes all things, animate and inanimate,worktobringyouwhatyouwant;butyourpersonalactivitymustbesuchthatyoucanrightlyreceivewhatyouwantwhenitreachesyou.Youarenottotakeitascharity,nor to steal it;youmustgiveeverymanmore inusevalue thanhegivesyouincashvalue.

Thescientificuseof thoughtconsists in formingaclearanddistinctmentalimageofwhatyouwant;inholdingfasttothepurposetogetwhatyouwant;andinrealizingwithgratefulfaiththatyoudogetwhatyouwant.

Donottryto'project'yourthoughtinanymysteriousoroccultway,withtheidea of having it go out and do things for you; that iswasted effort, andwillweakenyourpowertothinkwithsanity.

The action of thought in getting rich is fully explained in the precedingchapters;your faithandpurposepositively impressyourvisionuponFormlessSubstance, which has THE SAME DESIRE FOR MORE LIFE THAT YOUHAVE;andthisvision,receivedfromyou,setsallthecreativeforcesatworkINANDTHROUGHTHEIRREGULARCHANNELSOFACTION,butdirectedtowardyou.

Itisnotyourparttoguideorsupervisethecreativeprocess;allyouhavetodowith that is to retainyour vision, stick to your purpose, andmaintainyourfaithandgratitude.

ButyoumustactinaCertainWay,sothatyoucanappropriatewhatisyourswhenitcomestoyou;sothatyoucanmeetthethingsyouhaveinyourpicture,andputthemintheirproperplacesastheyarrive.

Youcanreallyseethetruthofthis.Whenthingsreachyou,theywillbeinthehandsofothermen,whowillaskanequivalentforthem.

Andyoucanonlygetwhatisyoursbygivingtheothermanwhatishis.Your pocketbook is not going to be transformed into a Fortunata's purse,

whichshallbealwaysfullofmoneywithouteffortonyourpart.This is the crucial point in the science of getting rich; right here, where

thought and personal action must be combined. There are very many peoplewho, consciously or unconsciously, set the creative forces in action by thestrengthandpersistenceof theirdesires,butwhoremainpoorbecause theydonotprovideforthereceptionofthethingtheywantwhenitcomes.

Bythought,thethingyouwantisbroughttoyou;byactionyoureceiveit.Whatever your action is to be, it is evident that you must act NOW. You

cannotact in thepast,and it isessential to theclearnessofyourmentalvisionthatyoudismissthepastfromyourmind.Youcannotact inthefuture,for thefutureisnothereyet.Andyoucannottellhowyouwillwanttoactinanyfuturecontingencyuntilthatcontingencyhasarrived.

Becauseyouarenot in therightbusiness,or therightenvironmentnow,donotthinkthatyoumustpostponeactionuntilyougetintotherightbusinessorenvironment.Anddonotspendtimeinthepresenttakingthoughtastothebestcourse in possible future emergencies; have faith in your ability to meet anyemergencywhenitarrives.

Ifyouactinthepresentwithyourmindonthefuture,yourpresentactionwillbewithadividedmind,andwillnotbeeffective.

Putyourwholemindintopresentaction.Donotgiveyourcreative impulse toOriginalSubstance,and thensitdown

andwaitforresults;ifyoudo,youwillnevergetthem.Actnow.Thereisneveranytimebutnow,andthereneverwillbeanytimebutnow.Ifyouareevertobegintomakereadyforthereceptionofwhatyouwant,youmustbeginnow.

Andyouraction,whateveritis,mustmostlikelybeinyourpresentbusinessor employment, and must be upon the persons and things in your presentenvironment.

Youcannotactwhereyouarenot;youcannotactwhereyouhavebeen,andyoucannotactwhereyouaregoingtobe;youcanactonlywhereyouare.

Donotbotheras towhetheryesterday'sworkwaswelldoneor illdone;doto-day'sworkwell.Donottrytodotomorrow'sworknow;therewillbeplentyoftimetodothatwhenyougettoit.

Donottry,byoccultormysticalmeans,toactonpeopleorthingsthatareoutofyourreach.Donotwait forachangeofenvironment,beforeyouact;getachangeofenvironmentbyaction.You can so act upon the environment inwhich you are now, as to causeyourselftobetransferredtoabetterenvironment.

Holdwithfaithandpurposethevisionofyourselfinthebetterenvironment,but act upon your present environment with all your heart, andwith all yourstrength,andwithallyourmind.

Donot spend any time in day dreamingor castle building; hold to the onevisionofwhatyouwant,andactNOW.

Donotcastaboutseekingsomenewthingtodo,orsomestrange,unusual,orremarkable action to performas a first step towardgetting rich. It is probablethatyouractions,at least for some time tocome,willbe thoseyouhavebeenperforming for some time past; but you are to begin now to perform theseactionsintheCertainWay,whichwillsurelymakeyourich.

Ifyouareengagedinsomebusiness,andfeel that it isnottherightoneforyou,donotwaituntilyougetintotherightbusinessbeforeyoubegintoact.

Donotfeeldiscouraged,orsitdownandlamentbecauseyouaremisplaced.Nomanwaseversomisplacedbutthathecouldnotfindtherightplace,andnomaneverbecameso involved in thewrongbusinessbut thathecouldget intotherightbusiness.

Holdthevisionofyourselfintherightbusiness,withthepurposetogetintoit,andthefaiththatyouwillgetintoit,andaregettingintoit;butACTinyourpresentbusiness.Useyourpresentbusinessasthemeansofgettingabetterone,anduseyourpresentenvironmentasthemeansofgettingintoabetterone.Yourvision of the right business, if held with faith and purpose, will cause theSupremetomovetherightbusinesstowardyou;andyouraction,ifperformedintheCertainWay,willcauseyoutomovetowardthebusiness.

Ifyouareanemployee,orwageearner,andfeelthatyoumustchangeplacesinordertogetwhatyouwant,donot'project"yourthoughtintospaceandrelyuponittogetyouanotherjob.Itwillprobablyfailtodoso.

Holdthevisionofyourselfinthejobyouwant,whileyouACTwithfaithandpurposeonthejobyouhave,andyouwillcertainlygetthejobyouwant.

Yourvisionandfaithwillsetthecreativeforceinmotiontobringit towardyou,andyouractionwillcausetheforcesinyourownenvironmenttomoveyou

towardtheplaceyouwant.Inclosingthischapter,wewilladdanotherstatementtooursyllabus:--There is a thinking stuff fromwhich all things aremade, andwhich, in its

originalstate,permeates,penetrates,andfillstheinterspacesoftheuniverse.Athought,inthissubstance,Producesthethingthatisimagedbythethought.Man can form things in his thought, and, by impressing his thought upon

formlesssubstance,cancausethethinghethinksabouttobecreated.Inordertodothis,manmustpassfromthecompetitivetothecreativemind;

hemustformaclearmentalpictureofthethingshewants,andholdthispicturein his thoughts with the fixed PURPOSE to get what he wants, and theunwaveringFAITHthathedoesgetwhathewants,closinghismindtoallthatmaytendtoshakehispurpose,dimhisvision,orquenchhisfaith.

Chapter12

YOUmustuseyourthoughtasdirectedinpreviouschapters,andbegintodo

whatyoucandowhereyouare;andyoumustdoALLthatyoucandowhereyouare.

Youcanadvanceonlybybeinglargerthanyourpresentplace;andnomanislarger thanhispresentplacewho leavesundoneanyof theworkpertaining tothatplace.

Theworldisadvancedonlybythosewhomorethanfilltheirpresentplaces.Ifnomanquitefilledhispresentplace,youcanseethattheremustbeagoing

backwardineverything.Thosewhodonotquitefilltheirpresentplacesaredeadweightuponsociety,government,commerce,andindustry;theymustbecarriedalongbyothersatagreatexpense.Theprogressoftheworldisretardedonlybythosewhodonotfilltheplacestheyareholding;theybelongtoaformerageanda lower stage or plane of life, and their tendency is toward degeneration. Nosocietycouldadvanceifeverymanwassmallerthanhisplace;socialevolutionis guided by the law of physical and mental evolution. In the animal world,evolutioniscausedbyexcessoflife.

Whenanorganismhasmorelifethancanbeexpressedinthefunctionsofitsown plane, it develops the organs of a higher plane, and a new species isoriginated.

There never would have been new species had there not been organismswhichmore thanfilled theirplaces.The law isexactly thesameforyou;yourgettingrichdependsuponyourapplyingthisprincipletoyourownaffairs.

Everydayiseitherasuccessfuldayoradayoffailure;anditisthesuccessful

dayswhichgetyouwhatyouwant. Ifeveryday isa failure,youcannevergetrich;whileifeverydayisasuccess,youcannotfailtogetrich.

Ifthereissomethingthatmaybedonetoday,andyoudonotdoit,youhavefailed in so far as that thing is concerned; and theconsequencesmaybemoredisastrousthanyouimagine.

Youcannotforeseetheresultsofeventhemosttrivialact;youdonotknowtheworkingsofall the forces thathavebeensetmoving inyourbehalf.Muchmay be depending on your doing some simple act; it may be the very thingwhich is to open the door of opportunity to very great possibilities. You canneverknowallthecombinationswhichSupremeIntelligenceismakingforyouintheworldofthingsandofthingsandofhumanaffairs;yourneglectorfailuretodosomesmallthingmaycausealongdelayingettingwhatyouwant.

Do,everyday,ALLthatcanbedonethatday.There is, however, a limitation or qualification of the above that youmust

takeintoaccount.Youarenottooverwork,nortorushblindlyintoyourbusinessintheeffortto

dothegreatestpossiblenumberofthingsintheshortestpossibletime.Youarenottotrytodotomorrow'sworktoday,nortodoaweek'sworkina

day.It is really not the number of things you do, but theEFFICIENCYof each

separateactionthatcounts.Everyactis,initself,eitherasuccessorafailure.Everyactis,initself,eithereffectiveorinefficient.Every inefficient act is a failure, and if you spend your life in doinginefficientacts,yourwholelifewillbeafailure.Themore thingsyoudo, theworseforyou, ifallyouractsare inefficientones.

Ontheotherhand,everyefficientactisasuccessinitself,andifeveryactofyourlifeisanefficientone,yourwholelifeMUSTbeasuccess.

Thecauseof failure isdoing toomany things inan inefficientmanner, andnotdoingenoughthingsinanefficientmanner.

Youwill see that it is a self-evident proposition that if you do not do anyinefficient acts, and if you do a sufficient number of efficient acts, you willbecomerich.If,now,itispossibleforyoutomakeeachactanefficientone,yousee again that the getting of riches is reduced to an exact science, likemathematics.

Thematterturns,then,onthequestionswhetheryoucanmakeeachseparateactasuccessinitself.Andthisyoucancertainlydo.

Youcanmakeeachactasuccess,becauseALLPowerisworkingwithyou;

andALLPowercannotfail.Power isatyourservice;and tomakeeachactefficientyouhaveonly toputpowerintoit.Everyactioniseitherstrongorweak;andwheneveryoneisstrong,youareactingintheCertainWaywhichwillmakeyourich.

Everyactcanbemadestrongandefficientbyholdingyourvisionwhileyouaredoingit,andputtingthewholepowerofyourFAITHandPURPOSEintoit.

Itisatthispointthatthepeoplefailwhoseparatementalpowerfrompersonalaction.Theyusethepowerofmindinoneplaceandatonetime,andtheyactinanotherplaceandatanothertime.Sotheiractsarenotsuccessfulinthemselves;too many of them are inefficient. But if ALL Power goes into every act, nomatter how commonplace, every act will be a success in itself; and as in thenatureof thingseverysuccessopens thewaytoothersuccesses,yourprogresstoward what you want, and the progress of what you want toward you, willbecomeincreasinglyrapid.

Rememberthatsuccessfulactioniscumulativeinitsresults.Sincethedesireformorelifeisinherentinallthings,whenamanbeginstomovetowardlargerlife more things attach themselves to him, and the influence of his desire ismultiplied.

Do, everyday, all that you cando that day, anddo each act in an efficientmanner.

In saying that you must hold your vision while you are doing each act,howevertrivialorcommonplace,Idonotmeantosaythatitisnecessaryatalltimestoseethevisiondistinctlytoitssmallestdetails.Itshouldbetheworkofyourleisurehourstouseyourimaginationonthedetailsofyourvision,andtocontemplatethemuntiltheyarefirmlyfixeduponmemory.Ifyouwishspeedyresults,spendpracticallyallyoursparetimeinthispractice.

Bycontinuouscontemplationyouwillgetthepictureofwhatyouwant,evento the smallest details, so firmly fixed upon your mind, and so completelytransferred to themindofFormlessSubstance, that inyourworkinghoursyouneedonly tomentally refer to the picture to stimulate your faith andpurpose,and cause your best effort to be put forth. Contemplate your picture in yourleisure hours until your consciousness is so full of it that you can grasp itinstantly.Youwill become so enthusedwith its bright promises that themerethoughtofitwillcallforththestrongestenergiesofyourwholebeing.

Let us again repeat our syllabus, and by slightly changing the closingstatementsbringittothepointwehavenowreached.There is a thinking stuff fromwhich all things aremade, andwhich, in its

originalstate,permeates,penetrates,andfillstheinterspacesoftheuniverse.

Athought,inthissubstance,Producesthethingthatisimagedbythethought.Man can form things in his thought, and, by impressing his thought upon

formlesssubstance,cancausethethinghethinksabouttobecreated.Inordertodothis,manmustpassfromthecompetitivetothecreativemind;

hemust formaclearmentalpictureof the thingshewants,anddo,with faithand purpose, all that can be done each day, doing each separate thing in anefficientmanner.

Chapter13

SUCCESS, in any particular business, depends for one thing upon your

possessinginawell-developedstatethefacultiesrequiredinthatbusiness.Without good musical faculty no one can succeed as a teacher of music;

withoutwell-developedmechanicalfacultiesnoonecanachievegreatsuccessinanyofthemechanical trades;withouttactandthecommercialfacultiesnoonecansucceedinmercantilepursuits.Buttopossessinawell-developedstatethefacultiesrequiredinyourparticularvocationdoesnotinsuregettingrich.Therearemusicianswhohaveremarkable talent,andwhoyet remainpoor; thereareblacksmiths, carpenters, and so onwho have excellentmechanical ability, butwhodonotgetrich;andtherearemerchantswithgoodfacultiesfordealingwithmenwhoneverthelessfail.

Thedifferentfacultiesaretools;itisessentialtohavegoodtools,butitisalsoessential that the tools should be used in theRightWay.Oneman can take asharp saw, a square, agoodplane, and soon, andbuild ahandsomearticleoffurniture;anothermancantakethesametoolsandsettoworktoduplicatethearticle,buthisproductionwillbeabotch.Hedoesnotknowhowtousegoodtoolsinasuccessfulway.

Thevariousfacultiesofyourmindarethetoolswithwhichyoumustdotheworkwhichistomakeyourich;itwillbeeasierforyoutosucceedifyougetintoabusinessforwhichyouarewellequippedwithmentaltools.

Generally speaking, you will do best in that business which will use yourstrongest faculties; theone forwhichyouarenaturally "best fitted."But thereare limitations to this statement, also. No man should regard his vocation asbeingirrevocablyfixedbythetendencieswithwhichhewasborn.

YoucangetrichinANYbusiness,forifyouhavenottherighttalentforyoucandevelopthattalent;itmerelymeansthatyouwillhavetomakeyourtoolsasyougoalong, insteadofconfiningyourself totheuseof thosewithwhichyouwereborn. ItwillbeEASIERforyou to succeed inavocation forwhichyou

alreadyhavethetalentsinawell-developedstate;butyouCANsucceedinanyvocation, foryoucandevelopanyrudimentary talent,and there isno talentofwhichyouhavenotatleasttherudiment.

Youwillgetrichmosteasilyinpointofeffort,ifyoudothatforwhichyouarebestfitted;butyouwillgetrichmostsatisfactorilyifyoudothatwhichyouWANTtodo.

Doingwhatyouwanttodoislife;andthereisnorealsatisfactioninlivingifwearecompelledtobeforeverdoingsomethingwhichwedonotliketodo,andcanneverdowhatwewant todo.And it is certain that youcandowhatyouwanttodo;thedesiretodoitisproofthatyouhavewithinyouthepowerwhichcandoit.

Desireisamanifestationofpower.The desire to play music is the power which can play music seeking

expression and development; the desire to invent mechanical devices is themechanicaltalentseekingexpressionanddevelopment.

Where there is no power, either developed or undeveloped, to do a thing,thereisneveranydesiretodothatthing;andwherethereisstrongdesiretodoathing,itiscertainproofthatthepowertodoitisstrong,andonlyrequirestobedevelopedandappliedintheRightWay.

Allthingselsebeingequal,itisbesttoselectthebusinessforwhichyouhavethe best developed talent; but if you have a strong desire to engage in anyparticularlineofwork,youshouldselectthatworkastheultimateendatwhichyouaim.

Youcandowhatyouwanttodo,anditisyourrightandprivilegetofollowthebusinessoravocationwhichwillbemostcongenialandpleasant.

Youarenotobliged todowhatyoudonot like todo, and shouldnotdo itexceptasameanstobringyoutothedoingofthethingyouwanttodo.

If there are past mistakes whose consequences have placed you in anundesirablebusinessorenvironment,youmaybeobliged for some time todowhat you do not like to do; but you can make the doing of it pleasant byknowingthatitismakingitpossibleforyoutocometothedoingofwhatyouwanttodo.

If you feel that you are not in the right vocation, do not act too hastily intrying to get into another one. The bestway, generally, to change business orenvironmentisbygrowth.

Donotbe afraid tomakea suddenand radical change if theopportunity ispresented,andyoufeelaftercarefulconsiderationthatitistherightopportunity;butnevertakesuddenorradicalactionwhenyouareindoubtastothewisdomofdoingso.

There is never any hurry on the creative plane; and there is no lack ofopportunity.

Whenyougetoutofthecompetitivemindyouwillunderstandthatyouneverneedtoacthastily.Nooneelseisgoingtobeatyoutothethingyouwanttodo;there is enough for all. If one space is taken, another and abetter onewill beopenedforyoualittlefartheron;thereisplentyoftime.Whenyouareindoubt,wait.Fallbackonthecontemplationofyourvision,andincreaseyourfaithandpurpose;andbyallmeans,intimesofdoubtandindecision,cultivategratitude.

A day or two spent in contemplating the vision of what you want, and inearnestthanksgivingthatyouaregettingit,willbringyourmindintosuchcloserelationshipwiththeSupremethatyouwillmakenomistakewhenyoudoact.

There is amindwhich knows all there is to know; and you can come intocloseunitywiththismindbyfaithandthepurposetoadvanceinlife,ifyouhavedeepgratitude.

Mistakes come from acting hastily, or from acting in fear or doubt, or inforgetfulnessoftheRightMotive,whichismorelifetoall,andlesstonone.

AsyougoonintheCertainWay,opportunitieswillcometoyouinincreasingnumber;andyouwillneed tobeverysteady inyourfaithandpurpose,and tokeepinclosetouchwiththeAllMindbyreverentgratitude.

Doallthatyoucandoinaperfectmannereveryday,butdoitwithouthaste,worry,orfear.Goasfastasyoucan,butneverhurry.

Remember that in themomentyoubegin tohurryyoucease tobeacreatorandbecomeacompetitor;youdropbackupontheoldplaneagain.

Whenever you find yourself hurrying, call a halt; fix your attention on thementalimageofthethingyouwant,andbegintogivethanksthatyouaregettingit. The exercise of GRATITUDE will never fail to strengthen your faith andrenewyourpurpose.

Chapter14

WHETHER you change your vocation or not, your actions for the present

mustbethosepertainingtothebusinessinwhichyouarenowengaged.You can get into the business youwant bymaking constructive use of the

businessyouarealreadyestablished in;bydoingyourdailywork inaCertainWay.

And in so far asyourbusiness consists indealingwithothermen,whetherpersonallyorbyletter,thekey-thoughtofallyoureffortsmustbetoconveyto

theirmindstheimpressionofincrease.Increase is what all men and all women are seeking; it is the urge of the

FormlessIntelligencewithinthem,seekingfullerexpression.Thedesireforincreaseisinherentinallnature;itisthefundamentalimpulse

oftheuniverse.Allhumanactivitiesarebasedonthedesireforincrease;peopleare seekingmore food,moreclothes,better shelter,more luxury,morebeauty,moreknowledge,morepleasure--increaseinsomething,morelife.

Everylivingthingisunderthisnecessityforcontinuousadvancement;whereincreaseoflifeceases,dissolutionanddeathsetinatonce.

Maninstinctivelyknowsthis,andhenceheisforeverseekingmore.ThislawofperpetualincreaseissetforthbyJesusintheparableofthetalents;onlythosewhogainmoreretainany;fromhimwhohathnotshallbetakenawayeventhatwhichhehath.

Thenormaldesireforincreasedwealthisnotanevilorareprehensiblething;itissimplythedesireformoreabundantlife;itisaspiration.

Andbecauseitisthedeepestinstinctoftheirnatures,allmenandwomenareattractedtohimwhocangivethemmoreofthemeansoflife.

In following theCertainWay as described in the foregoing pages, you aregettingcontinuousincreaseforyourself,andyouaregivingittoallwithwhomyoudeal.

Youareacreativecenter,fromwhichincreaseisgivenofftoall.Besureofthis,andconveyassuranceofthefacttoeveryman,woman,and

child with whom you come in contact. No matter how small the transaction,evenif itbeonlythesellingofastickofcandytoa littlechild,put into it thethought of increase, and make sure that the customer is impressed with thethought.

Convey the impression of advancementwith everything you do, so that allpeopleshallreceivetheimpressionthatyouareanAdvancingMan,andthatyouadvanceallwhodealwithyou.Eventothepeoplewhomyoumeet inasocialway, without any thought of business, and to whom you do not try to sellanything,givethethoughtofincrease.

You can convey this impression by holding the unshakable faith that you,yourself, are in theWay of Increase; and by letting this faith inspire, fill, andpermeateeveryaction.

Doeverything thatyoudo in thefirmconviction thatyouareanadvancingpersonality,andthatyouaregivingadvancementtoeverybody.

Feelthatyouaregettingrich,andthatinsodoingyouaremakingothersrich,andconferringbenefitsonall.

Donotboastorbragofyoursuccess,ortalkaboutitunnecessarily;truefaith

isneverboastful.Whereveryoufindaboastfulperson,youfindonewho issecretlydoubtful

and afraid. Simply feel the faith, and let it work out in every transaction; leteveryactandtoneandlookexpressthequietassurancethatyouaregettingrich;that you are already rich. Words will not be necessary to communicate thisfeelingtoothers;theywillfeelthesenseofincreasewheninyourpresence,andwillbeattractedtoyouagain.

Youmust so impress others that theywill feel that in associatingwith youtheywillgetincreaseforthemselves.Seethatyougivethemausevaluegreaterthanthecashvalueyouaretakingfromthem.

Takeanhonestpride indoingthis,andleteverybodyknowit;andyouwillhavenolackofcustomers.Peoplewillgowheretheyaregivenincrease;andtheSupreme,whichdesiresincreaseinall,andwhichknowsall,willmovetowardyoumenandwomenwhohaveneverheardofyou.Yourbusinesswillincreaserapidly,andyouwillbesurprisedattheunexpectedbenefitswhichwillcometoyou. You will be able from day to day to make larger combinations, securegreateradvantages,andtogoonintoamorecongenialvocationifyoudesiretodoso.

Butindoingallthis,youmustneverlosesightofyourvisionofwhatyouwant,oryourfaithandpurposetogetwhatyouwant.Letmeheregiveyouanotherwordofcautioninregardtomotives.Bewareoftheinsidioustemptationtoseekforpoweroverothermen.

Nothing is so pleasant to the unformed or partially developedmind as theexercise of power or dominion over others. The desire to rule for selfishgratificationhasbeenthecurseoftheworld.Forcountlessageskingsandlordshave drenched the earthwith blood in their battles to extend their dominions;thisnottoseekmorelifeforall,buttogetmorepowerforthemselves.

Today,themainmotiveinthebusinessandindustrialworldisthesame;menmarshaltheirarmiesofdollars,andlaywastethelivesandheartsofmillionsinthesamemadscrambleforpoweroverothers.Commercialkings,likepoliticalkings,areinspiredbythelustforpower.

JesussawinthisdesireformasterythemovingimpulseofthatevilworldHesoughttooverthrow.Readthetwenty-thirdchapterofMatthew,andseehowHepicturesthelustofthePhariseestobecalled"Master,"tositinthehighplaces,todomineeroverothers,and to layburdenson thebacksof the less fortunate;andnotehowHecomparesthislustfordominionwiththebrotherlyseekingfortheCommonGoodtowhichHecallsHisdisciples.

Lookoutforthetemptationtoseekforauthority,tobecomea"master,"tobeconsideredasonewho isabove thecommonherd, to impressothersby lavish

display,andsoon.Themindthatseeksformasteryoverothersisthecompetitivemind;andthe

competitivemind isnot thecreativeone. Inorder tomasteryour environmentandyourdestiny,itisnotatallnecessarythatyoushouldruleoveryourfellowmenandindeed,whenyoufallintotheworld'sstruggleforthehighplaces,youbegintobeconqueredbyfateandenvironment,andyourgettingrichbecomesamatterofchanceandspeculation.

Beware of the competitive mind!! No better statement of the principle ofcreative action can be formulated than the favorite declaration of the late"GoldenRule"JonesofToledo:"WhatIwantformyself,Iwantforeverybody."

Chapter15

WHATIhavesaidinthelastchapterappliesaswelltotheprofessionalman

andthewage-earnerastothemanwhoisengagedinmercantilebusiness.Nomatterwhetheryouareaphysician,ateacher,oraclergyman,ifyoucan

give increaseof life toothersandmake themsensibleof thefact, theywillbeattracted toyou, andyouwill get rich.Thephysicianwhoholds thevisionofhimself as a great and successful healer, andwhoworks toward the completerealizationofthatvisionwithfaithandpurpose,asdescribedinformerchapters,will come into such close touch with the Source of Life that he will bephenomenallysuccessful;patientswillcometohiminthrongs.

Noonehasagreateropportunitytocarryintoeffecttheteachingofthisbookthan the practitioner of medicine; it does not matter to which of the variousschoolshemaybelong, for theprincipleofhealing is common toallof them,andmaybereachedbyallalike.TheAdvancingManinmedicine,whoholdstoaclearmentalimageofhimselfassuccessful,andwhoobeysthelawsoffaith,purpose, and gratitude, will cure every curable case he undertakes, nomatterwhatremedieshemayuse.

Inthefieldofreligion,theworldcriesoutfortheclergymanwhocanteachhishearers the truescienceofabundant life.Hewhomasters thedetailsof thescienceofgettingrich,togetherwiththealliedsciencesofbeingwell,ofbeinggreat,andofwinning love,andwho teaches thesedetails from thepulpit,willneverlackforacongregation.Thisisthegospelthattheworldneeds;itwillgiveincreaseoflife,andmenwillhearitgladly,andwillgiveliberalsupporttothemanwhobringsittothem.

Whatisnowneededisademonstrationofthescienceoflifefromthepulpit.Wewantpreacherswhocannotonlytellushow,butwhointheirownpersons

willshowushow.Weneedthepreacherwhowillhimselfberich,healthy,great,andbeloved, to teachushow toattain to these things; andwhenhecomeshewillfindanumerousandloyalfollowing.

Thesameistrueoftheteacherwhocaninspirethechildrenwiththefaithandpurposeoftheadvancinglife.Hewillneverbe"outofajob."Andanyteacherwhohasthisfaithandpurposecangiveittohispupils;hecannothelpgivingittothemifitispartofhisownlifeandpractice.

What is true of the teacher, preacher, and physician is true of the lawyer,dentist,realestateman,insuranceagent--ofeverybody.

The combined mental and personal action I have described is infallible; itcannot fail. Every man and woman who follows these instructions steadily,perseveringly,andtotheletter,willgetrich.ThelawoftheIncreaseofLifeisasmathematicallycertain in itsoperationas the lawofgravitation;gettingrich isanexactscience.

The wage-earner will find this as true of his case as of any of the othersmentioned. Do not feel that you have no chance to get rich because you areworkingwherethereisnovisibleopportunityforadvancement,wherewagesaresmall and the cost of living high. Form your clearmental vision ofwhat youwant,andbegintoactwithfaithandpurpose.

Do all the work you can do, every day, and do each piece of work in aperfectly successfulmanner; put the power of success, and the purpose to getrich,intoeverythingthatyoudo.

Butdonotdothismerelywiththeideaofcurryingfavorwithyouremployer,in thehope thathe,or thoseaboveyou,will seeyourgoodworkandadvanceyou;itisnotlikelythattheywilldoso.

Themanwhoismerelya"good"workman,fillinghisplacetotheverybestofhisability,andsatisfiedwiththat,isvaluabletohisemployer;anditisnottotheemployer'sinteresttopromotehim;heisworthmorewhereheis.

Tosecureadvancement,somethingmoreisnecessarythantobetoolargeforyourplace.

Themanwhoiscertaintoadvanceistheonewhoistoobigforhisplace,andwhohasaclearconceptofwhathewantstobe;whoknowsthathecanbecomewhathewantstobeandwhoisdeterminedtoBEwhathewantstobe.

Donottrytomorethanfillyourpresentplacewithaviewtopleasingyouremployer;doitwiththeideaofadvancingyourself.Holdthefaithandpurposeofincreaseduringworkhours,afterworkhours,andbeforeworkhours.Holditin such a way that every person who comes in contact with you, whetherforeman,fellowworkman,orsocialacquaintance,willfeelthepowerofpurposeradiating from you; so that every one will get the sense of advancement and

increasefromyou.Menwillbeattractedtoyou,andifthereisnopossibilityforadvancementinyourpresentjob,youwillverysoonseeanopportunitytotakeanotherjob.

There isaPowerwhichnever fails topresentopportunity to theAdvancingManwhoismovinginobediencetolaw.

Godcannothelphelpingyou,ifyouactinaCertainWay;HemustdosoinordertohelpHimself.

Thereisnothinginyourcircumstancesorintheindustrialsituationthatcankeepyoudown. Ifyoucannotget richworking for thesteel trust,youcangetrichonaten-acrefarm;andifyoubegintomoveintheCertainWay,youwillcertainlyescapefromthe"clutches"ofthesteeltrustandgetontothefarmorwhereverelseyouwishtobe.

If a few thousandsof its employeeswouldenterupon theCertainWay, thesteeltrustwouldsoonbeinabadplight;itwouldhavetogiveitsworkingmenmore opportunity, or go out of business. Nobody has towork for a trust; thetrusts cankeepmen in so calledhopeless conditionsonly so longas there aremen who are too ignorant to know of the science of getting rich, or toointellectuallyslothfultopracticeit.

Beginthiswayofthinkingandacting,andyourfaithandpurposewillmakeyouquicktoseeanyopportunitytobetteryourcondition.

Suchopportunitieswillspeedilycome,fortheSupreme,workinginAll,andworkingforyou,willbringthembeforeyou.

Do not wait for an opportunity to be all that you want to be; when anopportunity to be more than you are now is presented and you feel impelledtowardit,takeit.Itwillbethefirststeptowardagreateropportunity.

Thereisnosuchthingpossibleinthisuniverseasalackofopportunitiesforthemanwhoislivingtheadvancinglife.

Itisinherentintheconstitutionofthecosmosthatallthingsshallbeforhimandwork together for his good; and hemust certainly get rich if he acts andthinksintheCertainWay.Soletwage-earningmenandwomenstudythisbookwith great care, and enter with confidence upon the course of action itprescribes;itwillnotfail.

Chapter16

MANYpeoplewillscoffat theideathatthereisanexactscienceofgettingrich;holdingtheimpressionthatthesupplyofwealthislimited,theywillinsistthat social and governmental institutions must be changed before even anyconsiderablenumberofpeoplecanacquireacompetence.

Butthisisnottrue.It is true that existing governments keep themasses in poverty, but this is

becausethemassesdonotthinkandactintheCertainWay.If the masses begin to move forward as suggested in this book, neither

governments nor industrial systems can check them; all systems must bemodifiedtoaccommodatetheforwardmovement.

IfthepeoplehavetheAdvancingMind,havetheFaiththattheycanbecomerich, and move forward with the fixed purpose to become rich, nothing canpossiblykeeptheminpoverty.

Individuals may enter upon the Certain Way at any time, and under anygovernment,andmake themselves rich;andwhenanyconsiderablenumberofindividuals do so under any government, theywill cause the system to be somodifiedastoopenthewayforothers.

Themoremenwhoget richon thecompetitiveplane, theworse forothers;themorewhogetrichonthecreativeplane,thebetterforothers.

Theeconomicsalvationofthemassescanonlybeaccomplishedbygettingalargenumberofpeopletopracticethescientificmethodsetdowninthisbook,andbecomerich.Thesewillshowotherstheway,andinspirethemwithadesireforreallife,withthefaiththatitcanbeattained,andwiththepurposetoattainit.

For thepresent, however, it is enough toknow thatneither thegovernmentunderwhichyoulivenorthecapitalisticorcompetitivesystemofindustrycankeepyoufromgettingrich.Whenyouenteruponthecreativeplaneofthoughtyouwillriseaboveallthesethingsandbecomeacitizenofanotherkingdom.

Butrememberthatyourthoughtmustbehelduponthecreativeplane;youareneverforaninstant tobebetrayedintoregardingthesupplyaslimited,or intoactingonthemorallevelofcompetition.

Wheneveryoudofallintooldwaysofthought,correctyourselfinstantly;forwhenyouareinthecompetitivemind,youhavelostthecooperationoftheMindoftheWhole.

Do not spend any time in planning as to how you will meet possibleemergencies in the future, except as the necessary policies may affect youractions today. You are concerned with doing today's work in a perfectlysuccessfulmanner, and notwith emergencieswhichmay arise tomorrow; youcanattendtothemastheycome.

Do not concern yourself with questions as to how you shall surmountobstacles which may loom upon your business horizon, unless you can seeplainlythatyourcoursemustbealteredtodayinordertoavoidthem.

Nomatterhowtremendousanobstructionmayappearatadistance,youwillfindthatifyougoonintheCertainWayitwilldisappearasyouapproachit,orthatawayover,through,orarounditwillappear.

Nopossiblecombinationofcircumstancescandefeatamanorwomanwhoisproceeding to get rich along strictly scientific lines. No man or woman whoobeys the lawcanfail togetrich,anymore thanonecanmultiply twobytwoandfailtogetfour.

Give no anxious thought to possible disasters, obstacles, panics, orunfavorable combinations of circumstances; it is time enough to meet suchthingswhen theypresent themselvesbeforeyou in the immediatepresent, andyou will find that every difficulty carries with it the wherewithal for itsovercoming.

Guardyourspeech.Neverspeakofyourself,youraffairs,orofanythingelseinadiscouragedordiscouragingway.

Neveradmitthepossibilityoffailure,orspeakinawaythatinfersfailureasapossibility.

Never speak of the times as being hard, or of business conditions as beingdoubtful. Timesmay be hard and business doubtful for thosewho are on thecompetitiveplane, but they cannever be so for you; you can createwhat youwant,andyouareabovefear.

When others are having hard times and poor business, you will find yourgreatestopportunities.

TrainyourselftothinkofandtolookupontheworldasasomethingwhichisBecoming, which is growing; and to regard seeming evil as being only thatwhichisundeveloped.Alwaysspeakintermsofadvancement;todootherwiseistodenyyourfaith,andtodenyyourfaithistoloseit.

Neverallowyourselftofeeldisappointed.Youmayexpecttohaveacertainthingatacertaintime,andnotgetitatthattime;andthiswillappeartoyoulikefailure.

Butifyouholdtoyourfaithyouwillfindthatthefailureisonlyapparent.Gooninthecertainway,andifyoudonotreceivethatthing,youwillreceive

somethingsomuchbetterthatyouwillseethattheseemingfailurewasreallyagreatsuccess.

A student of this science had set his mind on making a certain businesscombination which seemed to him at the time to be very desirable, and heworkedforsomeweekstobringitabout.Whenthecrucialtimecame,thething

failed in a perfectly inexplicableway; itwas as if some unseen influence hadbeenworkingsecretlyagainsthim.Hewasnotdisappointed;onthecontrary,hethanked God that his desire had been overruled, and went steadily on with agratefulmind.Inafewweeksanopportunitysomuchbettercamehiswaythathewouldnothavemadethefirstdealonanyaccount;andhesawthataMindwhichknewmorethanheknewhadpreventedhimfromlosingthegreatergoodbyentanglinghimselfwiththelesser.

Thatisthewayeveryseemingfailurewillworkoutforyou,ifyoukeepyourfaith, hold to your purpose, have gratitude, and do, every day, all that can bedonethatday,doingeachseparateactinasuccessfulmanner.Whenyoumakeafailure,itisbecauseyouhavenotaskedforenough;keep

on, and a larger thing then you were seeking will certainly come to you.Rememberthis.

Youwillnotfailbecauseyoulackthenecessarytalenttodowhatyouwishtodo. If you go on as I have directed, you will develop all the talent that isnecessarytothedoingofyourwork.

Itisnotwithinthescopeofthisbooktodealwiththescienceofcultivatingtalent;butitisascertainandsimpleastheprocessofgettingrich.

However,donothesitateorwaverforfearthatwhenyoucometoanycertainplaceyouwillfailforlackofability;keeprighton,andwhenyoucometothatplace, the abilitywill be furnished to you. The same source ofAbilitywhichenabled the untaught Lincoln to do the greatest work in government everaccomplishedbyasinglemanisopentoyou;youmaydrawuponallthemindthere is forwisdom to use inmeeting the responsibilitieswhich are laid uponyou.Gooninfullfaith.

Studythisbook.Makeityourconstantcompanionuntilyouhavemasteredallthe ideascontained in it.Whileyouaregettingfirmlyestablished in this faith,youwilldowelltogiveupmostrecreationsandpleasure;andtostayawayfromplaceswhere ideas conflictingwith these are advanced in lecturesor sermons.Donotreadpessimisticorconflictingliterature,orgetintoargumentsuponthematter.Dovery little reading, outsideof thewritersmentioned in thePreface.Spendmostofyourleisuretimeincontemplatingyourvision,andincultivatinggratitude, and in reading this book. It contains all you need to know of thescience of getting rich; and youwill find all the essentials summed up in thefollowingchapter.

Chapter17

THEREisathinkingstufffromwhichallthingsaremade,andwhich,initsoriginalstate,permeates,penetrates,andfillstheinterspacesoftheuniverse.

Athoughtinthissubstanceproducesthethingthatisimagedbythethought.Man can form things in his thought, and by impressing his thought upon

formlesssubstancecancausethethinghethinksabouttobecreated.Inordertodothis,manmustpassfromthecompetitivetothecreativemind;

otherwise he cannot be in harmony with the Formless Intelligence, which isalwayscreativeandnevercompetitiveinspirit.

Man may come into full harmony with the Formless Substance byentertainingalivelyandsinceregratitudefortheblessingsitbestowsuponhim.Gratitude unifies themind ofmanwith the intelligence of Substance, so thatman'sthoughtsarereceivedbytheFormless.MancanremainuponthecreativeplaneonlybyunitinghimselfwiththeFormlessIntelligencethroughadeepandcontinuousfeelingofgratitude.

Manmustformaclearanddefinitementalimageofthethingshewishestohave,todo,ortobecome;andhemustholdthismentalimageinhisthoughts,while being deeply grateful to the Supreme that all his desires are granted tohim. The man who wishes to get rich must spend his leisure hours incontemplating hisVision, and in earnest thanksgiving that the reality is beinggiven to him. Too much stress cannot be laid on the importance of frequentcontemplationof themental image, coupledwithunwavering faithanddevoutgratitude.ThisistheprocessbywhichtheimpressionisgiventotheFormless,andthecreativeforcessetinmotion.

The creative energy works through the established channels of naturalgrowth,andoftheindustrialandsocialorder.Allthatisincludedinhismentalimage will surely be brought to the man who follows the instructions givenabove,andwhosefaithdoesnotwaver.Whathewantswillcometohimthroughthewaysofestablishedtradeandcommerce.

Inorder toreceivehisownwhenitshallcometohim,manmustbeactive;andthisactivitycanonlyconsistinmorethanfillinghispresentplace.HemustkeepinmindthePurposetogetrichthroughtherealizationofhismentalimage.Andhemustdo,everyday,allthatcanbedonethatday,takingcaretodoeachactinasuccessfulmanner.Hemustgivetoeverymanausevalueinexcessofthecashvaluehereceives,sothateachtransactionmakesformorelife;andhemust so hold the Advancing Thought that the impression of increase will becommunicatedtoallwithwhomhecomesincontact.

Themen andwomenwho practice the foregoing instructionswill certainlyget rich; and the riches they receive will be in exact proportion to thedefiniteness of their vision, the fixity of their purpose, the steadiness of their

faith,andthedepthoftheirgratitude.

TheEnd

Publisher’sConclusion–Questions

1/Whatarethethreebiggestinsightsyougainedfromreadingthiswork?2/What three thingsdoyoumostwant tomanifest inyour life?Writeeachofthemdownwithvividdescriptionsofhowyourlifewouldlikewiththemfullyachieved.3/Ofthestrategiespresentedinthiswork,whichoneismostnaturalforyoutofollow? Which one is most challenging? What strategies can you use toovercomethemostchallengingone.

AcresofDiamonds

by

RussellH.Conwell(1890)

Publisher’sNote

One way to sum up Acres of Diamonds would be to say this: the greatestopportunitiesinlifeareoftenfoundinourownbackyard.Conwellclearlywritesabouttheimportanceofbeingawareofone’sownworldandthatgreatsuccesscan be found in doing the simplest of things that no one previously had theinsight to notice. The opening story of the essay in particular has become aclassictaleofthecannonoftheNewThought.

AcresofDiamonds

Iamastonishedthatsomanypeopleshouldcaretohearthisstoryoveragain.

Indeed,thislecturehasbecomeastudyinpsychology;itoftenbreaksallrulesoforatory,departsfromthepreceptsofrhetoric,andyetremainsthemostpopularofanylectureIhavedeliveredinthefifty-sevenyearsofmypubliclife.Ihavesometimesstudiedforayearuponalectureandmadecarefulresearch,andthenpresentedthelecturejustonce--neverdelivereditagain.Iputtoomuchworkonit.Butthishadnoworkonit--throwntogetherperfectlyatrandom,spokenoffhand without any special preparation, and it succeeds when the thing westudy,workover,adjusttoaplan,isanentirefailure.

The"AcresofDiamonds"whichIhavementionedthroughsomanyyearsaretobefoundinthiscity,andyouaretofindthem.Manyhavefoundthem.Andwhatmanhasdone,mancando.IcouldnotfindanythingbettertoillustratemythoughtthanastoryIhavetoldoverandoveragain,andwhichisnowfoundinbooksinnearlyeverylibrary.

In1870wewentdowntheTigrisRiver.WehiredaguideatBagdadtoshowusPersepolis,NinevehandBabylon,andtheancientcountriesofAssyriaasfaras theArabianGulf.Hewaswellacquaintedwith the land,buthewasoneofthoseguideswholove toentertain theirpatrons;hewas likeabarber that tellsyoumanystoriesinordertokeepyourmindoffthescratchingandthescraping.HetoldmesomanystoriesthatIgrewtiredofhistellingthemandIrefusedtolisten--lookedawaywheneverhecommenced;thatmadetheguidequiteangry.

I remember that toward evening he took his Turkish cap off his head andswungitaroundin theair.ThegestureIdidnotunderstandandIdidnotdarelookathimforfearIshouldbecomethevictimofanotherstory.But,althoughIamnotawoman,Ididlook,andtheinstantIturnedmyeyesuponthatworthyguidehewasoffagain.Saidhe,"IwilltellyouastorynowwhichIreservefor

myparticular friends!"So then, countingmyself aparticular friend, I listened,andIhavealwaysbeengladIdid.

Hesaid thereonce livednotfar fromtheRiverIndusanancientPersianbythe name of Al Hafed. He said that Al Hafed owned a very large farm withorchards, grain fields and gardens. He was a contented and wealthy man --contentedbecausehewaswealthy,andwealthybecausehewascontented.OnedaytherevisitedthisoldfarmeroneofthoseancientBuddhistpriests,andhesatdown byAlHafed's fire and told that old farmer how thisworld of ourswasmade.

Hesaidthatthisworldwasonceamerebankoffog,whichisscientificallytrue,andhesaidthattheAlmightythrusthisfingerintothebankoffogandthenbeganslowly tomovehisfingeraroundandgradually to increase thespeedofhisfingeruntilatlasthewhirledthatbankoffogintoasolidballoffire,anditwentrollingthroughtheuniverse,burningitswaythroughothercosmicbanksoffog,untilitcondensedthemoisturewithout,andfellinfloodsofrainupontheheated surface and cooled the outward crust. Then the internal flames burstthroughthecoolingcrustandthrewupthemountainsandmadethehillsandthevalleysofthiswonderfulworldofours.Ifthisinternalmeltedmassburstoutandcooled very quickly it becamegranite; thatwhich cooled less quickly becamesilver;andlessquickly,gold;andaftergolddiamondsweremade.Saidtheoldpriest,"Adiamondisacongealeddropofsunlight."

This is a scientific truth also.You all know that a diamond is pure carbon,actuallydeposited sunlight -- andhe said another thing Iwouldnot forget: hedeclaredthatadiamondis thelastandhighestofGod'smineralcreations,asawoman is the last andhighest ofGod's animal creations. I suppose that is thereasonwhythetwohavesuchalikingforeachother.AndtheoldpriesttoldAlHafedthatifhehadahandfulofdiamondshecouldpurchaseawholecountry,andwithamineofdiamondshecouldplacehischildrenuponthronesthroughtheinfluenceoftheirgreatwealth.

AlHafedheardallaboutdiamondsandhowmuchtheywereworth,andwenttohisbedthatnightapoorman--notthathehadlostanything,butpoorbecausehewasdiscontentedanddiscontentedbecausehethoughthewaspoor.Hesaid:"Iwantamineofdiamonds!"Sohelayawakeallnight,andearlyinthemorningsoughtoutthepriest.

Now I know from experience that a priest when awakened early in themorningiscross.Heawokethatpriestoutofhisdreamsandsaidtohim,"WillyoutellmewhereIcanfinddiamonds?"Thepriestsaid,"Diamonds?Whatdoyouwantwithdiamonds?""Iwanttobeimmenselyrich,"saidAlHafed,"butIdon't knowwhere to go." "Well," said the priest, "if youwill find a river that

runsoverwhite sandbetweenhighmountains, in those sandsyouwill alwayssee diamonds." "Do you really believe that there is such a river?" "Plenty ofthem,plentyofthem;allyouhavetodoisjustgoandfindthem,thenyouhavethem."AlHafedsaid, "Iwillgo."Sohe soldhis farm,collectedhismoneyatinterest, lefthisfamilyinchargeofaneighbor,andawayhewent insearchofdiamonds.

He began very properly, to my mind, at the Mountains of the Moon.AfterwardshewentaroundintoPalestine,thenwanderedonintoEurope,andatlast, when his money was all spent, and he was in rags, wretchedness andpoverty,hestoodontheshoreofthatbayinBarcelona,Spain,whenatidalwavecamerollinginthroughthePillarsofHerculesandthepoor,afflicted,sufferingmancouldnotresisttheawfultemptationtocasthimselfintothatincomingtide,andhesankbeneathitsfoamingcrest,nevertoriseinthislifeagain.

Whenthatoldguidehadtoldmethatverysadstory,hestoppedthecamelIwasridingandwentbacktofixthebaggageononeof theothercamels,andIremember thinking to myself, "Why did he reserve that for his particularfriends?"Thereseemedtobenobeginning,middleorend--nothingtoit.ThatwasthefirststoryIeverheardtoldorreadinwhichtheherowaskilledinthefirstchapter.Ihadbutonechapterofthatstoryandtheherowasdead.

Whentheguidecamebackandtookupthehalterofmycamelagain,hewentrightonwiththesamestory.HesaidthatAlHafed'ssuccessorledhiscameloutintothegardentodrink,andasthatcamelputitsnosedownintotheclearwaterof thegardenbrookAlHafed's successornoticedacurious flashof light fromthe sands of the shallow stream, and reaching in he pulled out a black stonehavinganeyeof light that reflectedall thecolorsof the rainbow,andhe tookthatcuriouspebbleintothehouseandleftitonthemantel,thenwentonhiswayandforgotallaboutit.

Afewdaysafterthat,thissameoldpriestwhotoldAlHafedhowdiamondsweremade,cameintovisithissuccessor,whenhesawthatflashoflightfromthemantel.Herushedupandsaid,"Hereisadiamond--hereisadiamond!HasAl Hafed returned?" "No, no; Al Hafed has not returned and that is not adiamond;thatisnothingbutastone;wefounditrightouthereinourgarden.""ButIknowadiamondwhenIseeit,"saidhe;"thatisadiamond!"

Thentogethertheyrushedtothegardenandstirredupthewhitesandswiththeirfingersandfoundothersmorebeautiful,morevaluablediamondsthanthefirst, and thus, said the guide to me, were discovered the diamond mines ofGolconda, themostmagnificent diamondmines in all the history ofmankind,exceedingtheKimberleyinitsvalue.ThegreatKohinoordiamondinEngland'scrownjewelsandthelargestcrowndiamondonearthinRussia'scrownjewels,

which I had often hoped she would have to sell before they had peace withJapan,camefromthatmine,andwhentheoldguidehadcalledmyattentiontothatwonderfuldiscoveryhetookhisTurkishcapoffhisheadagainandswungitaroundintheairtocallmyattentiontothemoral.

Those Arab guides have a moral to each story, though the stories are notalwaysmoral.HesaidhadAlHafedremainedathomeandduginhisowncellarorinhisowngarden,insteadofwretchedness,starvation,povertyanddeath--astrangeland,hewouldhavehad"acresofdiamonds"--foreveryacre,yes,everyshovelful of that old farm afterwards revealed the gems which since havedecoratedthecrownsofmonarchs.Whenhehadgiventhemoraltohisstory,Isawwhyhehadreservedthisstoryforhis"particularfriends."Ididn'ttellhimIcouldseeit;IwasnotgoingtotellthatoldArabthatIcouldseeit.ForitwasthatmeanoldArab'swayofgoingaroundsuchathing,likealawyer,andsayingindirectlywhathedidnotdaresaydirectly,thattherewasacertainyoungmanthatdaytravelingdowntheTigrisRiverthatmightbetterbeathomeinAmerica.Ididn'ttellhimIcouldseeit.

Itoldhimhisstoryremindedmeofone,andItoldittohimquick.ItoldhimaboutthatmanoutinCalifornia,who,in1847,ownedaranchoutthere.Hereadthatgoldhadbeendiscovered inSouthernCalifornia,andhesoldhis ranch toColonelSutterandstartedofftohuntforgold.ColonelSutterputamillonthelittlestreaminthatfarmandonedayhislittlegirlbroughtsomewetsandfromtheracewayofthemillintothehouseandplaceditbeforethefiretodry,andasthatsandwasfallingthroughthelittlegirl'sfingersavisitorsawthefirstshiningscales of real gold that were ever discovered in California; and themanwhowantedthegoldhadsoldhisranchandgoneaway,nevertoreturn.

IdeliveredthislecturetwoyearsagoinCalifornia,inthecitythatstandsnearthat farm,and they toldme that themine isnotexhaustedyet,and thataone-third owner of that farm has been getting during these recent years twentydollarsofgoldevery fifteenminutesofhis life, sleepingorwaking.Why,youandIwouldenjoyanincomelikethat!

But the best illustration that I have now of this thoughtwas found here inPennsylvania.TherewasamanlivinginPennsylvaniawhoownedafarmhereand he didwhat I should do if I had a farm inPennsylvania - he sold it.Butbeforehesolditheconcludedtosecureemploymentcollectingcoaloilforhiscousin in Canada. They first discovered coal oil there. So this farmer inPennsylvania decided that he would apply for a position with his cousin inCanada.Now,yousee,thefarmerwasnotaltogetherafoolishman.Hedidnotleavehisfarmuntilhehadsomethingelsetodo.

Ofallthesimpletonsthestarsshineonthereisnonemorefoolishthanaman

who leaves one job before he has obtained another. And that has especialreferencetogentlemenofmyprofession,andhasnoreferencetoamanseekingadivorce.SoI say thisold farmerdidnot leaveone jobuntilhehadobtainedanother.HewrotetoCanada,buthiscousinrepliedthathecouldnotengagehimbecausehedidnotknowanythingabouttheoilbusiness."Well,then,"saidhe,"Iwillunderstandit."Sohesethimselfatthestudyofthewholesubject.Hebeganat the second day of the creation, he studied the subject from the primitivevegetationtothecoaloilstage,untilheknewallaboutit.Thenhewrotetohiscousinandsaid,"NowIunderstandtheoilbusiness."Andhiscousinrepliedtohim,"Allright,then,comeon."

Thatman,bytherecordof thecountry,soldhisfarmforeighthundredandthirty-threedollars -- evenmoney, "nocents."Hehad scarcelygone from thatfarmbeforethemanwhopurchaseditwentouttoarrangeforwateringthecattleandhefoundthatthepreviousownerhadarrangedthematterverynicely.Thereisastreamrunningdownthehillsidethere,andthepreviousownerhadgoneoutandputaplankacross thatstreamatanangle,extendingacross thebrookanddownedgewiseafewinchesunderthesurfaceofthewater.Thepurposeoftheplankacrossthatbrookwastothrowovertotheotherbankadreadful-lookingscum through which the cattle would not put their noses to drink above theplank,althoughtheywoulddrinkthewaterononesidebelowit.

ThusthatmanwhohadgonetoCanadahadbeenhimselfdammingbackfortwenty-threeyearsaflowofcoaloilwhichtheStateGeologistofPennsylvaniadeclared officially, as early as 1870, was then worth to our state a hundredmillions of dollars. The city of Titusville now stands on that farm and thosePleasantville wells flow on, and that farmer who had studied all about theformationofoilsincetheseconddayofGod'screationcleardowntothepresenttime,soldthatfarmfor$833,nocents--againIsay,"nosense."

But Ineedanother illustration,and I found that inMassachusetts,and IamsorryIdid,becausethatismyoldstate.ThisyoungmanImentionwentoutofthestatetostudy--wentdowntoYaleCollegeandstudiedminesandmining.Theypaidhim fifteendollars aweekduringhis last year for training studentswho were behind their classes in mineralogy, out of hours, of course, whilepursuinghisownstudies.Butwhenhegraduatedtheyraisedhispayfromfifteendollars to forty-five dollars and offered him a professorship. Then he wentstraighthometohismotherandsaid,"Mother,Iwon'tworkforforty-fivedollarsa week.What is forty-five dollars a week for a man with a brain like mine!Mother, let'sgoout toCaliforniaandstakeoutgoldclaimsandbe immenselyrich.""Now,"saidhismother,"itisjustaswelltobehappyasitistoberich."

Butashewastheonlysonhehadhisway--theyalwaysdo;andtheysold

outinMassachusettsandwenttoWisconsin,wherehewentintotheemployoftheSuperiorCopperMiningCompany,andhewaslostfromsightintheemployofthatcompanyatfifteendollarsaweekagain.Hewasalsotohaveaninterestinanyminesthatheshoulddiscoverforthatcompany.ButIdonotbelievethathehaseverdiscoveredamine--Idonotknowanythingabout it,butIdonotbelievehehas.Iknowhehadscarcelygonefromtheoldhomesteadbeforethefarmer who had bought the homestead went out to dig potatoes, and he wasbringingtheminalargebasketthroughthefrontgateway,theendsofthestonewallcamesonear togetherat thegatethat thebaskethuggedverytight.Sohesetthebasketonthegroundandpulled,firstononesideandthenontheotherside.

OurfarmsinMassachusettsaremostlystonewalls,andthefarmershavetobeeconomicalwiththeirgatewaysinordertohavesomeplacetoputthestones.Thatbaskethuggedsotighttherethatashewashaulingitthroughhenoticedintheupper stonenext thegateablockofnativesilver,eight inchessquare;andthis professor ofmines andmining andmineralogy, whowould not work forforty-five dollars a week, when he sold that homestead inMassachusetts, satrightonthatstonetomakethebargain.Hewasbroughtupthere;hehadgonebackandforthbythatpieceofsilver,rubbeditwithhissleeve,anditseemedtosay, "Comenow,now,now,here is a hundred thousanddollars.Whynot takeme?"Buthewouldnottakeit.TherewasnosilverinNewburyport;itwasallawayoff --well, I don'tknowwhere;hedidn't, but somewhereelse -- andhewasaprofessorofmineralogy.

IdonotknowofanythingIwouldenjoybetter than to take thewhole timetonight tellingofblunders like that Ihaveheardprofessorsmake.Yet Iwish Iknew what that man is doing out there inWisconsin. I can imagine him outthere,ashesitsbyhis fireside,andhe is saying tohis friends. "DoyouknowthatmanConwell that lives inPhiladelphia?" "Oh, yes, I haveheardof him.""AnddoyouknowthatmanJonesthatlivesinthatcity?""Yes,Ihaveheardofhim."Andthenhebeginstolaughandlaughandsaystohisfriends,"Theyhavedone the same thing Idid,precisely."And that spoils thewhole joke,becauseyouandIhavedoneit.

Ninety out of every hundred people here havemade thatmistake this veryday. I say you ought to be rich; you have no right to be poor. To live inPhiladelphia and not be rich is a misfortune, and it is doubly a misfortune,becauseyoucouldhavebeenrichjustaswellasbepoor.Philadelphiafurnishessomanyopportunities.Yououghttoberich.Butpersonswithcertainreligiousprejudicewillask,"Howcanyouspendyourtimeadvisingtherisinggenerationtogivetheirtimetogettingmoney--dollarsandcents--thecommercialspirit?"

Yet Imust say that you ought to spend time getting rich.You and I knowtherearesomethingsmorevaluablethanmoney;ofcourse,wedo.Ah,yes!Byaheartmadeunspeakablysadbyagraveonwhichtheautumnleavesnowfall,Iknowtherearesomethingshigherandgranderandsublimerthanmoney.Welldoes theman know,whohas suffered, that there are some things sweeter andholierandmoresacredthangold.Nevertheless,themanofcommonsensealsoknowsthat there isnotanyoneof those things that isnotgreatlyenhancedbytheuseofmoney.Moneyispower.

Love is the grandest thing onGod's earth, but fortunate the loverwho hasplentyofmoney.Moneyispower:moneyhaspowers;andforamantosay,"Idonotwantmoney,"istosay,"Idonotwishtodoanygoodtomyfellowmen."It isabsurd thus to talk. It isabsurd todisconnect them.This isawonderfullygreatlife,andyououghttospendyourtimegettingmoney,becauseofthepowerthereisinmoney.Andyetthisreligiousprejudiceissogreatthatsomepeoplethink it is agreathonor tobeoneofGod'spoor. I am looking in the facesofpeoplewhothinkjustthatway.

Iheardamanoncesayinaprayer-meetingthathewasthankfulthathewasoneofGod'spoor,andthenIsilentlywonderedwhathiswifewouldsaytothatspeech,asshetookinwashingtosupportthemanwhilehesatandsmokedontheveranda.Idon'twanttoseeanymoreofthatkindofGod'spoor.Now,whenamancouldhavebeenrichjustaswell,andheisnowweakbecauseheispoor,hehasdonesomegreatwrong;hehasbeenuntruthful tohimself;hehasbeenunkind to his fellowmen. We ought to get rich if we can by honorable andChristianmethods,andthesearetheonlymethodsthatsweepusquicklytowardthegoalofriches.

Iremember,notmanyyearsago,ayoungtheologicalstudentwhocameintomyofficeandsaidtomethathethoughtitwashisdutytocomeinand"laborwithme."Iaskedhimwhathadhappened,andhesaid:"Ifeelitismydutytocome in and speak to you, sir, and say that the Holy Scriptures declare thatmoney is the rootofallevil." Iaskedhimwherehe found thatsaying,andhesaidhefounditintheBible.IaskedhimwhetherhehadmadeanewBible,andhesaid,no,hehadnotgottenanewBible,thatitwasintheoldBible."Well,"Isaid,"ifitisinmyBible,Ineversawit.Willyoupleasegetthetextbookandletmeseeit?"

HelefttheroomandsooncamestalkinginwithhisBibleopen,withallthebigoted pride of the narrow sectarian, who founds his creed on somemisinterpretationofScripture,andheputstheBibledownonthetablebeforemeandfairlysquealedintomyear,"Thereitis.Youcanreaditforyourself."Isaidtohim,"Youngman,youwilllearn,whenyougetalittleolder,thatyoucannot

trustanotherdenominationtoreadtheBibleforyou."Isaid,"Now,youbelongtoanotherdenomination.Pleasereadittome,andrememberthatyouaretaughtinaschoolwhereemphasisisexegesis."SohetooktheBibleandreadit:"Theloveofmoneyistherootofallevil."Thenhehaditright.

TheGreatBookhascomebackinto theesteemandloveof thepeople,andintotherespectofthegreatestmindsofearth,andnowyoucanquoteitandrestyourlifeandyourdeathonitwithoutmorefear.So,whenhequotedrightfromtheScriptureshequotedthetruth."Theloveofmoneyistherootofallevil."Oh,thatisit.It istheworshipofthemeansinsteadoftheend.Thoughyoucannotreach the end without the means. When a man makes an idol of the moneyinsteadof thepurposes forwhich itmaybeused,whenhesqueezes thedollaruntiltheeaglesqueals,thenitismadetherootofallevil.Think,ifyouonlyhadthemoney,whatyoucoulddoforyourwife,yourchild,andforyourhomeandyourcity.ThinkhowsoonyoucouldendowtheTempleCollegeyonderifyouonlyhadthemoneyandthedispositiontogiveit;andyet,myfriend,peoplesayyou and I should not spend the time getting rich.How inconsistent thewholethingis.Weoughttoberich,becausemoneyhaspower.

Ithinkthebestthingformetodoistoillustratethis,forifIsayyououghttogetrich,Iought,at least, tosuggesthowit isdone.Wegetaprejudiceagainstrichmenbecauseoftheliesthataretoldaboutthem.TheliesthataretoldaboutMr.Rockefellerbecausehehastwohundredmilliondollars--somanybelievethem;yethowfalseistherepresentationofthatmantotheworld.Howlittlewecantellwhatistruenowadayswhennewspaperstrytoselltheirpapersentirelyonsomesensation!Theway they lieabout the richmen is something terrible,and I donot know that there is anything to illustrate this better thanwhat thenewspapersnowsayaboutthecityofPhiladelphia.

Ayoungmancametometheotherdayandsaid,"IfMr.Rockefeller,asyouthink,isagoodman,whyisitthateverybodysayssomuchagainsthim?"Itisbecausehehasgottenaheadofus;thatisthewholeofit--justgottenaheadofus.WhyisitMr.Carnegieiscriticizedsosharplybyanenviousworld!Becausehe has gottenmore thanwe have. If aman knowsmore than I know, don't Iinclinetocriticizesomewhathislearning?Letamanstandinapulpitandpreachto thousands,and if Ihave fifteenpeople inmychurch,and they'reallasleep,don'tIcriticizehim?Wealwaysdothattothemanwhogetsaheadofus.Why,themanyouarecriticizinghasonehundredmillions,andyouhavefiftycents,andbothofyouhavejustwhatyouareworth.

Oneof therichestmenin thiscountrycameintomyhomeandsatdowninmyparlorandsaid:"Didyouseeallthoseliesaboutmyfamilyinthepapers?""Certainly I did; I knew theywere lies when I saw them." "Why do they lie

aboutme theway they do?" "Well," I said to him, "if youwill giveme yourcheckforonehundredmillions,Iwilltakealltheliesalongwithit.""Well,"saidhe, "I don't see any sense in their thus talking about my family and myself.Conwell,tellmefrankly,whatdoyouthinktheAmericanpeoplethinkofme?""Well,"saidI,"theythinkyouaretheblackestheartedvillainthatevertrodthesoil!""ButwhatcanIdoaboutit?"Thereisnothinghecandoaboutit,andyethe is one of the sweetest Christian men I ever knew. If you get a hundredmillionsyouwillhavethelies;youwillbeliedabout,andyoucanjudgeyoursuccessinanylinebytheliesthataretoldaboutyou.Isaythatyououghttoberich.

Butthereareevercomingtomeyoungmenwhosay,"Iwouldliketogointobusiness, but I cannot." "Why not?" "Because I have no capital to begin on."Capital, capital to begin on! What! young man! Living in Philadelphia andlooking at thiswealthy generation, all ofwhom began as poor boys, and youwantcapital tobeginon?It is fortunateforyouthatyouhavenocapital. Iamgladyouhavenomoney.Ipityarichman'sson.Arichman'ssoninthesedaysofoursoccupiesaverydifficultposition.Theyaretobepitied.Arichman'ssoncannot know the very best things in human life. He cannot. The statistics ofMassachusetts showus that not oneout of seventeen richmen's sons ever dierich. They are raised in luxury, they die in poverty. Even if a richman's sonretainshisfather'smoney,eventhenhecannotknowthebestthingsoflife.

A youngman in our college yonder askedme to formulate for himwhat Ithoughtwasthehappiesthourinaman'shistory,andIstudieditlongandcameback convinced that the happiest hour that any man ever sees in any earthlymatter iswhenayoungmantakeshisbrideover the thresholdof thedoor,forthefirsttime,ofthehousehehimselfhasearnedandbuilt,whenheturnstohisbrideandwithaneloquencegreaterthananylanguageofmine,hesayethtohiswife,"Mylovedone,Iearnedthishomemyself;Iearneditall.Itisallmine,andIdivideitwiththee."Thatisthegrandestmomentahumanheartmayeversee.Butarichman'ssoncannotknowthat.Hegoesintoafinermansion,itmaybe,butheisobligedtogothroughthehouseandsay,"Mothergavemethis,mothergavemethat,mymothergavemethat,mymothergavemethat,"untilhiswifewishesshehadmarriedhismother.

Oh,Ipityarichman'sson.Ido.Untilhegetssofaralonginhisdudeismthathegetshisarmsuplikethatandcan'tgetthemdown.Didn'tyoueverseeanyofthemastrayatAtlanticCity?IsawoneofthesescarecrowsonceandInevertirethinkingaboutit.IwasatNiagaraFallslecturing,andafterthelectureIwenttothehotel,andwhen Iwentup to thedesk therestood thereamillionaire's sonfromNewYork.Hewasanindescribablespecimenofanthropologicpotency.He

carriedagold-headedcaneunderhisarm--moreinitsheadthanhehadinhis.IdonotbelieveIcoulddescribetheyoungmanifIshouldtry.ButstillImustsaythatheworeaneye-glasshecouldnotseethrough;patentleathershoeshecouldnotwalkin,andpantshecouldnotsitdownin--dressedlikeagrasshopper!

Well, this human cricket came up to the clerk's desk just as I came in.Headjustedhisunseeingeye-glassinthiswiseandlispedtotheclerk,becauseit's"Hinglish,youknow,"tolisp:"Thir,thir,willyouhavethekindnesstofuhnishme with thome papah and thome envelopehs!" The clerk measured that manquick,andhepulledoutadrawerandtooksomeenvelopesandpaperandcastthemacrossthecounterandturnedawaytohisbooks.

You should have seen that specimen of humanity when the paper andenvelopes came across the counter -- he whose wants had always beenanticipatedbyservants.Headjustedhisunseeingeye-glassandheyelledafterthatclerk:"Comebackhere,thir,comerightbackhere.Now,thir,willyouorderathervant totakethatpapahandthotheenvelopehsandcarrythemtoyondahdethk."Oh, the poor,miserable, contemptibleAmericanmonkey!He couldn'tcarrypaperandenvelopestwentyfeet.Isupposehecouldnotgethisarmsdown.Ihavenopityforsuchtravestiesofhumannature.Ifyouhavenocapital,Iamgladofit.Youdon'tneedcapital;youneedcommonsense,notcoppercents.

A.T.Stewart, thegreatprincelymerchantofNewYork, the richestman inAmericainhistime,wasapoorboy;hehadadollarandahalfandwentintothemercantilebusiness.Buthelosteighty-sevenandahalfcentsofhisfirstdollarandahalfbecauseheboughtsomeneedlesandthreadandbuttonstosell,whichpeopledidn'twant.

Are you poor? It is because you are not wanted and are left on your ownhands.Therewasthegreatlesson.Applyitwhicheverwayyouwillitcomestoeverysingleperson's life,youngorold.Hedidnotknowwhatpeopleneeded,andconsequentlyboughtsomethingtheydidn'twant,andhadthegoodsleftonhis hands a dead loss. A. T. Stewart learned there the great lesson of hismercantilelifeandsaid"IwillneverbuyanythingmoreuntilIfirstlearnwhatthepeoplewant;thenI'llmakethepurchase."Hewentaroundtothedoorsandasked themwhat theydidwant, andwhenhe foundoutwhat theywanted,heinvestedhissixty-twoandahalfcentsandbegantosupplya"knowndemand."Icarenotwhatyourprofessionoroccupation in lifemaybe; Icarenotwhetheryouarealawyer,adoctor,ahousekeeper,teacherorwhateverelse,theprincipleispreciselythesame.Wemustknowwhattheworldneedsfirstandtheninvestourselvestosupplythatneed,andsuccessisalmostcertain.

A.T.Stewartwentonuntilhewasworthfortymillions."Well,"youwillsay,"aman can do that inNewYork, but cannot do it here in Philadelphia." The

statisticsverycarefullygatheredinNewYorkin1889showedonehundredandsevenmillionairesinthecityworthovertenmillionsapiece.Itwasremarkableand people think theymust go there to get rich.Out of that one hundred andsevenmillionairesonlysevenofthemmadetheirmoneyinNewYork,andtheothersmovedtoNewYorkaftertheirfortunesweremade,andsixty-sevenoutoftheremaininghundredmadetheirfortunesintownsoflessthansixthousandpeople,andtherichestmaninthecountryatthattimelivedinatownofthirty-fivehundredinhabitants,andalwayslivedthereandnevermovedaway.Itisnotsomuchwhereyouareaswhatyouare.Butatthesametimeifthelargenessofthe city comes into the problem, then remember it is the smaller city thatfurnishesthegreatopportunitytomakethemillionsofmoney.

ThebestillustrationthatIcangiveisinreferencetoJohnJacobAstor,whowasapoorboyandwhomadeallthemoneyoftheAstorfamily.Hemademorethan his successors have ever earned, and yet he once held a mortgage on amillinery store in NewYork, and because the people could notmake enoughmoney to pay the interest and the rent, he foreclosed the mortgage and tookpossessionofthestoreandwentintopartnershipwiththemanwhohadfailed.Hekept thesamestock,didnotgivethemadollarofcapital,andheleft themaloneandhewentoutandsatdownuponabenchinthepark.

Out there on that bench in the park he had themost important, and, tomymind, the pleasantest part of that partnership business. He was watching theladies as they went by; and where is the man that wouldn't get rich at thatbusiness?ButwhenJohnJacobAstorsawaladypass,withhershouldersbackand her head up, as if she did not care if thewholeworld looked on her, hestudiedherbonnet;andbeforethatbonnetwasoutofsightheknewtheshapeofthe frame and the color of the trimmings, the curl of the -- something on abonnet.SometimesItrytodescribeawoman'sbonnet,butitisoflittleuse,foritwouldbeoutofstyletomorrownight.

So John Jacob Astor went to the store and said: "Now, put in the showwindow just suchabonnetas Idescribe toyoubecause," saidhe, "Ihave justseenaladywholikesjustsuchabonnet.DonotmakeupanymoretillIcomeback."Andhewentoutagainandsatonthatbenchinthepark,andanotherladyofadifferentformandcomplexionpassedhimwithabonnetofdifferentshapeand color, of course. "Now," said he, "put such a bonnet as that in the showwindow."

He didn't fill his show window with hats and bonnets which drive peopleaway and then sit in the back of the store and bawl because the people gosomewhereelsetotrade.Hedidn'tputahatorbonnetinthatshowwindowthelikeofwhichhehadnotseenbeforeitwasmadeup.

Inourcityespecially,therearegreatopportunitiesformanufacturing,andthetimehascomewhenthelineisdrawnverysharplybetweenthestockholdersofthe factory and their employees. Now, friends, there has also come adiscouraginggloomuponthiscountryandthelaboringmenarebeginningtofeelthat they are being held downby a crust over their heads throughwhich theyfind it impossible tobreak, and the aristocraticmoneyowner-himself is so farabovethathewillneverdescendtotheirassistance.Thatisthethoughtthatisinthemindsof our people.But, friends, never in thehistoryof our countrywasthereanopportunitysogreatforthepoormantogetrichasthereisnowandinthecityofPhiladelphia.Theveryfactthattheygetdiscouragediswhatpreventsthemfromgettingrich.Thatisallthereistoit.Theroadisopen,andletuskeepitopenbetweenthepoorandtherich.

Iknow that the laborunionshave twogreatproblems tocontendwith, andthere is only one way to solve them. The labor unions are doing asmuch topreventitssolvingasarecapitaliststoday,andtherearepositivelytwosidestoit.The laborunionhas twodifficulties; the firstone is that itbegan tomakealaborscaleforallclassesonapar,andtheyscaledownamanthatcanearnfivedollarsadaytotwoandahalfaday,inordertoleveluptohimanimbecilethatcannotearnfiftycentsaday.Thatisoneofthemostdangerousanddiscouragingthingsfortheworkingman.Hecannotgettheresultsofhisworkifhedobetterworkorhigherworkorworklonger; that isadangerous thing,andinorder togeteverylaboringmanfreeandeveryAmericanequaltoeveryotherAmerican,letthelaboringmanaskwhatheisworthandgetit--notletanycapitalistsaytohim:"Youshallworkformeforhalfofwhatyouareworth";norletanylabororganizationsay:"Youshallworkforthecapitalistforhalfyourworth."

Beaman,beindependent,andthenshallthelaboringmanfindtheroadeveropenfrompovertytowealth.

Theotherdifficultythatthelaborunionhastoconsider,andthisproblemtheyhavetosolvethemselves,isthekindoforatorswhocomeandtalktothemabouttheoppressiverich.IcaninmydreamsrecitetheorationIhaveheardagainandagainundersuchcircumstances.Mylifehasbeenwiththelaboringman.Iamalaboringmanmyself. Ihaveoften, in theirassemblies,heard thespeechof themanwhohasbeeninvitedtoaddressthelaborunion.Themangetsupbeforetheassembled companyofhonest laboringmenandhebeginsby saying: "Oh,yehonest, industrious laboring men, who have furnished all the capital of theworld, who have built all the palaces and constructed all the railroads andcoveredtheoceanwithhersteamships.Oh,youlaboringmen!Youarenothingbutslaves;youaregrounddowninthedustbythecapitalistwhoisgloatingoveryouasheenjoyshisbeautifulestatesandashehashisbanksfilledwithgold,

andeverydollarheownsiscoinedoutoftheheart'sbloodofthehonestlaboringman."Now, that is a lie, and you know it is a lie; and yet that is the kind ofspeech that theyarehearingall the time, representing thecapitalistsaswickedandthelaboringmansoenslaved.

Why, how wrong it is! Let the man who loves his flag and believes inAmerican principles endeavorwith all his soul to bring the capitalists and thelaboringmantogetheruntiltheystandsidebyside,andarminarm,andworkforthecommongoodofhumanity.

Heisanenemytohiscountrywhosetscapitalagainstlabororlaboragainstcapital.

Suppose Iwere togodown through thisaudienceandaskyou to introduceme to the great inventors who live here in Philadelphia. "The inventors ofPhiladelphia,"youwouldsay,"why,wedon'thaveanyinPhiladelphia.Itistooslowtoinventanything."Butyoudohavejustasgreatinventors,andtheyarehereinthisaudience,aseverinventedamachine.Buttheprobabilityisthatthegreatestinventortobenefittheworldwithhisdiscoveryissomeperson,perhapssomelady,whothinksshecouldnotinventanything.

Didyoueverstudythehistoryof inventionandseehowstrange itwas thatthemanwhomadethegreatestdiscoverydiditwithoutanypreviousideathathewas an inventor? Who are the great inventors? They are persons with plain,straightforwardcommonsense,whosawaneed in theworldand immediatelyappliedthemselvestosupplythatneed.Ifyouwanttoinventanything,don'ttryto find it in thewheels inyourheadnor thewheels inyourmachine,but firstfind outwhat the people need, and then apply yourself to that need, and thisleads to invention on the part of people youwould not dream of before. Thegreat inventorsare simplygreatmen; thegreater theman themore simple theman;andthemoresimpleamachine,themorevaluableitis.

Didyoueverknowareallygreatman?Hiswaysaresosimple,socommon,soplain,thatyouthinkanyonecoulddowhatheisdoing.Soitiswiththegreatmen theworldover. Ifyouknowa reallygreatman,aneighborofyours,youcan go right up to him and say, "How are you, Jim, goodmorning, Sam."Ofcourseyoucan,fortheyarealwayssosimple.

WhenIwrotethelifeofGeneralGarfield,oneofhisneighborstookmetohisbackdoor,andshouted,"Jim,Jim,Jim!"andverysoon"Jim"cametothedoorandGeneralGarfield letme in --oneof thegrandestmenofourcentury.Thegreatmenof theworldareeverso. Iwasdown inVirginiaandwentup toaneducational institutionandwasdirected toamanwhowassettingouta tree. Iapproached him and said, "Do you think it would be possible for me to seeGeneral Robert E. Lee, the President of the University?" He said, "Sir, I am

GeneralLee."Ofcourse,whenyoumeetsuchaman,sonobleamanasthat,youwillfindhimasimple,plainman.Greatnessisalwaysjustsomodestandgreatinventionsaresimple.

Iaskedaclassinschooloncewhowerethegreatinventors,andalittlegirlpopped up and said, "Columbus." Well, now, she was not so far wrong.Columbus bought a farm and he carried on that farm just as I carried onmyfather's farm. He took a hoe and went out and sat down on a rock. ButColumbus,ashesatuponthatshoreandlookedoutupontheocean,noticedthatthe ships, as they sailed away, sank deeper into the sea the farther theywent.Andsince that timesomeother"Spanishships"havesunk into thesea.ButasColumbusnoticedthatthetopsofthemastsdroppeddownoutofsight,hesaid:"Thatisthewayitiswiththishoehandle;ifyougoaroundthishoehandle,thefartheroffyougothefartherdownyougo.IcansailaroundtotheEastIndies."Howplain itallwas.Howsimple themind--majestic like thesimplicityofamountaininitsgreatness.Whoarethegreatinventors?Theyareeverthesimple,plain,everydaypeoplewhoseetheneedandsetabouttosupplyit.

IwasoncelecturinginNorthCarolina,andthecashierofthebanksatdirectlybehindaladywhoworeaverylargehat.Isaidtothataudience,"Yourwealthistooneartoyou;youarelookingrightoverit."Hewhisperedtohisfriend,"Well,then,mywealthisinthathat."Alittlelater,ashewroteme,Isaid,"Whereverthere is a human need there is a greater fortune than amine can furnish."Hecaughtmythought,andhedrewuphisplanforabetterhatpinthanwasinthehatbeforehimandthepinisnowbeingmanufactured.Hewasofferedfifty-twothousanddollarsforhispatent.Thatmanmadehisfortunebeforehegotoutofthathall.Thisisthewholequestion:Doyouseeaneed?"

I rememberwell amanup inmynative hills, a poorman,who for twentyyearswashelpedbythetowninhispoverty,whoownedawidespreadingmapletree that covered the poor man's cottage like a benediction from on high. Irememberthattree,forinthespring--thereweresomeroguishboysaroundthatneighborhoodwhenIwasyoung--inthespringoftheyearthemanwouldputabucketthereandthespoutstocatchthemaplesap,andIrememberwherethatbucketwas;andwhenIwasyoungtheboyswere,oh,somean,thattheywenttothattreebeforethatmanhadgottenoutofbedinthemorning,andafterhehadgonetobedatnight,anddrankupthatsweetsap,Icouldsweartheydidit.

He didn'tmake a great deal ofmaple sugar from that tree.But one day hemade the sugar sowhite and crystalline that the visitor did not believe itwasmaplesugar;thoughtmaplesugarmustberedorblack.Hesaidtotheoldman:"Whydon't youmake it thatway and sell it for confectionery?"The oldmancaughthisthoughtandinventedthe"rockmaplecrystal,"andbeforethatpatent

expiredhehadninety thousanddollars andhadbuilt abeautifulpalaceon thesite of that tree. After forty years owning that tree he awoke to find it hadfortunesofmoneyindeedinit.Andmanyofusarerightbythetreethathasafortuneforus,andweownit,possessit,dowhatwewillwithit,butwedonotlearnitsvaluebecausewedonotseethehumanneed,andinthesediscoveriesand inventions that is oneof themost romantic thingsof life. I have receivedlettersfromalloverthecountryandfromEngland,whereIhavelectured,sayingthat they have discovered this and that, and one man out in Ohio took methroughhisgreatfactorieslastspring,andsaidthattheycosthim$680,000,and,saidhe,"IwasnotworthacentintheworldwhenIheardyourlecture'AcresofDiamonds';butImadeupmymindtostoprighthereandmakemyfortunehere,andhereitis."Heshowedmethroughhisunmortgagedpossessions.Andthisisa continual experience now as I travel through the country, after these manyyears.Imentionthisincident,nottoboast,buttoshowyouthatyoucandothesameifyouwill.

Who are the great inventors? I remember a good illustration in amanwhousedto live inEastBrookfield,Mass.Hewasashoemaker,andhewasoutofworkandhesataroundthehouseuntilhiswifetoldhim"togooutdoors."Andhedidwhateveryhusbandiscompelledbylawtodo--heobeyedhiswife.Andhewentoutandsatdownonanashbarrelinhisbackyard.Thinkofit!Strandedonanashbarrelandtheenemyinpossessionofthehouse!Ashesatonthatashbarrel, he lookeddown into that littlebrookwhich ran through thatbackyardintothemeadows,andhesawalittletroutgoflashingupthestreamandhidingunderthebank.IdonotsupposehethoughtofTennyson'sbeautifulpoem:

"Chatter,chatterasIflow,Tojointhebrimmingriver,Menmaycome,andmen

maygo,ButIgoonforever."But as this man looked into the brook, he leaped off that ash barrel and

managedtocatchthetroutwithhisfingers,andsentittoWorcester.Theywrotebackthattheywouldgiveafivedollarbillforanothersuchtroutasthat,notthatitwasworththatmuch,buttheywishedtohelpthepoorman.Sothisshoemakerandhiswife,nowperfectlyunited,thatfive-dollarbill inprospect,wentouttoget another trout. They went up the stream to its source and down to thebrimmingriver,butnotanothertroutcouldtheyfindinthewholestream;andsotheycamehomedisconsolateandwenttotheminister.Theministerdidn'tknowhow troutgrew,buthepointed theway.Saidhe, "GetSethGreen'sbook, and

thatwillgiveyoutheinformationyouwant."Theydidso,andfoundallaboutthecultureoftrout.Theyfoundthatatrout

lays thirty-six hundred eggs every year and every trout gains a quarter of apound every year, so that in four years a little troutwill furnish four tons perannumtosell to themarketat fiftycentsapound.Whentheyfoundthat, theysaidtheydidn'tbelieveanysuchstoryasthat,butiftheycouldgetfivedollarsapiece theycouldmake something.And right in that samebackyardwith thecoalsifterupstreamandwindowscreendownthestream,theybeganthecultureof trout.Theyafterwardsmoved to theHudson,andsince thenhehasbecometheauthorityintheUnitedStatesupontheraisingoffish,andhehasbeennexttothehighestontheUnitedStatesFishCommissioninWashington.Mylessonisthatman'swealthwasouthereinhisbackyardfortwentyyears,buthedidn'tseeituntilhiswifedrovehimoutwithamopstick.

IremembermeetingpersonallyapoorcarpenterofHingham,Massachusetts,whowasoutofworkandinpoverty.Hiswifealsodrovehimoutofdoors.Hesatdownon theshoreandwhittledasoakedshingle intoawoodenchain.Hischildrenquarreledover it in theevening,andwhilehewaswhittlinga secondone, a neighbor came along and said, "Why don't youwhittle toys if you cancarvelikethat?"Hesaid,"Idon'tknowwhattomake!"

Thereisthewholething.Hisneighborsaidtohim:"Whydon'tyouaskyourownchildren?"Saidhe,"Whatistheuseofdoingthat?Mychildrenaredifferentfromotherpeople'schildren."IusedtoseepeoplelikethatwhenItaughtschool.Thenextmorningwhenhisboycamedownthestairway,hesaid,"Sam,whatdoyouwantforatoy?""Iwantawheelbarrow."Whenhislittlegirlcamedown,heaskedherwhatshewanted,andshesaid,"Iwantalittledoll'swash-stand,alittledoll'scarriage,a littledoll'sumbrella,"andwentonwithawhole lotof thingsthatwouldhavetakenhislifetimetosupply.Heconsultedhisownchildrenrightthereinhisownhouseandbegantowhittleouttoystopleasethem.

Hebeganwithhisjack-knife,andmadethoseunpaintedHinghamtoys.HeistherichestmanintheentireNewEnglandStates,ifMr.Lawsonistobetrustedinhisstatementconcerningsuchthings,andyetthatman'sfortunewasmadebyconsultinghisownchildreninhisownhouse.Youdon'tneedtogooutofyourownhousetofindoutwhattoinventorwhattomake.Ialwaystalktoolongonthissubject.Iwouldliketomeetthegreatmenwhoareheretonight.Thegreatmen!Wedon'thaveanygreatmeninPhiladelphia.Greatmen!YousaythattheyallcomefromLondon,orSanFrancisco,orRome,orManayunk,oranywhereelsebutthere--anywhereelsebutPhiladelphia--andyet,infact,therearejustasgreatmeninPhiladelphiaasinanycityofitssize.Therearegreatmenandwomeninthisaudience.

Greatmen,Ihavesaid,areverysimplemen.Justasmanygreatmenhereasare to be found anywhere. The greatest error in judging greatmen is thatwethink that theyalwaysholdanoffice.Theworldknowsnothingof itsgreatestmen.Whoare thegreatmenof theworld?Theyoungmanandyoungwomanmaywellaskthequestion.Itisnotnecessarythattheyshouldholdanoffice,andyet that is thepopular idea.That is the ideawe teachnowinourhighschoolsandcommonschools,thatthegreatmenoftheworldarethosewhoholdsomehigh office, and unless we change that very soon and do away with thatprejudice,wearegoingtochangetoanempire.Thereisnoquestionaboutit.Wemust teach that men are great only on their intrinsic value, and not on thepositiontheymayincidentallyhappentooccupy.Andyet,don'tblametheyoungmen saying that they are going to be great when they get into some officialposition.

I ask this audience againwho of you are going to be great? Says a youngman:"Iamgoingtobegreat.""Whenareyougoingtobegreat?""WhenIamelectedtosomepoliticaloffice."Won'tyoulearnthelesson,youngman;thatitisprima facie evidence of littleness to hold public office under our form ofgovernment?Thinkofit.Thisisagovernmentofthepeople,andbythepeople,andforthepeople,andnotfortheofficeholder,andifthepeopleinthiscountryruleastheyalwaysshouldrule,anofficeholderisonlytheservantofthepeople,andtheBiblesaysthat"theservantcannotbegreaterthanhismaster."

TheBiblesaysthat"hethatissentcannotbegreaterthanhewhosenthim."In this country the people are themasters, and the officeholders can never begreater than thepeople; theyshouldbehonest servantsof thepeople,but theyarenotourgreatestmen.Youngman,rememberthatyouneverheardofagreatmanholdinganypoliticalofficeinthiscountryunlesshetookthatofficeatanexpensetohimself.Itisalosstoeverygreatmantotakeapublicofficeinourcountry. Bear this in mind, young man, that you cannot be made great by apoliticalelection.

Anotheryoungmansays,"IamgoingtobeagreatmaninPhiladelphiasometime.""Isthatso?Whenareyougoingtobegreat?""Whentherecomesanotherwar!WhenwegetintodifficultywithMexico,orEngland,orRussia,orJapan,or with Spain again over Cuba, or with New Jersey, I will march up to thecannon's mouth, and amid the glistening bayonets I will tear down their flagfromitsstaff,andIwillcomehomewithstarsonmyshoulders,andholdeveryoffice in thegiftof thegovernment, and Iwillbegreat." "No,youwon't!No,youwon't; that isnoevidenceof truegreatness,youngman."Butdon'tblamethatyoungman for thinking thatway; that is thewayhe is taught in thehighschool.That is thewayhistory is taught in college.He is taught that themen

whoheldtheofficedidallthefighting.I remember we had a Peace Jubilee here in Philadelphia soon after the

SpanishWar.Perhapssomeofthesevisitorsthinkweshouldnothavehadituntilnow in Philadelphia, and as the great processionwas going upBroadStreet Iwastold that the tally-hocoachstoppedright infrontofmyhouse,andonthecoach was Hobson, and all the people threw up their hats and swung theirhandkerchiefs, and shouted "Hurrah for Hobson!" I would have yelled too,because he deservesmuchmore of his country that he has ever received.Butsuppose I go into the high school tomorrow and ask, "Boys, who sunk theMerrimac?"If theyanswerme"Hobson,"theytellmeseven-eighthsofalie--seven-eighthsofa lie,because therewereeightmenwhosunk theMerrimac.Theothersevenmen,byvirtueoftheirposition,werecontinuallyexposedtotheSpanishfirewhileHobson,asanofficer,mightreasonablybebehindthesmoke-stack.

Why,my friends, in this intelligent audiencegatheredhere tonight IdonotbelieveIcouldfindasinglepersonthatcannametheothersevenmenwhowerewith Hobson.Why do we teach history in that way?We ought to teach thathoweverhumble the station amanmayoccupy, if hedoeshis full duty inhisplace, he is just asmuch entitled to theAmerican people's honor as is a kinguponathrone.WedoteachitasamotherdidherlittleboyinNewYorkwhenhesaid, "Mamma, what great building is that?" "That is General Grant's tomb.""WhowasGeneralGrant?" "Hewas themanwhoput down the rebellion." Isthatthewaytoteachhistory?

DoyouthinkwewouldhavegainedavictoryifithaddependedonGeneralGrantalone.Oh,no.ThenwhyisthereatombontheHudsonatall?Why,notsimplybecauseGeneralGrantwaspersonallyagreatmanhimself,butthattombis there because he was a representative man and represented two hundredthousandmenwhowentdowntodeathforthisnationandmanyofthemasgreatasGeneralGrant.ThatiswhythatbeautifultombstandsontheheightsovertheHudson.

I rememberan incident thatwill illustrate this, theonlyone that I cangivetonight.Iamashamedofit,butIdon'tdareleaveitout.Iclosemyeyesnow;Ilookbackthroughtheyearsto1863;IcanseemynativetownintheBerkshireHills,Icanseethatcattle-showgroundfilledwithpeople;Icanseethechurchthere and the townhall crowded, andhear bandsplaying, and see flags flyingandhandkerchiefsstreaming--welldoIrecallatthismomentthatday.

The people had turned out to receive a company of soldiers, and thatcompanycamemarchingupontheCommon.TheyhadservedoutonetermintheCivilWarandhad reenlisted,and theywerebeing receivedby theirnative

townsmen.Iwasbutaboy,butIwascaptainofthatcompany,puffedoutwithprideonthatday--why,acambricneedlewouldhaveburstmealltopieces.

As Imarchedon theCommonat theheadofmycompany, therewasnotamanmoreproudthanI.WemarchedintothetownhallandthentheyseatedmysoldiersdowninthecenterofthehouseandItookmyplacedownonthefrontseat, and then the town officers filed through the great throng of people,whostoodcloseandpackedinthatlittlehall.Theycameupontheplatform,formeda half circle around it, and the mayor of the town, the "chairman of theselectmen"inNewEngland,tookhisseatinthemiddleofthathalfcircle.

Hewasanoldman,hishairwasgray;heneverheldanofficebeforeinhislife.He thought that an officewas all he needed to be a truly greatman, andwhenhecameupheadjustedhispowerfulspectaclesandglancedcalmlyaroundtheaudiencewithamazingdignity.Suddenlyhiseyesfelluponme,andthenthegoodoldmancamerightforwardandinvitedmetocomeuponthestandwiththetownofficers.Invitedmeuponthestand!Notownofficerevertooknoticeofmebefore Iwent towar.Now, I shouldnot say that.One townofficerwasthere who advised the teachers to "whale" me, but I mean no "honorablemention."

SoIwasinviteduponthestandwiththetownofficers.Itookmyseatandletmyswordfallonthefloor,andfoldedmyarmsacrossmybreastandwaitedtobereceived.NapoleontheFifth!Pridegoethbeforedestructionandafall.WhenIhadgottenmyseatandallbecamesilentthroughthehall,thechairmanoftheselectmen arose and came forwardwith great dignity to the table, andwe allsupposed he would introduce the Congregational minister, who was the onlyoratorinthetown,andwhowouldgivetheorationtothereturningsoldiers.

But, friends, you should have seen the surprise that ran over that audiencewhen they discovered that this old farmer was going to deliver that orationhimself.Hehadnevermadeaspeechinhislifebefore,buthefellintothesameerrorthatothershavefalleninto,heseemedtothinkthattheofficewouldmakehim an orator. So he had written out a speech and walked up and down thepastureuntilhehadlearneditbyheartandfrightenedthecattle,andhebroughtthatmanuscriptwithhim,and, taking it fromhispocket,hespread itcarefullyupon the table.Thenheadjustedhisspectacles tobesure thathemightsee it,andwalkedfarbackontheplatformandthensteppedforwardlikethis.Hemusthavestudiedthesubjectmuch,forheassumedanelocutionaryattitude;herestedheavily upon his left heel, slightly advanced the right foot, threw back hisshoulders,openedtheorgansofspeech,andadvancedhisrighthandatanangleofforty-five.

Ashestoodinthiselocutionaryattitudethisisjustthewaythatspeechwent,

thisisitprecisely.SomeofmyfriendshaveaskedmeifIdonotexaggerateit,butIcouldnotexaggerateit.Impossible!Thisisthewayitwent;althoughIamnothereforthestorybutthelessonthatisbackofit:

"Fellowcitizens."Assoonasheheardhisvoice,hishandbegantoshakelikethat, his knees began to tremble, and then he shook all over.He coughed andchokedandfinallycamearoundtolookathismanuscript.Thenhebeganagain:"Fellowcitizens:We--are--weare--weare--weare--Weareveryhappy--weareveryhappy--weareveryhappy--towelcomebacktotheirnativetownthesesoldierswhohavefoughtandbled--andcomebackagaintotheirnativetown. We are especially -- we are especially -- we are especially -- we areespecially pleased to seewith us today this young hero (thatmeantme), thisyoungherowhoinimagination(friends,remember,hesaid 'imagination,'forifhehadnotsaidthat,Iwouldnotbeegotisticalenoughtorefertoit)thisyoungherowho,inimagination,wehaveseenleadinghistroops--leading--wehaveseenleading--wehaveseenleadinghistroopsontothedeadlybreach.Wehaveseenhisshining--hisshining--wehaveseenhisshining--wehaveseenhisshining -- his shining sword -- flashing in the sunlight as he shouted to histroops,'Comeon!"'

Ohdear,dear,dear,dear!Howlittlethatgood,oldmanknewaboutwar.Ifhehadknownanythingaboutwar,heoughttohaveknownwhatanysoldierinthisaudienceknowsistrue,thatitisnexttoacrimeforanofficerofinfantryeverintimeofdangertogoaheadofhismen.I,withmyshiningswordflashinginthesunlight, shouting tomy troops: "Comeon." I never did it.Do you suppose Iwouldgoaheadofmymentobeshotinthefrontbytheenemyandinthebackbymy ownmen? That is no place for an officer. The place for the officer isbehindtheprivatesoldierinactualfighting.

Howoften,asastaffofficer,Irodedownthelinewhentherebelcryandyellwas coming out of the woods, sweeping along over the fields, and shouted,"Officerstotherear!Officerstotherear!"andtheneveryofficergoesbehindtheline of battle, and the higher the officer rank, the farther behind he goes.Notbecauseheisanythelessbrave,butbecausethelawsofwarrequirethattobedone. If thegeneralcameupon the front lineandwerekilledyouwould loseyourbattleanyhow,becausehehastheplanofthebattleinhisbrain,andmustbekeptincomparativesafety.

I,withmy"shiningswordflashinginthesunlight."Ah!Theresatinthehallthatdaymenwhohadgiventhatboytheirlasthardtack,whohadcarriedhimontheirbacksthroughdeeprivers.Butsomewerenotthere;theyhadgonedowntodeath for their country. The speakermentioned them, but they were but littlenoticed,andyettheyhadgonedowntodeathfortheircountry,gonedownfora

cause theybelievedwas rightandstillbelievewas right, though Igrant to theothersidethesamethatIaskformyself.Yetthesemenwhohadactuallydiedfortheircountrywerelittlenoticed,andtheheroofthehourwasthisboy.

Why was he the hero? Simply because that man fell into the samefoolishness. This boy was an officer, and those were only private soldiers. IlearnedalessonthatIwillneverforget.Greatnessconsistsnotinholdingsomeoffice;greatnessreallyconsistsindoingsomegreatdeedwithlittlemeans,intheaccomplishment of vast purposes from the private ranks of life, that is truegreatness.

Hewho can give to this people better streets, better homes, better schools,betterchurches,morereligion,moreofhappiness,moreofGod,hethatcanbeablessingtothecommunityinwhichhelivestonightwillbegreatanywhere,buthewhocannotbeablessingwherehenowliveswillneverbegreatanywhereonthefaceofGod'searth."Weliveindeeds,notyears,infeeling,notinfiguresona dial; in thoughts, not breaths; we should count time by heart throbs, in thecauseofright."Baileysays:"Hemostliveswhothinksmost."

If you forget everything I have said to you, do not forget this, because itcontainsmoreintwolinesthanallIhavesaid.Bailysays:"Hemostliveswhothinksmost,whofeelsthenoblest,andwhoactsthebest."

Publisher’sConclusion–Questions

1/Whatarethethreebiggestinsightsyougainedfromreadingthiswork?2/Whatskillssetsthatyouhavedevelopedinyourlife?Whatwayscanyouusetheseskillsetstoopenupdoorsofprosperityinyourlife?3/ Following the example of John JacobAstor, spend time to study theworldaround you, especially your neighborhood, city, workplace and profession.Noticewheretheopportunitiesareforprosperityandchallengeyourselftowritedowntwentyideas.Thenselectoneoftheseideastopursue.

AsAManThinketh

by

JamesAllen(1902)

Publisher’sNote

AsAManThinkethstandsasJamesAllen’smostenduringwork.Itisasimplestudyoftheeffectsofthoughtonallaspectsofourlives.Infact,itshowshowourthoughtsmakeourlives.Itthendemonstrateshowwecanuseourthoughtstochangeourlivesforthebetter,thoughvisionandcalmness.

CONTENTS

Foreword

ThoughtandCharacter

EffectofThoughtonCircumstances

EffectofThoughtonHealthandtheBody

ThoughtandPurpose

TheThought-FactorinAchievement

VisionsandIdeals

Serenity

FOREWORD

THISlittlevolume(theresultofmeditationandexperience)isnotintendedasanexhaustivetreatiseonthemuch-written-uponsubjectofthepowerofthought.Itis suggestive rather than explanatory, its object being to stimulate men andwomentothediscoveryandperceptionofthetruththat--"Theythemselvesaremakers of themselves." by virtue of the thoughts, which they choose andencourage; that mind is the master-weaver, both of the inner garment ofcharacter and the outer garment of circumstance, and that, as they may havehithertowoveninignoranceandpaintheymaynowweaveinenlightenmentandhappiness.

JAMESALLEN.BROADPARKAVENUE,ILFRACOMBE,ENGLAND

THOUGHTANDCHARACTER

THEaphorism,"Asamanthinkethinhisheartsoishe,"notonlyembraces

thewhole of aman's being, but is so comprehensive as to reach out to everycondition and circumstance of his life. Aman is literally what he thinks, his

characterbeingthecompletesumofallhisthoughts.Astheplantspringsfrom,andcouldnotbewithout,theseed,soeveryactof

aman springs from thehidden seedsof thought, andcouldnothave appearedwithout them. This applies equally to those acts called "spontaneous" and"unpremeditated"astothose,whicharedeliberatelyexecuted.

Actistheblossomofthought,andjoyandsufferingareitsfruits;thusdoesamangarnerinthesweetandbitterfruitageofhisownhusbandry.

"Thoughtinthemindhathmadeus,WhatweareBythoughtwaswroughtandbuilt.Ifaman'smindHathevilthoughts,paincomesonhimascomes

Thewheeltheoxbehind....

..IfoneendureInpurityofthought,joyfollowshim

Ashisownshadow--sure."Manisagrowthbylaw,andnotacreationbyartifice,andcauseandeffectis

as absolute andundeviating in thehidden realmof thought as in theworldofvisible and material things. A noble and Godlike character is not a thing offavourorchance,but is thenatural resultofcontinuedeffort in right thinking,theeffectof long-cherishedassociationwithGodlike thoughts.Anignobleandbestialcharacter,bythesameprocess,istheresultofthecontinuedharbouringofgrovellingthoughts.

Manismadeorunmadebyhimself;inthearmouryofthoughtheforgestheweaponsbywhichhedestroyshimself;healsofashionsthetoolswithwhichhebuildsforhimselfheavenlymansionsofjoyandstrengthandpeace.Bytherightchoiceandtrueapplicationofthought,manascendstotheDivinePerfection;bytheabuseandwrongapplicationofthought,hedescendsbelowthelevelofthebeast.Between these two extremes are all the grades of character, andman istheirmakerandmaster.

Ofallthebeautifultruthspertainingtothesoulwhichhavebeenrestoredandbroughttolightinthisage,noneismoregladdeningorfruitfulofdivinepromiseand confidence than this--that man is the master of thought, the moulder ofcharacter,andthemakerandshaperofcondition,environment,anddestiny.

AsabeingofPower,Intelligence,andLove,andthelordofhisownthoughts,man holds the key to every situation, and contains within himself thattransformingand regenerativeagencybywhichhemaymakehimselfwhathewills.

Manisalwaysthemaster,eveninhisweakerandmostabandonedstate;butin hisweakness and degradation he is the foolishmasterwhomisgoverns his"household." When he begins to reflect upon his condition, and to searchdiligentlyfortheLawuponwhichhisbeingisestablished,hethenbecomesthewisemaster,directinghisenergieswithintelligence,andfashioninghisthoughtstofruitful issues.Suchis theconsciousmaster,andmancanonlythusbecomebydiscoveringwithinhimself thelawsofthought;whichdiscoveryis totallyamatterofapplication,selfanalysis,andexperience.

Only bymuch searching andmining, are gold and diamonds obtained, andmancanfindeverytruthconnectedwithhisbeing, ifhewilldigdeepinto themineofhissoul;andthatheisthemakerofhischaracter,themoulderofhislife,andthebuilderofhisdestiny,hemayunerringlyprove,ifhewillwatch,control,andalterhisthoughts,tracingtheireffectsuponhimself,uponothers,anduponhis life and circumstances, linking cause and effect by patient practice andinvestigation, and utilizing his every experience, even to the most trivial,everydayoccurrence,asameansofobtainingthatknowledgeofhimselfwhichisUnderstanding,Wisdom, Power. In this direction, as in no other, is the lawabsolute that "He that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall beopened;" for only by patience, practice, and ceaseless importunity can a manentertheDooroftheTempleofKnowledge.

EFFECTOFTHOUGHTONCIRCUMSTANCES

MAN'S mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently

cultivatedorallowed to runwild;butwhethercultivatedorneglected, itmust,andwill, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance ofuselessweed-seedswillfalltherein,andwillcontinuetoproducetheirkind.

Justasagardenercultivateshisplot,keepingitfreefromweeds,andgrowingthe flowersand fruitswhichhe requires, somayaman tend thegardenofhismind,weedingoutall thewrong,useless,andimpurethoughts,andcultivatingtowardperfection theflowersandfruitsofright,useful,andpure thoughts.Bypursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardenerofhissoul,thedirectorofhislife.Healsoreveals,withinhimself,thelaws of thought, and understands, with ever-increasing accuracy, how thethought-forces and mind elements operate in the shaping of his character,circumstances,anddestiny.

Thought and character are one, and as character can only manifest anddiscoveritselfthroughenvironmentandcircumstance,theouterconditionsofaperson'slifewillalwaysbefoundtobeharmoniouslyrelatedtohisinnerstate.

This does not mean that a man's circumstances at any given time are anindicationofhisentirecharacter,butthatthosecircumstancesaresointimatelyconnected with some vital thought-element within himself that, for the timebeing,theyareindispensabletohisdevelopment.

Everymaniswhereheisbythelawofhisbeing;thethoughtswhichhehasbuiltintohischaracterhavebroughthimthere,andinthearrangementofhislifethereisnoelementofchance,butallistheresultofalawwhichcannoterr.Thisisjustastrueofthosewhofeel"outofharmony"withtheirsurroundingsasofthosewhoarecontentedwiththem.

Asaprogressiveandevolvingbeing,man iswherehe is thathemay learnthathemaygrow;andashelearnsthespirituallessonwhichanycircumstancecontainsforhim,itpassesawayandgivesplacetoothercircumstances.

Man is buffeted by circumstances so long as he believes himself to be thecreatureofoutsideconditions,butwhenherealizesthatheisacreativepower,andthathemaycommandthehiddensoilandseedsofhisbeingoutofwhichcircumstancesgrow,hethenbecomestherightfulmasterofhimself.

Thatcircumstancesgrowoutof thoughteverymanknowswhohas foranylength of time practised self-control and self-purification, for he will havenoticed that thealteration inhiscircumstanceshasbeen inexact ratiowithhisaltered mental condition. So true is this that when a man earnestly applieshimself to remedy the defects in his character, and makes swift and markedprogress,hepassesrapidlythroughasuccessionofvicissitudes.

Thesoulattractsthatwhichitsecretlyharbours;thatwhichitloves,andalsothatwhichitfears;itreachestheheightofitscherishedaspirations;itfallstothelevelofitsunchasteneddesires,--andcircumstancesarethemeansbywhichthesoulreceivesitsown.

Every thought-seed sownor allowed to fall into themind, and to take rootthere,producesitsown,blossomingsoonerorlaterintoact,andbearingitsownfruitage of opportunity and circumstance. Good thoughts bear good fruit, badthoughtsbadfruit.

Theouterworldofcircumstanceshapesitself totheinnerworldofthought,andbothpleasantandunpleasantexternalconditionsarefactors,whichmakefortheultimategoodoftheindividual.Asthereaperofhisownharvest,manlearnsbothbysufferingandbliss.

Following the inmost desires, aspirations, thoughts, by which he allowshimselftobedominated,(pursuingthewill-o'-the-wispsofimpureimaginingsorsteadfastlywalking the highway of strong and high endeavour), aman at lastarrivesattheirfruitionandfulfilmentintheouterconditionsofhislife.Thelawsofgrowthandadjustmenteverywhereobtains.

Amandoesnotcome to thealmshouseor the jailby the tyrannyof fateorcircumstance,butby thepathwayofgrovelling thoughtsandbasedesires.Nordoesapure-mindedmanfallsuddenlyintocrimebystressofanymereexternalforce;thecriminalthoughthadlongbeensecretlyfosteredintheheart,andthehour of opportunity revealed its gathered power.Circumstance does notmaketheman; it revealshim tohimselfNosuchconditionscanexist asdescendinginto vice and its attendant sufferings apart from vicious inclinations, orascendingintovirtueanditspurehappinesswithoutthecontinuedcultivationofvirtuousaspirations;andman,therefore,asthelordandmasterofthought,isthemakerofhimself theshaperandauthorofenvironment.Evenatbirth thesoulcomestoitsownandthrougheverystepofitsearthlypilgrimageitattractsthosecombinationsof conditionswhich reveal itself,which are the reflectionsof itsownpurityand,impurity,itsstrengthandweakness.

Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are. Theirwhims, fancies, and ambitions are thwarted at every step, but their inmostthoughts and desires are fed with their own food, be it foul or clean. The"divinitythatshapesourends"isinourselves;it isourveryself.Onlyhimselfmanaclesman:thoughtandactionarethegaolersofFate--theyimprison,beingbase;theyarealsotheangelsofFreedom--theyliberate,beingnoble.Notwhathewishesandpraysfordoesamanget,butwhathejustlyearns.Hiswishesandprayersareonlygratifiedandansweredwhentheyharmonizewithhisthoughtsandactions.

In the light of this truth, what, then, is the meaning of "fighting againstcircumstances?" Itmeans that aman is continually revolting against an effectwithout,whileallthetimeheisnourishingandpreservingitscauseinhisheart.Thatcausemaytaketheformofaconsciousviceoranunconsciousweakness;butwhateveritis,itstubbornlyretardstheeffortsofitspossessor,andthuscallsaloudforremedy.

Menareanxioustoimprovetheircircumstances,butareunwillingtoimprovethemselves; they therefore remain bound. Themanwho does not shrink fromself-crucifixioncanneverfail toaccomplishtheobjectuponwhichhisheart isset.This is as trueof earthly asofheavenly things.Even themanwhose soleobject is to acquirewealthmust beprepared tomakegreat personal sacrificesbefore he can accomplish his object; and how much more so he who wouldrealizeastrongandwell-poisedlife?

Here is a man who is wretchedly poor. He is extremely anxious that hissurroundingsandhomecomfortsshouldbeimproved,yetallthetimeheshirkshiswork,andconsidersheis justifiedintryingtodeceivehisemployeronthegroundof the insufficiencyofhiswages.Suchamandoesnotunderstand the

simplestrudimentsofthoseprincipleswhicharethebasisoftrueprosperity,andis not only totally unfitted to rise out of his wretchedness, but is actuallyattractingtohimselfastilldeeperwretchednessbydwellingin,andactingout,indolent,deceptive,andunmanlythoughts.

Hereisarichmanwhoisthevictimofapainfulandpersistentdiseaseastheresultofgluttony.Heiswillingtogivelargesumsofmoneytogetridofit,buthewillnotsacrificehisgluttonousdesires.Hewantstogratifyhistasteforrichandunnaturalviandsandhavehishealthaswell.Suchamanistotallyunfittohavehealth,becausehehasnotyetlearnedthefirstprinciplesofahealthylife.

Hereisanemployeroflabourwhoadoptscrookedmeasurestoavoidpayingtheregulationwage,and,inthehopeofmakinglargerprofits,reducesthewagesofhisworkpeople.Suchamanisaltogetherunfittedforprosperity,andwhenhefinds himself bankrupt, both as regards reputation and riches, he blamescircumstances,notknowingthatheisthesoleauthorofhiscondition.

Ihaveintroducedthesethreecasesmerelyasillustrativeofthetruththatmanisthecauser(thoughnearlyalwaysisunconsciously)ofhiscircumstances,andthat, whilst aiming at a good end, he is continually frustrating itsaccomplishment by encouraging thoughts and desires which cannot possiblyharmonize with that end. Such cases could be multiplied and varied almostindefinitely,but this isnotnecessary,as thereadercan, ifhesoresolves, tracetheactionofthelawsofthoughtinhisownmindandlife,anduntilthisisdone,mereexternalfactscannotserveasagroundofreasoning.

Circumstances,however,aresocomplicated,thoughtissodeeplyrooted,andtheconditionsofhappinessvaryso,vastlywithindividuals, thataman'sentiresoul-condition (although it may be known to himself) cannot be judged byanother from the external aspect of his life alone. A man may be honest incertain directions, yet suffer privations; a man may be dishonest in certaindirections, yet acquirewealth; but the conclusion usually formed that the onemanfailsbecauseofhisparticularhonesty,andthattheotherprospersbecauseof his particular dishonesty, is the result of a superficial judgment, whichassumes that the dishonestman is almost totally corrupt, and the honestmanalmost entirely virtuous. In the light of a deeper knowledge and widerexperience such judgment is found to be erroneous. The dishonest man mayhavesomeadmirablevirtues,whichtheotherdoes,notpossess;andthehonestmanobnoxiousviceswhich are absent in theother.Thehonestman reaps thegood results of his honest thoughts and acts; he also brings upon himself thesufferings,whichhisvicesproduce.Thedishonestmanlikewisegarnershisownsufferingandhappiness.

It is pleasing to human vanity to believe that one suffers because of one's

virtue;butnotuntilamanhasextirpatedeverysickly,bitter,andimpurethoughtfrom his mind, and washed every sinful stain from his soul, can he be in aposition toknowanddeclare thathissufferingsare the resultofhisgood,andnotofhisbadqualities;andonthewayto,yetlongbeforehehasreached,thatsupremeperfection,hewillhavefound,workinginhismindandlife,theGreatLawwhich is absolutely just, andwhich cannot, therefore, givegood for evil,evil for good. Possessed of such knowledge, hewill then know, looking backupon his past ignorance and blindness, that his life is, and alwayswas, justlyordered, and that all his past experiences, good and bad, were the equitableoutworkingofhisevolving,yetunevolvedself.

Good thoughtsandactionscanneverproducebadresults;bad thoughtsandactionscanneverproducegoodresults.Thisisbutsayingthatnothingcancomefromcornbutcorn,nothingfromnettlesbutnettles.Menunderstandthislawinthe natural world, and work with it; but few understand it in the mental andmoralworld(though itsoperation there is justassimpleandundeviating),andthey,therefore,donotco-operatewithit.

Suffering is always the effect ofwrong thought in some direction. It is anindicationthattheindividualisoutofharmonywithhimself,withtheLawofhisbeing.Thesoleandsupremeuseofsufferingistopurify,toburnoutallthatisuseless and impure. Suffering ceases for himwho is pure. There could be noobject in burninggold after the dross hadbeen removed, and a perfectly pureandenlightenedbeingcouldnotsuffer.

Thecircumstances,whichamanencounterswithsuffering,are theresultofhis ownmental in harmony.The circumstances,which aman encounterswithblessedness,aretheresultofhisownmentalharmony.Blessedness,notmaterialpossessions,isthemeasureofrightthought;wretchedness,notlackofmaterialpossessions,isthemeasureofwrongthought.Amanmaybecursedandrich;hemaybeblessedandpoor.Blessednessandrichesareonlyjoinedtogetherwhenthe riches are rightly and wisely used; and the poor man only descends intowretchednesswhenheregardshislotasaburdenunjustlyimposed.

Indigence and indulgence are the two extremes of wretchedness. They areboth equally unnatural and the result ofmental disorder.Aman is not rightlyconditioneduntil he is a happy, healthy, andprosperous being; andhappiness,health,andprosperityaretheresultofaharmoniousadjustmentoftheinnerwiththeouter,ofthemanwithhissurroundings.

Aman only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile, andcommencestosearchforthehiddenjusticewhichregulateshis life.Andasheadaptshismindtothatregulatingfactor,heceasestoaccuseothersasthecauseofhiscondition,andbuildshimselfup instrongandnoble thoughts;ceases to

kick against circumstances, but begins to use them as aids to his more rapidprogress, and as a means of discovering the hidden powers and possibilitieswithinhimself.

Law,not confusion, is thedominatingprinciple in theuniverse; justice, notinjustice,isthesoulandsubstanceoflife;andrighteousness,notcorruption,isthemouldingandmoving force in the spiritualgovernmentof theworld.Thisbeing so, man has but to right himself to find that the universe is right; andduring the process of putting himself right he will find that as he alters histhoughts towards things and other people, things and other people will altertowardshim.

The proof of this truth is in every person, and it therefore admits of easyinvestigationbysystematic introspectionandself-analysis.Letamanradicallyalterhis thoughts, andhewillbeastonishedat the rapid transformation itwilleffectinthematerialconditionsofhislife.Menimaginethatthoughtcanbekeptsecret, but it cannot; it rapidly crystallizes into habit, and habit solidifies intocircumstance. Bestial thoughts crystallize into habits of drunkenness andsensuality,whichsolidify intocircumstancesofdestitutionanddisease: impurethoughts of every kind crystallize into enervating and confusing habits,whichsolidifyintodistractingandadversecircumstances:thoughtsoffear,doubt,andindecisioncrystallize intoweak,unmanly, and irresolutehabits,which solidifyintocircumstancesoffailure, indigence,andslavishdependence: lazythoughtscrystallize into habits of uncleanliness and dishonesty, which solidify intocircumstances of foulness and beggary: hateful and condemnatory thoughtscrystallize into habits of accusation and violence, which solidify intocircumstancesofinjuryandpersecution:selfishthoughtsofallkindscrystallizeinto habits of self-seeking, which solidify into circumstances more or lessdistressing. On the other hand, beautiful thoughts of all kinds crystallize intohabits of grace and kindliness, which solidify into genial and sunnycircumstances: pure thoughts crystallize into habits of temperance and self-control, which solidify into circumstances of repose and peace: thoughts ofcourage,self-reliance,anddecisioncrystallizeintomanlyhabits,whichsolidifyintocircumstancesofsuccess,plenty,andfreedom:energeticthoughtscrystallizeinto habits of cleanliness and industry, which solidify into circumstances ofpleasantness:gentleandforgivingthoughtscrystallizeintohabitsofgentleness,which solidify into protective and preservative circumstances: loving andunselfish thoughtscrystallize intohabitsof self-forgetfulness forothers,whichsolidifyintocircumstancesofsureandabidingprosperityandtrueriches.

A particular train of thought persisted in, be it good or bad, cannot fail toproduce its results on the character and circumstances.Aman cannot directly

choosehiscircumstances,buthecanchoosehisthoughts,andsoindirectly,yetsurely,shapehiscircumstances.

Nature helps everyman to the gratification of the thoughts,which hemostencourages, and opportunities are presentedwhichwillmost speedily bring tothesurfaceboththegoodandevilthoughts.

Let a man cease from his sinful thoughts, and all the world will softentowardshim,andbereadytohelphim;lethimputawayhisweaklyandsicklythoughts, and lo, opportunitieswill spring up on every hand to aid his strongresolves;lethimencouragegoodthoughts,andnohardfateshallbindhimdowntowretchedness and shame. Theworld is your kaleidoscope, and the varyingcombinationsofcolours,whichateverysucceedingmoment itpresents toyouaretheexquisitelyadjustedpicturesofyourever-movingthoughts.

"SoYouwillbewhatyouwilltobe;LetfailurefinditsfalsecontentInthatpoorword,'environment,'Butspiritscornsit,andisfree.

"Itmasterstime,itconquersspace;

Itcowesthatboastfultrickster,Chance,AndbidsthetyrantCircumstanceUncrown,andfillaservant'splace.

"ThehumanWill,thatforceunseen,TheoffspringofadeathlessSoul,

Canhewawaytoanygoal,Thoughwallsofgraniteintervene.

"Benotimpatientindelays

Butwaitasonewhounderstands;WhenspiritrisesandcommandsThegodsarereadytoobey."

EFFECTOFTHOUGHTONHEALTHANDTHEBODY

THE body is the servant of themind. It obeys the operations of themind,

whethertheybedeliberatelychosenorautomaticallyexpressed.Atthebiddingof unlawful thoughts the body sinks rapidly into disease and decay; at thecommandofgladandbeautiful thoughts itbecomesclothedwithyouthfulness

andbeauty.Diseaseandhealth,likecircumstances,arerootedinthought.Sicklythoughts

will express themselves through a sickly body. Thoughts of fear have beenknown to kill a man as speedily as a bullet, and they are continually killingthousandsofpeople just as surely though less rapidly.Thepeoplewho live infearofdiseasearethepeoplewhogetit.Anxietyquicklydemoralizesthewholebody,andlaysitopentothe,entranceofdisease;whileimpurethoughts,evenifnotphysicallyindulged,willsoonshatterthenervoussystem.

Strong,pure,andhappythoughtsbuildupthebodyinvigourandgrace.Thebodyisadelicateandplasticinstrument,whichrespondsreadilytothethoughtsbywhich it is impressed,andhabitsof thoughtwillproduce theirowneffects,goodorbad,uponit.

Men will continue to have impure and poisoned blood, so long as theypropagateuncleanthoughts.Outofacleanheartcomesacleanlifeandacleanbody.Outofadefiledmindproceedsadefiledlifeandacorruptbody.Thoughtis the fount of action, life, andmanifestation;make the fountain pure, and allwillbepure.

Changeofdietwillnothelpamanwhowillnotchangehisthoughts.Whenamanmakeshisthoughtspure,henolongerdesiresimpurefood.

Cleanthoughtsmakecleanhabits.Theso-calledsaintwhodoesnotwashhisbodyisnotasaint.Hewhohasstrengthenedandpurifiedhisthoughtsdoesnotneedtoconsiderthemalevolentmicrobe.

Ifyouwouldprotectyourbody,guardyourmind.Ifyouwouldrenewyourbody, beautify your mind. Thoughts of malice, envy, disappointment,despondency,robthebodyofitshealthandgrace.Asourfacedoesnotcomebychance; it is made by sour thoughts. Wrinkles that mar are drawn by folly,passion,andpride.

Iknowawomanofninety-sixwhohas thebright, innocent faceofagirl. Iknow a man well under middle age whose face is drawn into inharmoniouscontours.Theoneistheresultofasweetandsunnydisposition;theotheristheoutcomeofpassionanddiscontent.

Asyoucannothaveasweetandwholesomeabodeunlessyouadmit theairand sunshine freely intoyour rooms, so a strongbody and a bright, happy, orserene countenance can only result from the free admittance into themind ofthoughtsofjoyandgoodwillandserenity.

On the faces of the aged there are wrinkles made by sympathy, others bystrong and pure thought, and others are carved by passion: who cannotdistinguishthem?Withthosewhohavelivedrighteously,ageiscalm,peaceful,andsoftlymellowed,likethesettingsun.Ihaverecentlyseenaphilosopheron

hisdeathbed.Hewasnotoldexceptinyears.Hediedassweetlyandpeacefullyashehadlived.

Thereisnophysicianlikecheerfulthoughtfordissipatingtheillsofthebody;there is no comforter to comparewith goodwill for dispersing the shadowsofgriefandsorrow.Tolivecontinuallyinthoughtsofillwill,cynicism,suspicion,andenvy,istobeconfinedinaselfmadeprison-hole.Buttothinkwellofall,tobe cheerfulwith all, to patiently learn to find the good in all—such unselfishthoughtsaretheveryportalsofheaven;andtodwelldaybydayinthoughtsofpeacetowardeverycreaturewillbringaboundingpeacetotheirpossessor.

THOUGHTANDPURPOSE

UNTILthoughtislinkedwithpurposethereisnointelligentaccomplishment.

Withthemajoritythebarkofthoughtisallowedto"drift"upontheoceanoflife.Aimlessness isavice,andsuchdriftingmustnotcontinueforhimwhowouldsteerclearofcatastropheanddestruction.

They who have no central purpose in their life fall an easy prey to pettyworries, fears, troubles, and self-pityings, all of which are indications ofweakness,which lead, just as surely as deliberatelyplanned sins (thoughby adifferentroute),tofailure,unhappiness,andloss,forweaknesscannotpersistinapowerevolvinguniverse.

Aman should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set out toaccomplish it. He should make this purpose the centralizing point of histhoughts.Itmaytaketheformofaspiritualideal,oritmaybeaworldlyobject,accordingtohisnatureatthetimebeing;butwhicheveritis,heshouldsteadilyfocushisthought-forcesupontheobject,whichhehassetbeforehim.Heshouldmakethispurposehissupremeduty,andshoulddevotehimselftoitsattainment,notallowinghisthoughtstowanderawayintoephemeralfancies,longings,andimaginings. This is the royal road to self-control and true concentration ofthought. Even if he fails again and again to accomplish his purpose (as henecessarilymustuntilweakness isovercome), the strengthof charactergainedwillbethemeasureofhis truesuccess,andthiswillformanewstarting-pointforfuturepowerandtriumph.

Thosewhoarenotprepared for theapprehensionofagreatpurposeshouldfix the thoughts upon the faultless performance of their duty, no matter howinsignificant their task may appear. Only in this way can the thoughts begathered and focused, and resolution and energy be developed, which beingdone,thereisnothingwhichmaynotbeaccomplished.

Theweakest soul, knowing its ownweakness, and believing this truth that

strength can only be developed by effort and practice,will, thus believing, atoncebegintoexertitself,and,addingefforttoeffort,patiencetopatience,andstrengthtostrength,willneverceasetodevelop,andwillat lastgrowdivinelystrong.

Asthephysicallyweakmancanmakehimselfstrongbycarefulandpatienttraining, so the man of weak thoughts can make them strong by exercisinghimselfinrightthinking.

Toputawayaimlessnessandweakness,andtobegintothinkwithpurpose,istoentertheranksofthosestrongoneswhoonlyrecognizefailureasoneofthepathways to attainment; who make all conditions serve them, and who thinkstrongly,attemptfearlessly,andaccomplishmasterfully.

Havingconceivedofhispurpose,amanshouldmentallymarkoutastraightpathwaytoitsachievement,lookingneithertotherightnortheleft.Doubtsandfears should be rigorously excluded; they are disintegrating elements, whichbreak up the straight line of effort, rendering it crooked, ineffectual, useless.Thoughtsofdoubtandfearneveraccomplishedanything,andnevercan.Theyalways lead to failure. Purpose, energy, power to do, and all strong thoughtsceasewhendoubtandfearcreepin.

Thewilltodospringsfromtheknowledgethatwecando.Doubtandfeararethe great enemies of knowledge, and hewho encourages them,who does notslaythem.thwartshimselfateverystep.

He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure. His every,thought is allied with power, and all difficulties are bravely met and wiselyovercome.Hispurposesareseasonablyplanted,andtheybloomandbringforthfruit,whichdoesnotfallprematurelytotheground.

Thought allied fearlessly topurposebecomescreative force:hewhoknowsthis is ready to become something higher and stronger than amere bundle ofwaveringthoughtsandfluctuatingsensations;hewhodoesthishasbecometheconsciousandintelligentwielderofhismentalpowers.

THETHOUGHT-FACTORINACHIEVEMENT

ALLthatamanachievesandallthathefailstoachieveisthedirectresultof

his own thoughts. In a justly ordered universe,where loss of equipoisewouldmean total destruction, individual responsibility must be absolute. A man'sweaknessandstrength,purityandimpurity,arehisown,andnotanotherman's;they are brought about by himself, and not by another; and they can only bealtered by himself, never by another. His condition is also his own, and notanotherman's.Hissufferingandhishappinessareevolvedfromwithin.Ashe

thinks,soheis;ashecontinuestothink,soheremains.Astrongmancannothelpaweakerunlessthatweakeriswillingtobehelped,

and even then theweakmanmust become strong of himself; hemust, by hisownefforts,developthestrengthwhichheadmiresinanother.Nonebuthimselfcanalterhiscondition.

Ithasbeenusualformentothinkandtosay,"Manymenareslavesbecauseoneisanoppressor;letushatetheoppressor."Now,however,thereisamongstanincreasingfewatendencytoreversethisjudgment,andtosay,"Onemanisanoppressorbecausemanyareslaves;letusdespisetheslaves."

Thetruthisthatoppressorandslaveareco-operatorsinignorance,and,whileseeming to afflict each other, are in reality afflicting themselves. A perfectKnowledgeperceivestheactionoflawintheweaknessoftheoppressedandthemisappliedpowerof theoppressor;aperfectLove,seeing thesuffering,whichboth states entail, condemns neither; a perfect Compassion embraces bothoppressorandoppressed.

He who has conquered weakness, and has put away all selfish thoughts,belongsneithertooppressornoroppressed.Heisfree.

Amancanonlyrise,conquer,andachievebyliftinguphisthoughts.Hecanonlyremainweak,andabject,andmiserablebyrefusingtoliftuphisthoughts.

Beforeamancanachieveanything,even inworldly things,hemust lifthisthoughtsaboveslavishanimalindulgence.Hemaynot,inordertosucceed,giveupallanimalityandselfishness,byanymeans;butaportionofitmust,atleast,besacrificed.Amanwhosefirstthoughtisbestialindulgencecouldneitherthinkclearlynorplanmethodically;hecouldnotfindanddevelophislatentresources,andwouldfail inanyundertaking.Nothavingcommencedtomanfullycontrolhis thoughts, he is not in a position to control affairs and to adopt seriousresponsibilities. He is not fit to act independently and stand alone. But he islimitedonlybythethoughts,whichhechooses.

There can be no progress, no achievement without sacrifice, and a man'sworldly successwill be in themeasure that he sacrifices his confused animalthoughts, and fixes his mind on the development of his plans, and thestrengthening of his resolution and self-reliance. And the higher he lifts histhoughts,themoremanly,upright,andrighteoushebecomes,thegreaterwillbehissuccess,themoreblessedandenduringwillbehisachievements.

Theuniversedoesnotfavourthegreedy,thedishonest,thevicious,althoughon themeresurface itmaysometimesappear todoso; ithelps thehonest, themagnanimous,thevirtuous.AllthegreatTeachersoftheageshavedeclaredthisinvaryingforms,andtoproveandknowitamanhasbuttopersist inmakinghimselfmoreandmorevirtuousbyliftinguphisthoughts.

Intellectualachievementsare theresultof thoughtconsecrated to thesearchfor knowledge, or for the beautiful and true in life and nature. Suchachievementsmaybesometimesconnectedwithvanityandambition,but theyarenot theoutcomeof those characteristics; they are thenatural outgrowthoflongandarduouseffort,andofpureandunselfishthoughts.

Spiritual achievements are the consummation of holy aspirations. He wholivesconstantlyintheconceptionofnobleandloftythoughts,whodwellsuponallthatispureandunselfish,will,assurelyasthesunreachesitszenithandthemoon its full, becomewise and noble in character, and rise into a position ofinfluenceandblessedness.

Achievement,ofwhateverkind,isthecrownofeffort,thediademofthought.By the aid of self-control, resolution, purity, righteousness, and well-directedthoughtamanascends;bytheaidofanimality,indolence,impurity,corruption,andconfusionofthoughtamandescends.

Amanmayrisetohighsuccessintheworld,andeventoloftyaltitudesinthespiritualrealm,andagaindescendintoweaknessandwretchednessbyallowingarrogant,selfish,andcorruptthoughtstotakepossessionofhim.

Victoriesattainedby right thoughtcanonlybemaintainedbywatchfulness.Manygivewaywhensuccessisassured,andrapidlyfallbackintofailure.

Allachievements,whetherinthebusiness,intellectual,orspiritualworld,aretheresultofdefinitelydirectedthought,aregovernedbythesamelawandareofthesamemethod;theonlydifferenceliesintheobjectofattainment.

Hewhowouldaccomplish littlemustsacrifice little;hewhowouldachievemuchmustsacrificemuch;hewhowouldattainhighlymustsacrificegreatly.

VISIONSANDIDEALS

THEdreamersarethesavioursoftheworld.Asthevisibleworldissustained

bytheinvisible,somen,throughalltheirtrialsandsinsandsordidvocations,arenourishedby thebeautiful visionsof their solitarydreamers.Humanity cannotforget its dreamers; it cannot let their ideals fade and die; it lives in them; itknowsthemastheyrealitieswhichitshallonedayseeandknow.

Composer,sculptor,painter,poet,prophet,sage, theseare themakersof theafter-world, thearchitectsofheaven.Theworld isbeautifulbecause theyhavelived;withoutthem,labouringhumanitywouldperish.

Hewhocherishesabeautifulvision,a lofty ideal inhisheart,willonedayrealize it.Columbuscherishedavisionofanotherworld,andhediscovered it;Copernicusfosteredthevisionofamultiplicityofworldsandawideruniverse,and he revealed it; Buddha beheld the vision of a spiritual world of stainless

beautyandperfectpeace,andheenteredintoit.Cherishyourvisions;cherishyourideals;cherishthemusicthatstirsinyour

heart,thebeautythatformsinyourmind,thelovelinessthatdrapesyourpurestthoughts, for out of them will grow all delightful conditions, all, heavenlyenvironment;ofthese,ifyoubutremaintruetothem,yourworldwillatlastbebuilt.

To desire is to obtain; to aspire is to, achieve. Shall man's basest desiresreceivethefullestmeasureofgratification,andhispurestaspirationsstarveforlackof sustenance?Such isnot theLaw: suchaconditionof thingscanneverobtain:"askandreceive."

Dreamloftydreams,andasyoudream,soshallyoubecome.YourVisionisthepromiseofwhatyoushallonedaybe;yourIdealistheprophecyofwhatyoushallatlastunveil.

Thegreatestachievementwasatfirstandforatimeadream.Theoaksleepsin the acorn; the birdwaits in the egg; and in the highest visionof the soul awakingangelstirs.Dreamsaretheseedlingsofrealities.

Yourcircumstancesmaybeuncongenial,buttheyshallnotlongremainsoifyou but perceive an Ideal and strive to reach it.You cannot travelwithin andstandstillwithout.Hereisayouthhardpressedbypovertyandlabour;confinedlong hours in an unhealthyworkshop; unschooled, and lacking all the arts ofrefinement. But he dreams of better things; he thinks of intelligence, ofrefinement,ofgraceandbeauty.Heconceivesof,mentallybuildsup, an idealconditionoflife;thevisionofawiderlibertyandalargerscopetakespossessionofhim;unresturgeshimtoaction,andheutilizesallhissparetimeandmeans,small though they are, to the development of his latent powers and resources.Verysoonsoalteredhashismindbecomethattheworkshopcannolongerholdhim.Ithasbecomesooutofharmonywithhismentalitythatitfallsoutofhislifeasagarment iscastaside,and,with thegrowthofopportunities,whichfitthescopeofhisexpandingpowers,hepassesoutofitforever.Yearslaterweseethis youth as a full-grownman.We findhimamaster of certain forcesof themind,whichhewieldswithworldwideinfluenceandalmostunequalledpower.In his hands he holds the cords of gigantic responsibilities; he speaks, and lo,lives are changed; men and women hang upon his words and remould theircharacters,and,sunlike,hebecomesthefixedandluminouscentreroundwhichinnumerabledestinies revolve.Hehas realized theVisionofhisyouth.HehasbecomeonewithhisIdeal.

Andyou, too,youthful reader,will realize theVision (not the idlewish)ofyour heart, be it base or beautiful, or a mixture of both, for you will alwaysgravitate toward that which you, secretly, most love. Into your hands will be

placedtheexactresultsofyourownthoughts;youwill receivethatwhichyouearn; nomore, no less.Whatever your present environmentmay be, youwillfall,remain,orrisewithyourthoughts,yourVision,yourIdeal.Youwillbecomeassmallasyourcontrollingdesire;asgreatasyourdominantaspiration:inthebeautifulwordsofStantonKirkhamDavis,"Youmaybekeepingaccounts,andpresentlyyoushallwalkoutofthedoorthatforsolonghasseemedtoyouthebarrierofyour ideals, and shall findyourself before an audience--thepen stillbehindyourear,theinkstainsonyourfingersandthenandthereshallpouroutthetorrentofyourinspiration.Youmaybedrivingsheep,andyoushallwandertothecity-bucolicandopen-mouthed;shallwanderundertheintrepidguidanceof thespirit into thestudioof themaster,andaftera timeheshall say, 'Ihavenothingmoretoteachyou.'Andnowyouhavebecomethemaster,whodidsorecentlydreamofgreatthingswhiledrivingsheep.Youshalllaydownthesawandtheplanetotakeuponyourselftheregenerationoftheworld."

The thoughtless, the ignorant, and the indolent, seeing only the apparenteffects of things and not the things themselves, talk of luck, of fortune, andchance.Seeingamangrowrich,theysay,"Howluckyheis!"Observinganotherbecomeintellectual,theyexclaim,"Howhighlyfavouredheis!"Andnotingthesaintlycharacterandwideinfluenceofanother,theyremark,"Howchanceaidshimatevery turn!"Theydonotsee the trialsandfailuresandstruggleswhichthesemenhavevoluntarilyencountered inorder togain theirexperience;haveno knowledge of the sacrifices they havemade, of the undaunted efforts theyhaveput forth, of the faith theyhave exercised, that theymight overcome theapparently insurmountable, and realize the Vision of their heart. They do notknowthedarknessandtheheartaches;theyonlyseethelightandjoy,andcallit"luck". They do not see the long and arduous journey, but only behold thepleasantgoal,andcallit"goodfortune,"donotunderstandtheprocess,butonlyperceivetheresult,andcallitchance.

Inallhumanaffairsthereareefforts,andthereareresults,andthestrengthofthe effort is themeasure of the result. Chance is not.Gifts, powers,material,intellectual, and spiritual possessions are the fruits of effort; they are thoughtscompleted,objectsaccomplished,visionsrealized.

TheVisionthatyouglorifyinyourmind,theIdealthatyouenthroneinyourheart--thisyouwillbuildyourlifeby,thisyouwillbecome.

SERENITY

CALMNESSofmindisoneofthebeautifuljewelsofwisdom.Itistheresult

oflongandpatienteffortinself-control.Itspresenceisanindicationofripened

experience,andofamorethanordinaryknowledgeofthelawsandoperationsofthought.

Amanbecomescalminthemeasurethatheunderstandshimselfasathoughtevolvedbeing, for suchknowledgenecessitates theunderstandingof others asthe resultof thought, andashedevelopsa rightunderstanding,andseesmoreandmoreclearlytheinternalrelationsofthingsbytheactionofcauseandeffectheceasestofussandfumeandworryandgrieve,andremainspoised,steadfast,serene.

Thecalmman,having learnedhow togovernhimself,knowshow toadapthimselftoothers;andthey,inturn,reverencehisspiritualstrength,andfeelthattheycanlearnofhimandrelyuponhim.Themoretranquilamanbecomes,thegreaterishissuccess,hisinfluence,hispowerforgood.Eventheordinarytraderwill find his business prosperity increase as he develops a greater self-controland equanimity, for people will always prefer to deal with a man whosedemeanourisstronglyequable.

Thestrong,calmmanisalwayslovedandrevered.Heislikeashade-givingtree in a thirsty land, or a sheltering rock in a storm. "Who does not love atranquil heart, a sweet-tempered, balanced life? It does not matter whether itrains or shines, orwhat changes come to thosepossessing theseblessings, fortheyarealwayssweet,serene,andcalm.Thatexquisitepoiseofcharacter,whichwecallserenityisthelastlessonofculture,thefruitageofthesoul.Itispreciousas wisdom, more to be desired than gold--yea, than even fine gold. Howinsignificantmeremoneyseekinglooksincomparisonwithaserenelife--alifethat dwells in the ocean of Truth, beneath the waves, beyond the reach oftempests,intheEternalCalm!

"Howmanypeopleweknowwhosourtheirlives,whoruinallthatissweetand beautiful by explosive tempers, who destroy their poise of character, andmakebadblood!Itisaquestionwhetherthegreatmajorityofpeopledonotruintheirlivesandmartheirhappinessbylackofself-control.Howfewpeoplewemeet in life who are well balanced, who have that exquisite poise which ischaracteristicofthefinishedcharacter!

Yes, humanity surges with uncontrolled passion, is tumultuous withungovernedgrief,isblownaboutbyanxietyanddoubtonlythewiseman,onlyhewhosethoughtsarecontrolledandpurified,makesthewindsandthestormsofthesoulobeyhim.

Tempest-tossedsouls,whereveryemaybe,underwhatsoeverconditionsyemaylive,knowthisintheoceanoflifetheislesofBlessednessaresmiling,andthesunnyshoreofyouridealawaitsyourcoming.Keepyourhandfirmlyuponthehelmofthought.InthebarkofyoursoulreclinesthecommandingMaster;

Hedoesbutsleep:wakeHim.Self-controlisstrength;RightThoughtismastery;Calmnessispower.Sayuntoyourheart,"Peace,bestill!"

Publisher’sConclusion–Questions

1/WhatarethethreemostimportantinsightsthatyougainedfromreadingAsaManThinketh?

2/Writedownthreeself-limitingthoughtsthatyouobserveconstantlyplayinginyourmind.Thenwritethemagaininapositiveformattocreateareplacementinyour mind. For example, “I am a failure at work,” becomes, “My success atworkisgrowingeveryday.”

3/What is more challenging for your to develop – Vision or Serenity?Whatpracticescanyoudotodeepenyourabilityintheseareas?

TheLimitlessPressCatalog

NewThought

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•HowtheMindWorks&Character-BuildingThoughtPower

•TheHiddenPower&JustBeGlad•EightPillarsofProsperity&Concentration•FromPovertytoProsperity&OntheHeights

GriefandBereavement

•TheGriefBubble

•SomeoneILovedDiedBySuicide•HoneyBearDied

•LaBurbujadelDuelo(TheGriefBubbleinSpanish)

Historical

•ThePrince&TheArtofWar

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•TakeFunSeriously

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