6731108 James Allen Eight Pillars of Prosperity

8/8/2019 6731108 James Allen Eight Pillars of Prosperity

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T H E J A M E S A L L E N F R E E L I B R A R Y

H T T P : / / J A M E S - A L L E N . I N 1 W O O R D . N L /

E i g h t p i l l a ! " # p " ! p $ i t % . B % J a & $ ! A l l $ ' .

( O N T E N T S

1. Preface 2. Eight pillars 3. First pillar Energy 4. Second pillar Economy 5. Third pillar Integrity 6. Fourth pillar System 7. Fifth pillar Sympathy 8. Sixth pillar Sincerity 9. Seventh pillar Impartiality 10. Eighth pillar Self-reliance 11.

The temple of prosperity

P R E F A ( E

It is popularly supposed that a greater prosperity forindividuals or nations can only come through a politicaland social reconstruction. This cannot be true apart fromthe practice of the moral virtues in the individuals that

comprise a nation. etter la!s and social conditions !illal!ays follo! a higher realisation of morality among theindividuals of a community" but no legal enactment cangive prosperity to" nay it cannot prevent the ruin of" a man
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or a nation that has become lax and decadent in the pursuitand practice of virtue.

The moral virtues are the foundation and support ofprosperity as they are the soul of greatness. They endurefor ever" and all the !or#s of man !hich endure are builtupon them. $ithout them there is neither strength"stability" nor substantial reality" but only ephemeraldreams. To find moral principles is to have foundprosperity" greatness" truth" and is therefore to be strong"

valiant" %oyful and free.

&'(ES '))E*+ ryngoleu",Ilfracombe"England.

1 . E I ) H T P I L L A R S

Prosperity rests upon a moral foundation. It is popularlysupposed to rest upon an immoral foundation - that is"upon tric#ery" sharp practice" deception and greed. necommonly hears even an other!ise intelligent man declarethat +*o man can be successful in business unless he isdishonest", thus regarding business prosperity a goodthing as the effect of dishonesty a bad thing. Such astatement is superficial and thoughtless" and reveals a totallac# of #no!ledge of moral causation" as !ell as a verylimited grasp of the facts of life. It is as though one shouldso! henbane and reap spinach" or erect a bric# house on a

uagmire - things impossible in the natural order ofcausation" and therefore not to be attempted. The spiritual


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or moral order of causation is not different in principle" butonly in nature. The same la! obtains in things unseen inthoughts and deeds - as in things seen in natural

phenomena. (an sees the processes in natural ob%ects" andacts in accordance !ith them" but not seeing the spiritualprocesses" he imagines that they do not obtain" and so hedoes not act in harmony !ith them.

/et these spiritual processes are %ust as simple and %ust assure as the natural processes. They are indeed the samenatural modes manifesting in the !orld of mind. 'll the

parables and a large number of the sayings of the 0reatTeachers are designed to illustrate this fact. The natural

!orld is the mental !orld made visible. The seen is themirror of the unseen. The upper half of a circle is in no !aydifferent from the lo!er half" but its sphericity is reversed.The material and the mental are not t!o detached arcs inthe universe" they are the t!o halves of a complete circle.The natural and the spiritual are not at eternal enmity" butin the true order of the universe are eternally at one. It is inthe unnatural - in the abuse of function and faculty

!here division arises" and !here main is !rested bac#" !ithrepeated sufferings" from the perfect circle from !hich hehas tried to depart. Every process in matter is also aprocess in mind. Every natural la! has its spiritualcounterpart.

Ta#e any natural ob%ect" and you !ill find its fundamentalprocesses in the mental sphere if you rightly search.1onsider" for instance" the germination of a seed and itsgro!th into a plant !ith the final development of a flo!er"and bac# to seed again. This also is a mental process.


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familiar ob%ect" and yet" in the strict obedience of itsstructure to mathematical la!" it becomes" to the !ise" aparable of enlightenment" teaching them that only by

ordering one4s deeds in accordance !ith fixed principles isperfect surety" perfect security" and perfect peace obtainedamid the uncertainty of events and the turbulent tempestsof life.

' house or a temple built by man is a much morecomplicated structure than a bird4s nest" yet it is erected inaccordance !ith those mathematical principles !hich are

every!here evidenced in nature. 'nd here is seen ho!man" in material things" obeys universal principles. 5enever attempts to put up a building in defiance ofgeometrical proportions" for he #no!s that such a building

!ould be unsafe" and that the first storm !ould" in allprobability" level it to the ground" if" indeed" it did not fallabout his ears during the process of erection. (an in hismaterial building scrupulously obeys the fixed principles ofcircle" s uare and angle" and" aided by rule" plumbline" andcompasses" he raises a structure !hich !ill resist thefiercest storms" and afford him a secure shelter and safeprotection.

'll this is very simple" the reader may say. /es" it is simple because it is true and perfect2 so true that it cannot admitthe smallest compromise" and so perfect that no man canimprove upon it. (an" through long experience" haslearned these principles of the material !orld" and sees the

!isdom of obeying them" and I have thus referred to themin order to lead up to a consideration of those fixedprinciples in the mental or spiritual !orld !hich are %ust as


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simple" and %ust as eternally true and perfect" yet are atpresent so little understood by man that he daily violatesthem" because ignorant of their nature" and unconscious of

the harm he is all the time inflicting upon himself.In mind as in matter" in thoughts as in things" in deeds asin natural processes" there is a fixed foundation of la!

!hich" if consciously or ignorantly ignored leads todisaster" and defeat. It is" indeed" the ignorant violation ofthis la! !hich is the cause of the !orld4s pain and sorro!.In matter" this la! is presented as mathematical; in mind"

it is perceived as moral. ut the mathematical and themoral are not separate and opposed2 they are but t!oaspects of a united !hole. The fixed principles ofmathematics" to !hich all matter is sub%ect" are the body of

!hich the spirit is ethical2 !hile the eternal principles ofmorality are mathematical truisms operating in theuniverse of mind. It is as impossible to live successfullyapart from moral principles" as to build successfully !hileignoring mathematical principles. 1haracters" li#e houses"only stand firmly !hen built on a foundation of moral la! -and they are built up slo!ly and laboriously" deed by deed"for in the building of character" the bric#s are deeds.

usiness and all human enterprises are not exempt fromthe eternal order" but can only stand securely by theobservance of fixed la!s. Prosperity" to be stable and

enduring" must rest on a solid foundation of moralprinciple" and be supported by the adamantine pillars ofsterling character and moral !orth. In the attempt to run a

business in defiance of moral principles" disaster" of one#ind or another" is inevitable. The permanently prosperousmen in any community are not its tric#sters and deceivers"


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but its reliable and upright men. The 6ua#ers areac#no!ledged to be the most upright men in the ritishcommunity" and" although their numbers are small" they

are the most prosperous. The &ains in India are similar both in numbers and sterling !orth" and they are the mostprosperous people in India.

(en spea# of +building up a business", and" indeed" a business is as much a building as is a bric# house or a stonechurch" albeit the process of building is a mental one.Prosperity" li#e a house" is a roof over a man4s head"

affording him protection and comfort. ' roof presupposes asupport" and a support necessitates a foundation. The roofof prosperity" then" is supported by the follo!ing eightpillars !hich are cemented in a foundation of moralconsistency7-

8. Energy

9. Economy :. Integrity

;. System

. Impartiality

?. Self-reliance


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' business built up on the faultless practice of all theseprinciples !ould be so firm and enduring as to beinvincible. *othing could in%ure it2 nothing could

undermine its prosperity" nothing could interrupt itssuccess" or bring it to the ground2 but that success !ould beassured !ith incessant increase so long as the principles

!ere adhered to. n the other hand" !here these principles !ere all absent" there could be no success of any #ind2 therecould not even be a business at all" for there !ould benothing to produce the adherence of one part !ith another2

but there !ould be that lac# of life" that absence of fibre

and consistency !hich animates and gives body and formto anything !hatsoever. Picture a man !ith all theseprinciples absent from his mind" his daily life" and even if

your #no!ledge of these principles is but slight andimperfect" yet you could not thin# of such a man as doingany successful !or#. /ou could picture him as leading theconfused life of a shiftless tramp but to imagine him at the

head of a business" as the centre of an organisation" or as aresponsible and controlling agent in any department of life this you could not do" because you realise itsimpossibility. The fact that no one of moderate moralityand intelligence can thin# of such a man as commandingany success" should" to all those !ho have not yet graspedthe import of these principles" and therefore declare thatmorality is not a factor" but rather a hindrance" inprosperity" be a sound proof to them that their conclusionis totally !rong" for if it !as right" then the greater the lac#of these moral principles" the greater !ould be the success.

These eight principles" then" in greater or lesser degree" arethe causative factors in all success of !hatsoever #ind.


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@nderneath all prosperity they are the strong supports"and" ho!soever appearances may be against such aconclusion" a measure of them informs and sustains every

effort !hich is cro!ned !ith that excellence !hich menname success.

It is true that comparatively fe! successful men practice" intheir entirety and perfection" all these eight principles" butthere are those !ho do" and they are the leaders" teachers"and guides of men" the supports of human society" and thestrong pioneers in the van of human evolution.

ut !hile fe! achieve that moral perfection !hich ensuresthe acme of success" all lesser successes come from thepartial observance of these principles !hich are so po!erfulin the production of good results that even perfection inany t!o or three of them alone is sufficient to ensure anordinary degree of prosperity" and maintain a measure oflocal influence at least for a time" !hile the same perfection

in t!o or three !ith partial excellence in all" or nearly all"the others" !ill render permanent that limited success andinfluence !hich !ill" necessarily" gro! and extend in exactratio !ith a more intimate #no!ledge and practice of thoseprinciples !hich" at present" are only partially incorporatedin the character.

The boundary lines of a man4s morality mar# the limits ofhis success. So true is this that to #no! a man4s moralstatus !ould be to #no! to mathematically gauge hisultimate success or failure. The temple of prosperity onlystands in so far as it is supported by its moral pillars2 as


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they are !ea#ened" it becomes insecure2 in so far as theyare !ithdra!n" it crumbles a!ay and totters to ruin.

@ltimate failure and defeat are inevitable !here moralprinciples are ignored or defied inevitable in the natureof things as cause and effect. 's a stone thro!n up!ardreturns to the earth" so every deed" good or bad" returnsupon him that sent it forth. Every unmoral or immoral actfrustrates the end at !hich it aims" and every suchsucceeding act puts it further and further a!ay as anachieved realisation. n the other hand" every moral act is

another solid bric# in the temple of prosperity" anotherround of strength and sculptured beauty in the pillars

!hich support it.

Individuals" families" nations gro! and prosper in harmony !ith their gro!th in moral strength and #no!ledge2 theyfall and fail in accordance !ith their moral decadence.

(entally" as physically" only that !hich has form andsolidity can stand and endure. The unmoral is nothingness"and from it nothing can be formed. It is the negation ofsubstance. The immoral is destruction. It is the negation ofform. It is a process of spiritual denudation. $hile itundermines and disintegrates" it leaves the scatteredmaterial ready for the !ise builder to put it into form again2and the !ise builder is Morality. The moral is substance"form" and building po!er in one. (orality al!ays builds upand preserves" for that is its nature" being the opposite ofimmorality" !hich al!ays brea#s do!n and destroys.(orality is the masterbuilder every!here" !hether inindividuals or nations.


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(orality is invincible" and he !ho stands upon it to theend" stands upon an impregnable roc#" so that his defeat isimpossible" his triumph certain. 5e !ill be tried" and that

to the uttermost" for !ithout fighting there can be no victory" and so only can his moral po!ers be perfected" andit is in the nature of fixed principles" as of everything finelyand perfectly !rought" to have their strength tested andproved. The steel bars !hich are to perform the strongestand best uses in the !orld must be sub%ected to a severestrain by the ironmaster" as a test of their texture andefficiency" before they are sent from his foundry. The

bric#ma#er thro!s aside the bric#s !hich have given !ayunder the severe heat. So he !ho is to be greatly andpermanently successful !ill pass through the strain ofadverse circumstances and the fire of temptation !ith hismoral nature not merely not undermined" but strengthenedand beautified. 5e !ill be li#e a bar of !ell-!rought steel"fit for the highest use" and the universe !ill see" as the

ironmaster his finely-!rought steel" that the use does notescape him.

Immorality is assailable at every point" and he !ho tries tostand upon it" sin#s into the morass of desolation. Even

!hile his efforts seem to stand" they are crumbling a!ay.The climax of failure is inevitable. $hile the immoral manis chuc#ling over his ill-gotten gains" there is already a hole

in his poc#et through !hich his gold is falling. $hile he !ho begins !ith morality" yet deserts it for gain in the hourof trial" is li#e the bric# !hich brea#s on the firstapplication of heat2 he is not fit for use" and the universecasts him aside" yet not finally" for he is a being" and not a


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bric#2 and he can live and learn" can repent and berestored.

(oral force is the life of all success" and the sustainingelement in all prosperity2 but there are various #inds ofsuccess" and it is fre uently necessary that a man shouldfail in one direction that he may reach up to a greater andmore far-reaching success. If" for instance" a literary"artistic" or spiritual genius should begin by trying to ma#emoney" it may be" and often is" to his advantage and the

betterment of his genius that he should fail therein" so that

he may achieve that more sublime success !herein lies hisreal po!er. (any a millionaire !ould doubtless be !illingto barter his millions for the literary success of aSha#espeare or the spiritual success of a uddha" and

!ould thereby consider that he had made a good bargain.Exceptional spiritual success is rarely accompanied !ithriches" yet financial success cannot in any !ay compare

!ith it in greatness and grandeur. ut I am not" in this boo#" dealing !ith the success of the saint or spiritualgenius but !ith that success !hich concerns the !elfare"

!ell-being" and happiness of the broadly average man and !oman" in a !ord" !ith the prosperity !hich" !hile beingmore or less connected !ith money being present andtemporal yet is not confined thereto" but extends to andembraces all human activities" and !hich particularly

relates to that harmony of the individual !ith hiscircumstances !hich produces that satisfaction calledhappiness and that comfort #no!n as prosperity. To theachievement of this end" so desirable to the mass ofman#ind" let us no! see ho! the eight principles operate"


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ho! the roof of prosperity is raised and made secure uponthe pillars by !hich it is supported.

* . F I R S T P I L L A R + E N E R ) Y

Energy is the !or#ing po!er in all achievement. Inert coalit converts into fire" and !ater it transmutes into steam2 it

vivifies and intensifies the commonest talent until itapproaches to genius" and !hen it touches the mind of thedullard" it turns into a living fire that !hich before !assleeping in inertia.

Energy is a moral virtue" its opposing vice being laAiness. 's a virtue" it can be cultivated" and the laAy man can become energetic by forcibly arousing himself to exertion.1ompared !ith the energetic man" the laAy man is not halfalive. Even !hile the latter is tal#ing about the difficult ofdoing a thing" the former is doing it. the active man hasdone a considerable amount of !or# before the laAy manhas roused himself from sleep. $hile the laAy man is

!aiting for an opportunity" the active man has gone out"and met and utiliAed half a doAen opportunities. 5e doesthings !hile the other is rubbing his eyes.

Energy is one of the primary forces7 !ithout it nothing can be accomplished. It is the basic element in all forms ofaction. The entire universe is a manifestation of tireless"though inscrutable energy. Energy is" indeed" life" and

!ithout it there !ould be no universe" no life. $hen a manhas ceased to act" !hen the body lies inert" and all thefunctions have ceased to act" then !e say he is dead2 and inso far as a man fails to act" he is so far dead. (an" mentally


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and physically" is framed for action" and not for s!inishease. Every muscle of the body Bbeing a lever for exertionCis a rebu#e to the laAy man. Every bone and nerve is

fashioned for resistance2 every function and faculty is therefor a legitimate use. 'll things have their end in action2 althings are perfected in use.

This being so" there is no prosperity for the laAy man" nohappiness" no refuge and no rest2 for him" there is not eventhe ease !hich he covets" for he at last becomes a homelessoutcast" a troubled" harried" despised man" so that the

proverb !isely puts it that +The laAy man does the hardest !or#," in that" avoiding the systematic labour of s#ill" he brings upon himself the hardest lot.

/et energy misapplied is better than no energy at all. This ispo!erfully put by St. &ohn in the !ords7 +I !ould have youeither hot or cold2 if you are lu#e!arm I !ill spe! you outof my mouth,. The extremes of heat and cold here

symboliAe the transforming agency of energy" in its goodand bad aspects.

The lu#e!arm stage is colourless" lifeless" useless2 it canscarcely be said to have either virtue or vice" and is merely

barren empty" fruitless. The man !ho applies hisabounding energy to bad ends" has" at the very po!er !ith

!hich the strives to ac uire his selfish ends" !ill bring uponhim such difficulties" pains" and sorro!s" that !ill compelhim to learn by experience" and so at last to re-fashion his

base of action. 't the right moment" !hen his mental eyesopen to better purposes" he !ill turn round and cut ne!and proper channels for the outflo! of his po!er" and !ill


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then be %ust as strong in good as he formerly !as in evil.This truth is beautifully crystalliAed in the old proverb"+The greater the sinner" the great the saint,.

Energy is po!er" and !ithout it there !ill be noaccomplishment2 there !ill not even be virtue" for virtuedoes not only consist of not doing evil" but also" primarily"of doing good. There are those !ho try" yet fail throughinsufficient energy. Their efforts are too feeble to producepositive results. Such are not vicious" and because theynever do any deliberate harm" are usually spo#en of as good

men that fail. ut to lac# the initiative to do harm is not to be good2 it is only to be !ea# and po!erless. 5e is the trulygood man !ho" having the po!er to do evil" yet chooses todirect his energies in !ays that are good. $ithout aconsiderable degree of energy" therefore" there !ill be nomoral po!er. $hat good there is" !ill be latent andsleeping2 there !ill be no going forth of good" %ust as therecan be no mechanical motion !ithout the motive po!er.

Energy is the informing po!er in all doing in everydepartment of life" and !hether it be along material orspiritual lines. The call to action" !hich comes not onlyfrom the soldier but from the lips or pen of every teacher inevery grade of thought" is a call to men to rouse theirsleeping energy" and to do vigorously the tas# in hand.Even the men of contemplation and mediation never ceaseto rouse their disciples to exertion in meditative thought" isa call to men to rouse their sleeping energy" and to do

vigorously the tas# in hand. Even the men of contemplationand meditation never cease to rouse their disciples toexertion in meditative thought. Energy is ali#e needed in all


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spheres of life" and not only are the rules of the soldier" theengineer and the merchant rules of action" but nearly allthe percepts of the saviors" sages" and saints are precepts of

doing.The advice of one of the 0reat Teachers to his disciples +Deep !ide a!a#e," tersely expresses the necessity fortireless energy if one4s purpose is to be accomplished" andis e ually good advice to the salesman as to the saint.+Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty," and liberty is thereaching of one4s fixed end. It !as the same Teacher that

said7 +If anything is to be done" let a man do it at once2 lethim attac# it vigorously , The !isdom of this advice is seen

!hen it is remembered that action is creative" that increaseand development follo! upon legitimate use. To get moreenergy !e must use to the full that !hich !e alreadypossess. nly to him that that is given. nly to him thatputs his hand vigorously to some tas# does po!er andfreedom come.

ut energy" to be productive" must not only be directedto!ards good ends" it must be carefully controlled andconserved. +The conservation of energy, is a modern termexpressive of that principle in nature by !hich no energy is

!asted or lost" and the man !hose energies are to befruitful in results must !or# intelligently upon thisprinciple. *oise and hurry are so much energy running to

!aste. +(ore haste" less speed,. The maximum of noiseusually accompanies the minimum of accomplishment.

$ith much tal# there is little doing. $or#ing steam is notheard. It is the escaping steam !hich ma#es a great noise.


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It is the concentrated po!der !hich drives the bullet to itsmar#.

In so far as a man intensifies his energies by conservingthem" and concentrating them upon the accomplishment ofhis purpose" %ust so far does he gain uietness and silence"in response and calmness. It is great delusion that noisemeans po!er. There is no great baby than the blustering

boaster. Physically a man" he is but an infant mentally" andhaving no strength to anything" and no !or# to sho!" hetries to ma#e up for it by loudly proclaiming !hat he has

done" or could do.+Still !aters run deep", and the great universal forces areinaudible. $here calmness is" there is the greatest po!er.1almness is the sure indication of a strong" !elltrained"patiently disciplined mind. The calm man #no!s his

business" be sure of it. 5is !ords are fe!" but they tell. 5isschemes are !ell planned" and they !or# true" li#e a !ell

balanced machine. 5e sees a long !ay ahead" and ma#esstraight for his ob%ect. The enemy" ifficulty" he convertsinto a friend" and ma#es profitable use of him" for he hasstudied !ell ho! to +agree !ith his adversary !hile he is inthe !ay !ith him," )i#e a !ise general" he has anticipatedall emergencies. Indeed" he is the man who is preparedbeforehand. In his meditations" in the counsels of his

%udgement" he has conferred !ith causes" and has caughtthe bent of all contingencies. 5e is never ta#en by surprise2is never in a hurry" is safe in the #eeping of his o!nsteadfastness" and is sure of his ground. /ou may thin# youhave got him" only to find" the next moment" that you havetripped in your haste" and that he has got you" or rather


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that you" !anting calmness" have hurried yourself into thedilemma !hich you had prepared for him. /our impulsecannot do battle !ith his deliberation" but is foiled at the

first attac#2 your uncurbed energy cannot turn aside the !isely directed steam of his concentrated po!er. 5e is+armed at all points,. y a mental &u-&itsu ac uiredthrough self discipline" he meets opposition in such a !aythat it destroys itself. @pbraid him !ith angry !ords" andthe reproof hidden in his gentle reply searches to the veryheart of your folly" and the fire of your anger sin#s into theashes of remorse. 'pproach him !ith a vulgar familiarity"

and his loo# at once fill you !ith shame" and brings you bac# to your senses. 's he is prepared for all events" so heis ready for all men2 though no men are ready for him. 'll

!ea#nesses are betrayed in his presence" and he commands by an inherent force !hich calmness has rendered habitualand unconscious.

1almness" as distinguished from the dead placidity oflanguor" is the acme of concentrated energy. There is afocused mentality behind it. in agitation and excitement thementality is dispersed. It is irresponsible" and is !ithoutforce or !eight. The fussy" peevish" irritable man has noinfluence. 5e repels" and not attracts. 5e !onders !hy his+easy going, neighbour succeeds" and is sought after" !hilehe" !ho is al!ays hurrying" !orrying and troubling the

miscalls it striving, falls and is avoided. 5is neighbour" being a calmer man" not more easy going but moredeliberate" gets through more !or#" does it more s#illfully"and is more self possessed and manly. This is the reason ofhis success and influence. 5is energy is controlled andused" !hile the other man4s energy is dispersed and abused.


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Energy" then" is the first pillar in the temple of prosperity"and !ithout it" as the first and most essential e uipment"there can be no prosperity. *o energy means no capacity2

there is no manly self respect and independence. 'mongstthe unemployed !ill be found many !ho are unemployablethrough sheer lac# of this first essential of !or# energy. Theman that stands many hours a day at a street corner !ithhis hands in his poc#ets and a pipe in his mouth" !aitingfor some one to treat him to a glass of beer" is little li#ely tofind employment" or to accept it should it come to him.Physically flabby and mentally inert" he is every day

becoming more some" is ma#ing himself more unfit to !or#" and therefore unfit to live. The energetic man maypass through temporary periods of unemployment andsuffering" but it is impossible for him to become one of thepermanently unemployed. 5e !ill either find !or# or ma#eit" for inertia is painful to him" and !or# is a delight2 and he

!ho delights in !or# !ill not long remain unemployed.

The laAy man does not !ish to be employed. 5e is in hiselement !hen doing nothing. 5is chief study is ho! toavoid exertion. To vegetate in semi torpor is his idea ofhappiness. 5e is unfit and unemployable. Even the extremeSocialist" !ho places all unemployment" at the door of therich" !ould discharge a laAy" neglectful and unprofitableservant" and so add one more to the arm of the

unemployed2 for laAiness is one of the lo!est vicesrepulsive to all active" right minded men.

ut energy is a composite po!er. It does not stand alone.Involved in it are ualities !hich go to the ma#ing of

vigorous character and the production of prosperity.


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(ainly" these ualities are contained in the four follo!ingcharacteristics7-

8. Promptitude

9. Gigilance

:. Industry

;. Earnestness

The pillar of energy is therefore a concrete mass composedof these four tenacious elements. They are through"enduring" and are calculated to !ithstanding the !ildest

!eather of adversity. They all ma#e for life" po!er"capacity" and progress.

Promptitude is valuable possession. It begets reliability.People !ho are alert" prompt" and punctual are reliedupon. They can be trusted to do their duty" and to do it

vigorously and !ell. (asters !ho are prompt are a tonic totheir employees" and a !hip to those !ho are inclined toshir#. They are a means of !holesome discipline to those

!ho !ould not other!ise discipline themselves. Thus !hileaiding their o!n usefulness and success" they contribute tothe usefulness and success of others. The perfunctory

!or#er" !ho is ever procrastinating" and is al!ays behindtime" becomes a nuisance" if not go himself" to others" andhis services come to be regarded as of little economic value.

eliberation and dispatch" handmaids of promptitude" are valuable aids in the achievement of prosperity. In ordinary business channels" alacrity is a saving po!er" andpromptness spells profit. It is doubtful !hether a


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confirmed procrastinator ever succeeded in business. Ihave not yet met one such" though I have #no!n many !hohave failed.

Vigilance is the guard of all the faculties and po!ers of themind. It is the detective that prevents the entrance of any

violent and destructive element. It is the close companionand protector of all success" liberty" and !isdom. $ithoutthis !atchful attitude of mind" a man is a fool" and there isno prosperity for a fool. The fool allo!s his mind to beransac#ed and robbed of its gravity" serenity" and

%udgement by mean thoughts and violent passions as theycome along to molest him. 5e is never on his guard" butleaves open the doors of his mind to every nefariousintruder. 5e is so !ea# and unsteady as to be s!ept off his

balance by every gust of impulse that overta#es him. 5e isan example to others of !hat they should not be. 5e isal!ays a failure" for the fool is an offence to all men" andthere is no society that can receive him !ith respect. 's

!isdom is the acme of strength" so folly is the otherextreme of !ea#ness.

The lac# of vigilance is sho!n in thoughtlessness and in ageneral looseness in the common details of life.Thoughtlessness is built another name for folly. It lies atthe root of a great deal of failure and misery. *o one !hoaims at any #ind of usefulness and prosperity Bforusefulness in the body politic and prosperity to one4s selfcannot be servedC4 can afford to be asleep !ith regard to hisactions and the effect of those actions on other andreactively on himself. 5e must" at the outset of his career"

!a#e up to a sense of his personnel responsibility. 5e must


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#no! that !herever he is in the home" the counting-house" the pulpit" the store" in the schoolroom or behindthe counter" in company or alone" at !or# or at play- his

conduct !ill materially affect his career for good or bad2 forthere is a subtle influence in behavior !hich leaves itsimpression every man" !oman" and child that it touches"and that impress is the determining factor in the attitude ofpersons to!ards one another. It is for the reason that thecultivation of good manners plays such an important partin all coherent society. If you carry about !ith you adisturbing or disagreeable mental defect" it needs not to be

named and #no!n to !or# its poison upon your affairs. Itscorrosive influence !ill eat into all your efforts" anddisfigure your happiness and prosperity" as po!erful acideats into and disfigures the finest steel. n the other hand"if you carry about an assuring and harmonious mentalexcellence" it needs no that those about you understand itto be influenced by it. They !ill be dra!n to!ards you in

good !ill" often !ithout #no!ing !hy" and that gooduality !ill be the most po!erful sport in all your affairs" bringing you friends and opportunities" and greatly aidingin the success of all your enterprises. It !ill even right yourminor incapacitaties2 covering a multitude of faults.

Thus !e receive at the hands of the !orld according to themeasure of our giving. For bad" bad2 for good" good. For

defective conduct" indifferent influence and imperfectsuccess2 for superior conduct lasting po!er andconsummate achievement. $e act" and the !orld responds.

$hen the foolish man fails" he blames other" and sees noerror in himself2 but the !ise man !atches and correctshimself" and so is assured of success.


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The man !hose mind is vigilant and alert" has thereby a valuable e uipment in the achievement of his aims2 and ifhe be fully alive and !ide- a!a#e on all occasions" to all

opportunities" and against all marring defects of character" !hat event" !hat circumstance" !hat enemy shall overta#ehim and find him unprepared3 $hat shall prevent himfrom achieving the legitimate and at !hich he aims3

Industry brings cheerfulness and plenty. Gigorouslyindustrious people are the happiest members of thecommunity. They are not al!ays the richest" if by riches is

meant a superfluity of money2 but they are al!ays the mostlighthearted and %oyful" and the most satisfied !ith !hatthey do and have" and are therefore the richer" if by richer

!e mean more abundantly blessed. 'ctive people have notime for moping and brooding" or for d!elling selfishlyupon their ailments and troubles. Things most used are#ept the brightest" and people most employed best retaintheir brightness and buoyancy of spirit. Things unusedtarnish uic#est2 and the time #iller is attac#ed !ith ennuiand morbid fancies. To tal# of having to +#ill time, isalmost li#e a confession of imbecility2 for !ho" in the shortlife at his disposal" and in a !orld so flooded !ith resourcesof #no!ledge !ith sound heads and good hearts can fill upevery moment of every day usefully and happily" and if theyrefer to time at all" it is to the effect that it is all too short to

enable them to do all that they !ould li#e to do.

Industry" too" promoted health and !ell being. The activeman goes to bed tired every night2 his rest is sound ands!eet" and he !a#es up early in the morning" fresh andstrong for another day4s delightful toil. 5is appetite and


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digestion are good. 5e has an excellent sauce in recreation"and a good tonic in toil. $hat companionship can such aman have !ith moping and melancholy3 Such morbid

spirits hang around those !ho do little and dineexcessively. People !ho ma#e themselves useful to thecommunity" receive bac# from the community their fullshare of health" happiness" and prosperity. They brightenthe daily tas#" and #eep the !orld moving. They are thegold of the nation and the salt of the earth.

+ Earnestness, said a 0reat Teacher" +is the path of

immortality. They !ho are in earnest do not die2 they !hoare not in earnest are as if dead already,. Earnestness is thededication of the entire mind to its tas#. $e live only in

!hat !e do. Earnest people are dissatisfied !ith anythingshort of the highest excellence in !hatever they do" andthey al!ays reach that excellence. They are so many thatare careless and half hearted" so satisfied !ith a poorperformance" that the earnest ones shine apart as it !ere"in their excellence. They are al!ays plenty of +vacancies, inthe ran#s of usefulness and service for earnest people.There never !as" and never !ill be" a deeply earnest man or

!oman !ho did not fill successfully some suitable sphere.Such people are scrupulous" conscientious" andpainsta#ing" and cannot rest in ease until the very best isdone" and the !hole !orld is al!ays on the loo#out to

re!ard the best. It al!ays stands ready to pay the full price" !hether in money" fame" friends" influence" happiness"scope or life" for that !hich is of surpassing excellence"

!hether it be in things material" intellectual" or spiritual. $hat ever you are !hether shop#eeper or saintly teacher you can safely give the very best to the !orld !ithout any


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doubt or misgiving. If the indelible impress of yourearnestness be on your goods in the one case" or on your

!ords in the other" your business !ill flourish" or your

precepts !ill live.Earnest people ma#e rapid progress both in their !or# andtheir character. It is thus that they live" and +do not die," forstagnation only is death" and !here there is incessantprogress and ever ascending excellence" stagnation andhealth are s!allo!ed up in activity and life.

Thus is the ma#ing and masonry of the First pillarexplained. 5e !ho builds it !ell" and sets it firm andstraight" !ill have a po!erful and enduring support in the

business of his life.

, . S E ( O N D P I L L A R + E ( O N O M Y

It is said of *ature that she #no!s on vacuum. She also

#no!s no !aste. In the divine economy my *atureeverything is conserved and turned to good account. Evenexcreta are chemically transmitted" and utiliAed in the

building up of ne! forms. *ature destroys every foulness"not by annihilation" but by transmutation" by s!eeteningand purifying it" and ma#ing it serve the ends of things

beautiful" useful and good.

That economy !hich" in nature is a universal principle" is inman a moral uality and it is that uality by !hich hepreserves his energies" and sustains his place as a !or#ingunit in the scheme of things.


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Financial economy is merely a fragment of this principle" orrather it is a material symbol of that economy !hich ispurely mental" and its transmutations spiritual. The

financial economist exchanges coppers for silver" silver forgold" gold for notes" and the notes he converts into thefigures of a ban# account. y these conversions of moneyinto more readily transmissible forms he is the gainer inthe financial management of his affairs. The spiritualeconomist transmutes passions into intelligence"intelligence into principles" principles into !isdom" and

!isdom is manifested in actions !hich are fe! but of

po!erful effect. y all these transmutations he is the gainerin character and in the management of his life.

True economy is the middle !ay in all things" !hethermaterial or mental" bet!een !aste and undue retention.That !hich is !asted" !hether money or mental energy" isrendered po!erless2 that !hich is selfishly retained andhoarded up" is e ually po!erless. To secure po!er" !hetherof capital or mentality" there must be concentration" butconcentration must be follo!ed by legitimate use. Thegathering up of money or energy is only a means2 the end isuse2 and it is use only that produces po!er.

'n all round economy consists in finding the middle !ay inthe follo!ing seven things7- Money, Food, lothing,

!ecreation, !est, "ime and Energy.

Money is the symbol of exchange" and representspurchasing po!er. 5e !ho is anxious to ac uire financial

!ealth as !ell as he !ho !ishes to avoid debt must studyho! to apportion" his expenditure in accordance !ith his


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income" so as to leave a margin of ever increasing !or#ingcapital" or to have a little store ready in hand for anyemergency. (oney spent in thoughtless expenditure in

!orthless pleasures or harmful luxuries is money !astedand po!er destroyed2 for" although a limited andsubordinate po!er" the means and capacity for legitimateand virtuous purchase is" nevertheless" a po!er" and onethat enters largely into the details of our everyday life. Thespendthrift can never become rich" but if he begin !ithriches" must soon become poor. The miser" !ith all hisstored-a!ay gold" cannot be said to be rich" for he is in

!ant" and his gold" lying idle" is deprived of its po!er ofpurchase. The thrifty and prudent are on the !ay to riches"for !hile they spend !isely they save carefully" andgradually enlarge their spheres as their gro!ing meansallo!.

The poor man !ho is to become rich must begin at the bottom" and must not !ish" nor try to appear affluent byattempting something far beyond his means. There isal!ays plenty of room and scope at the bottom" and it is asafe place from !hich to begin" as there is nothing belo!"and everything above. (any a young business man comesat once to grief by s!agger and display !hich he foolishlyimagines are necessary to success" but !hich" deceiving noone but himself" lead uic#ly to ruin. ' modest and true

beginning" in any sphere" !ill better ensure success than anexaggerated advertisement of one4s standing andimportance. The smaller the capital" the smaller should bethe sphere of operations. 1apital and scope are hand andglove" and they should fit. 1oncentrate your capital !ithinthe circle of its !or#ing po!er" and ho!ever circumscribed


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that circle may be it !ill continue to !iden and extend asthe gathering momentum of po!er presses for expression.

'bove all ta#e care al!ays to avoid the t!o extremes ofparsimony and prodigality.

Food represents life" vitality" and both physical and mentalstrength. There is a middle !ay in eating and drin#ing" asin all else. The man !ho is to achieve prosperity must be

!ell nourished" but not overfed. The man that starves his body" !hether through miserliness or asceticism Bbothforms of false economyC" diminishes his mental energy" andrenders his body too enfeebled to be the instrument for anystrong achievement. Such a man courts sic#ly mindedness"a condition conducive only to failure.

The glutton" ho!ever" destroys himself by excess. 5is bestialiAed body becomes a stored up reservoir of poisons" !hich attract disease and corruption" !hile his mind

becomes more and more brutaliAed and confused" andtherefore more incapable. 0luttony is one of the lo!est andmost animal vices" and is obnoxious to all !ho pursue amoderate course.

The best !or#ers and most successful men are they !ho aremost moderate in eating and drin#ing. y ta#ing enoughnourishment" but not too much" they attain the maximum

physical and mental fitness. eings thus !ell e uipped bymoderation" they are enabled to vigorously and %oyfullyfight the battle of life.

lothing is covering and protection for the body" though itis fre uently !rested from this economic purpose" and


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made a means of vain display. The t!o extremes to beavoided here are negligence and vanity. 1ustom cannot"and need not" be ignored2 and cleanliness is all important.

The ill-dressed" un#empt man or !oman invites failure andloneliness. ' man4s dress should harmoniAe !ith his stationin life" and it should be of good uality" and be !ell madeand appropriate. 1lothing should not be cast aside !hilecomparatively ne!" but should be !ell !orn. If a man bepoor" he !ill not lose in either self respect or the respect ofothers by !earing threadbare clothing if it be clean and his

!hole body be clean and neat. ut vanity" leading to

excessive luxury in clothing" is a vice !hich should bestudiously avoided by virtuous people. I #no! a lady !hohad forty dresses in her !ardrobe2 also a man !ho hadt!enty !al#ing-stic#s" about the same number of hats" andsome doAen mac#intoshes2 !hile another had some t!entyor thirty pairs of boots. Hich people !ho thus s uandermoney on piles of superfluous clothing" are courting

poverty" for it is !aste" and !aste leads to !ant. The moneyso heedlessly spent could be better used" for sufferingabounds and charity is noble.

'n obtrusive display in clothing and %e!ellery bespea#s a vulgar and empty mind. (odest and cultured people aremodest and becoming in their dress" and their spare moneyis !isely used in further enhancing their culture and virtue.

Education and progress are of more importance to themthan vain and needless apparel2 and literature" art" andscience are encouraged thereby. ' true refinement is in themind and behaviour" and a mind adorend !ith virtue andintelligence cannot add to its attractiveness though it maydetract from itC by an ostentatious display of the body.


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Time spent in uselessly adorning the body could be morefruitfully employed. Simplicity in dress" as in other things"is the best. It touches the point of excellence in usefulness"

comfort" and bodily grace" and bespea#s true taste andcultivated refinement.

!ecreation is one of the necessities of life. Every man and !omen should have some definitive !or# as the mainob%ect of life" and to !hich a considerable amount of timeshould be devoted" and he should only turn from it at givenand limited periods for recreation and rest. The ob%ect of

recreation is greater buoyancy of both body and mind" !ithan increase of po!er in one4s serious !or#. It is" therefore"a means" not an end2 and this should ever be born in mind"for" to many" some forms of recreation innocent and goodin themselves become so fascinating that they are indanger of ma#ing them the end of life" and of thusabandoning duty for pleasure. To ma#e of life a ceaselessround of games and pleasures" !ith no other ob%ect in life"is to turn living upside do!n" as it !ere" and it producesmonotony and enervation. People !ho do it are the mostunhappy of mortals" and suffer from languor" ennui" andpeevishness. 's sauce is an aid to digestion" and can onlylead to misery !hen made the !or# of life. $hen a man hasdone his day4s duty he can turn to his recreation !ith a freemind and a light heart" and both his !or# and his pleasure

!ill be to him a source of happiness.

It is a true economy in this particular neither to devote the !hole of one4s time to !or# nor to recreation" but toapportion to each its time and place2 and so fill out life !ith


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those changes !hich are necessary to a long life and afruitful existence.

'll agreeable changes is recreation and the mental !or#er !ill gain both in the uality and" uantity of his !or# bylaying it do!n at the time appointed for restful andrefreshing recreation2 !hile the physical !or#er !illimprove in every !ay by turning to some form of study as ahobby or means of education.

's !e do not spend all our time in eating or sleeping orresting" neither should !e spend it in exercise or pleasure"

but should give recreation its proper place as a naturaltonic in the economic scheme of our life.

!est is for recuperation after toil. Every self respectinghuman being should do sufficient !or# every day to ma#ehis sleep restful and s!eet" and his rising up fresh and

bright.

Enough sleep should be ta#en" but not too much" overindulgence on the one hand" or deprivation on the other"are both harmful. It is an easy matter to find out ho! muchsleep one re uires. y going to bed early" and getting upearly Brising a little earlier every morning if one has been inthe habit of spending long hours in bedC" one can very soonaccurately gauge and ad%ust the number of hours he or she

re uires for complete recuperation. It !ill be found as thesleeping hours are shortened that the sleep becomes moreand more sound and s!eet" and the !a#ing up more andmore alert and bright. People !ho are to prosper in their

!or# must not give !ay to ignoble ease and overindulgence in sleep. Fruitful labour" and not ease" is the


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true end of life" and ease is only good in so far as it sub-serves the ends of !or#. Sloth and prosperity can never becompanions can never even approach each other. The

sluggard !ill never overta#e success" but failure !illspeedily catch up !ith him" and leave him defeated. Hest isto fit us for greater labour" and not to pamper us inindolence. $hen the bodily vigour is restored" the end ofrest is accomplished. ' perfect balance bet!een labour andrest contributes considerably to health" happiness" andprosperity.

"ime is that !hich !e all possess in e ual measure. The dayis not lengthened for any man. $e should therefore see to itthat !e do not s uander its precious minutes inunprofitable !aste. 5e !ho spends his time in selfindulgence and the pursuit of pleasure" presently findshimself old" and nothing has been accomplished. 5e !hofills full !ith useful pursuits the minutes as they come andgo" gro!s old in honour and !isdom" and prosperity abides

!ith him. (oney !asted can be restored2 health !asted can be restored2 but time !asted can never be restored.

It is an old saying that +time is money,. It is" in the same !ay" health" and strength" and talent" and genius" and !isdom" in accordance !ith the manner in !hich it is used2and to properly use it" the minutes must be seiAed upon asthey come" for once they are past they can never berecalled. The day should be divided into portions" andeverything !or#" leisure" meals" recreation should beattend to in its proper time2 and the time of preparationshould not be overloo#ed or ignored. $hatever a man does"he !ill do it better and more successfully by utiliAing some


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small portion of the day in preparing his mind for his !or#.The man !ho gets up early in order to thin# and plan" thathe may !eigh and consider and forecast" !ill al!ays

manifest greater s#ill and success in his particular pursuit"than the man !ho lives in bed till the last moment" andonly gets up %ust in time to begin brea#fast. 'n hour spendin this !ay before brea#fast !ill prove of the greatest valuein ma#ing one4s efforts fruitful. It is a means of calming andclarifying the mind" and of focussing one4s energies so as torender them more po!erful and effective. The best andmost abiding success is that !hich is made before eight

o4cloc# in the morning. 5e !ho is at his business at sixo4cloc#" !ill al!ays other conditions being e ual be a long

!ay ahead of the man !ho is in bed at eight. The lie a bedheavily handicaps himself in the race of life. 5e gives hisearly-rising competitor t!o or three hours start every day.5o! can he ever hope to !in !ith such a self imposed taxupon his time3 't the end of a year that t!o or three hours

start every day is sho!n in a success !hich is the synthesisof accumulated results. $hat" then" must be the difference bet!een the efforts of these t!o men at the end" say" oft!enty years The lie-a-bed" too" after he gets up is al!aysin a hurry trying to regain lost time" !hich results in moreloss of time" for hurry al!ays defeats its o!n end. The earlyrise" !ho thus economies his time" has no need to hurry" forhe is al!ays ahead of the hour" is al!ays !ell up !ith his

!or#2 he can !ell afford to be calm and deliberate" and todo carefully and !ell !hatever is in hand" for his good habitsho!s itself at the end of the day in the form of a happyframe of mind" and in bigger results in the shape of !or#s#illfully and successfully done.


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In the economiAing of time" too" there !ill be many things !hich a man !ill have to eliminate from his life2 some ofthings and pursuits !hich he loves" and desires to retain"

!ill have to be sacrifice to the main purpose of his life. Thestudied elimination of non-essentials from one4s daily life isa vital factor in all great achievement. 'll great men areadepts in this branch of economy" and it plays an importantpart in the ma#ing of their greatness. It is a form ofeconomy !hich also enters into the mind" the actions" andthe speech" eliminating from them all that is superfluous"and that impedes" and does not sub-serve" the end aimed

at. Foolish and unsuccessful people tal# carelessly andaimlessly" act carelessly and aimlessly" and allo!everything that comes along good" bad" and different tolodge in their mind.

The mind of the true economist is a sieve !hich letseverything fall through except that !hich is of use to him inthe business of his life. 5e also employs only necessary

!ords" and does only necessary actions" thus vastlyminimiAing friction and !aste of po!er.

To go to bed betime and to get up betime" to fill in every !or#ing minute !ith purposeful thought and effectiveaction" this is the true economy of time.

Energy is economiAed by the formation of good habits. 'll vices are a rec#less expenditure of energy. Sufficient energyis thoughtlessly !asted in bad habits to enable men toaccomplish the greatest success" if conserved and used inright directions. If economy be practiced in the six pointsalready considered" much !ill be done in the conservation


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of one4s energies" but a man must go still further" andcarefully husband his vitality by the avoidance of all formsof physical self indulgences and impurities" but also all

those mental vices such as hurry" !orry" excitement"despondency" anger" complaining and envy !hich depletethe mind and render it unfit for any important !or# oradmirable achievement. They are common forms of mentaldissipation !hich a man of character should study ho! toavoid and overcome. The energy !asted in fre uent fits of

bad temper !ould" if controlled and properly directed" givea man strength of mind" force of character" and much

po!er to achieve. The angry man is a strong man made !ea# by the dissipation of his mental energy. 5e needs selfcontrol to manifest his strength. The calm man is al!ayshis superior in any department of life" and !ill al!ays ta#eprecedence of him" both in his success" and in theestimation of others. *o man can afford to disperse hisenergies in fostering bad habits and bad tendencies of

mind. Every vice" ho!ever" apparently small !ill tellagainst him in the battle of life. Every harmful selfindulgence !ill come bac# to him in the form of sometrouble or !ea#ness. Every moment of riot or of panderingto his lo!er inclinations !ill ma#e his progress morelaborious" and !ill hold him bac# from scaling the highheaven of his !ishes for achievement. n the other hand"he !ho economiAes his energies" and bends them to!ardsthe main tas# of his life" !ill ma#e rapid progress" andnothing !ill prevent him from reaching the golden city ofsuccess.

It !ill be seen that economy is something far moreprofound and far reaching than the mere saving of money.


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It touches every part of our nature and every phase of ourlife. The old saying" +Ta#e care of the pence" and thepounds !ill ta#e care of themselves," may be regarded as a

parable" for the lo!er passions as native energy2 it is theabuse of that energy that is bad" and if this personal energy be ta#en care of and stored up and transmuted" it reappearsas force of character. To !aste this valuable energy in thepursuit of vice is li#e !asting the pence" and so losing thepounds" but to ta#e care of it for good uses is to store up thepence of passions" and so gain the golden pounds of good.Ta#e care" therefore" of the lo!er energies" and the higher

achievements !ill ta#e care of themselves.

The Pillar of Economy" !hen soundly built" !ill be found to be composed largely of these four ualities7-

8. (oderation

9. Efficiency

:. Hesourcefulness

;. riginality

Moderation is the strong core of economy. It avoidsextremes" finding the middle !ay in all things. It alsoconsists in abstaining from the unnecessary and theharmful. There can be no such things as moderation in that

!hich is evil" for that !ould be excess. ' true moderationabstains from evil. It is not a moderate use of fire to put ourhands into it" but to !arm them by it at a safe distance. Evilis a fire that !ill burn a man though he but touch it. aharmful luxury is best left severely alone. Smo#ing" snuff


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ta#ing" alcoholic drin#ing" gambling" and other suchcommon vices" although they have dragged thousandsdo!n to ill health" misery" and failure" have never helped

one to!ards health" happiness and success. The man !hoesche!s them !ill al!ays be head of the man that pursuesthem" their talents and opportunities being e ual. 5ealthy"happy" and long lived people are al!ays moderate andabstemious in their habits. y moderation the life forcesare preserved2 by excess they are destroyed. (en" also" !hocarry moderation into their thoughts" allaying theirpassions and feelings" avoiding all un!holesome extremes

and morbid sensations and sentiments" add #no!ledge and !isdom to happiness and health" and thereby attain to thehighest felicity and po!er. The immoderate destroythemselves by their o!n folly. They !ea#en their energiesand stultify their capabilities" and instead of achieving anabiding success" reach only" at best" a fitful and precariousprosperity.

Efficiency proceeds from the right conservation of one4sforces and po!ers. 'll s#ill is the use of concentratedenergy. Superior s#ill" as talent and genius" is a higherdegree of concentrated force. (en are al!ays s#illful in that

!hich they love" because the mind is almost ceaselesslycentered upon it. S#ill is the result of that mental economy

!hich transmutes thought into invention and action. There

!ill be no prosperity !ithout s#ill" and one4s prosperity !ill be in the measure of one4s s#ill. y a process of naturalselection" the inefficient fall in to their right places. 'mongthe badly paid or unemployed2 for !ho !ill employ a man

!ho cannot" or !ill not" do his !or# properly3 'n employermay occasionally #eep such a man out of charity2 but this


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!ill be exceptional2 as places of business" offices"households" and all centers of organiAed activity" are notcharitable institutions" but industrial bodies !hich stand or

fall but the fitness and efficiency of their individualmembers.

S#ill is gained by thoughtfulness and attention. 'imlessand inattentive people are usually out of employment to

!it" the lounger at the street corner. They cannot do thesimplest thing properly" because they !ill not rouse up themind to thought and attention. Hecently an ac uaintance of

mine employed a tramp to clean his !indo!s" but the manhad refrained from !or# and systematic thought for so longthat he had become incapable of both" and could not evenclean a !indo!. Even !hen sho!n ho! to do it" he couldnot follo! the simple instructions given. This is aninstance" too" of the fact that the simplest thing re uires ameasure of s#ill in the doing. Efficiency largely determinesa man4s place among his fello!s" and leads one on by stepsto higher and higher positions as greater po!ers aredeveloped. The good !or#man is s#illful" !ith his tools"

!hile the good man is s#illful !ith his thoughts. $isdom isthe highest form of s#ill. 'ptitude in incipient !isdom.There is one right !ay of doing everything" even thesmallest" and a thousand !rong !ays. S#ill consists infinding the one right !ay" and adhering to it. The

inefficient bungle confusedly about among the thousand !rong !ays" and do not adopt the right even !hen it ispointed out to them. They do this in some cases becausethey thin#" in their ignorance" that they #no! best" therebyplacing themselves in a position !here it becomesimpossible to learn" even though it be only to learn ho! to


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clean a !indo! or s!eep a floor. Thoughtlessness andinefficiency are all too common. There is plenty of room inthe !orld for common. There is plenty of room in the !orld

for thoughtful and efficient people. Employers of labour#no! ho! difficult it is to get the best !or#manship. Thegood !or#man" !hether !ith tools or brain" !hether !ithspeech or thought" !ill al!ays find a place for the exerciseof his s#ill.

!esourcefulness is the outcome of efficiency. It is animportant element in prosperity" for the resourceful man is

never confounded. 5e may have many falls" but he !illal!ays be e ual to the occasion" and !ill be on his feetagain immediately. Hesourcefulness has its fundamentalcause in the conservation of energy. It is energytransmuted. $hen a man cuts off certain mental or bodily

vices !hich have been depleting him of his energy" !hat becomes of the energy so conserved3 It is not destroyed orlost" for energy can never be destroyed or lost. It becomesproductive energy. It reappears in the form of fruitfulthought. The virtuous man is al!ays more successful thanthe vicious man because he is teeming !ith resources. 5isentire mentality is alive and vigorous" abounding !ithstored up energy. $hat the vicious man !astes in barrenindulgence" the virtuous man uses in fruitful industry. 'ne! life and a ne! !orld" abounding !ith all fascinating

pursuits and pure delights" open up to the man !ho shutshimself off from the old !orld of animal vice" and his place

!ill be assured by the resources !hich !ill !ell up !ithinhim. arren seed perishes in the earth2 there is no place forit in the fruitful economy of nature. arren minds sin# inthe struggle of life. 5uman society ma#es for good" and


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there is no room in it for the emptiness engendered by vice.ut the barren mind !ill not sin# for ever. $hen it !ills" it

can become fruitful and regain itself. y the very nature of

existence" by the eternal la! of progress" the vicious manmust fall2 but having fallen" he can rise again. 5e can turnfrom vice to virtue" and stand" self respecting and secure"upon his o!n resources.

The resourceful men invent" discover" initiate. They cannotfail" for they are in the stream of progress. They are full ofne! schemes" ne! methods" ne! hopes" and their life is so

much fuller and richer thereby. They are men of suppleminds. $hen a man fails to improve his business" his !or#"his methods" he falls out of the line of progress" and has

begun to fail. 5is mind has become stiff and inert li#e the body of an aged man" and so fails to #eep pace !ith therapidly moving ideas and plans of resourceful minds. 'resourceful mind is li#e a river !hich never runs dry" and

!hich affords refreshment" and supplies ne! vigour" intimes of drought. (en of resources are men of ne! ideas"and men of ne! ideas flourish !here others fade and decay.

#riginality is resourcefulness ripened and perfected. $here there is originality there is genius" and men ofgenius are the lights of the !orld. $hatever !or# a mandoes" he should fall bac# upon his o!n resources in thedoing it. $hile learning from others" he should notslavishly imitate them" but should put himself into his

!or#" and so ma#e it ne! and original. riginal men getthe ear of the !orld. They may be neglected at first" butthey are al!ays ultimately accepted" and become patternsfor man#ind. nce a man has ac uired the #nac# of


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originality" he ta#es his place as a leader among men in hisparticular department of #no!ledge and s#ill. utoriginality cannot be forced2 it can only be developed2 and

it is developed by proceeding from excellence to excellence" by ascending in the scale of s#ill by the full and right use ofone4s mental po!ers. )et a man consecrate himself to his

!or#" let him" so consecrated" concentrate all his energiesupon it" and the day !ill come !hen the !orld !ill hail himas one of its strong sons2 and he" too" li#e alAac !ho" aftermany years of strenuous toil" one day exclaimed" +I amabout to become a genius " +I am about to become a genius,

!ill at least discover" to his %oy" that he has %oined thecompany of original minds" the gods !ho lead man#indinto ne!er" higher" and more beneficent !ays.

The composition of the Second Pillar is thus revealed. Its building a!aits the ready !or# man !ho !ill s#illfullyapply his mental energies.

. T H I R D P I L L A R + I N T E ) R I T Y

There is no stri#ing a cheap bargain !ith prosperity. Itmust be purchased" not only !ith intelligent labor" but !ithmoral force. as the bubble cannot endure" so the fraudcannot prosper. 5e ma#es a feverish spurt in theac uirement of money" and then collapses. *othing is ever

gained" ever can be gained" by fraud. It is but !rested for atime" to be again returned !ith heavy interest. ut fraud isnot confined to the unscrupulous s!indler. 'll !ho aregetting" or trying to get" money !ithout giving ane uivalent are practicing fraud" !hether they #no! it ornot. (en !ho are anxiously scheming ho! to get money


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!ithout !or#ing for it" are frauds" and mentally they areclosely allied to the thief and s!indler under !hoseinfluence they come" sooner or later" and !ho deprives

them of their capital. $hat is a thief but a man !ho carriesto its logical or later" and !ho deprives them of theircapital. $hat is a thief but a man !ho carries to its logicalextreme the desire to possess !ithout giving a %ust return that is" unla!fully3 The man that courts prosperity must" inall his transactions" !hether material or mental" study ho!to give a %ust return for that !hich he receives. This is thegreat fundamental principle in all sound commerce" !hile

in spiritual things it becomes the doing to others that !hich !e !ould have them do to us" and applied to the forces ofthe universe" it is scientifically stated in the formula"+'ction and Heaction are e ual.,

5uman life is reciprocal" not rapacious" and the man !horegards all others as his legitimate prey !ill soon findhimself stranded in the desert of ruin" far a!ay from thepath of prosperity. 5e is too far behind in the process ofevolution to cope successfully !ith honest man. The fittest"the best" al!ays survive" and he being the !orst" cannottherefore continue. 5is end" unless the change in time" issure it is the goal" the filthy hovel" or the place of thedeserted outcast. 5is efforts are destructive" and notconstructive" and he thereby destroys himself.

It !as 1arlyle !ho" referring to (ohammed being thenuniversally regarded by 1hristians as an impostor"exclaimed" +'n impostor found a religion 'n impostorcouldn4t built a bric# house, an impostor" a liar a cheat theman of dishonesty cannot build as he has neither tools or


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material !ith !hich to build. 5e can no more build up a business" a character" a career" a success" than he can founda religion or build a bric# house. 5e not only does not

build" but all his energies are bent on undermining !hatothers have built" but his being impossible" he undermineshimself.

$ithout integrity" energy and economy !ill at last fail" butaided by integrity" their strength !ill be greatly augmented.There is not an occasion in life in !hich the moral factordoes not play an important part. Sterling integrity tell

!herever it is" and stamps it hall mar# on all transactions2and it does this because of its !onderful coherence andconsistency" and its invincible strength. For the man ofintegrity is in line !ith the fixed la!s of things not only

!ith the fundamental principles on !hich human societyrests" but !ith the la!s !hich hold the vast universetogether. $ho shall set these at naught3 $ho" then" shallundermine the man of unblemished integrity3 5e is li#e astrong tree !hose roots are fed by perennial springs" and

!hich no tempest can la! lo!.

To be complete and strong" integrity must embrace the !hole man" and extend to all the details of his life2 and itmust be so through and permanent as to !ithstand alltemptations to s!erve into compromise. To fail in onepoint is to fail in all" and to admit" under stress" acompromise !ith falsehood" ho!soever necessary andinsignificant it may appear" is to thro! do!n the shield ofintegrity" and to stand exposed to the onslaughts of evil.


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The man !ho !or#s as carefully and conscientiously !henhis employer is a!ay as !hen his eye is upon him" !ill notlong remain in an inferior position. Such integrity in duty"

in performing the details of his !or#" !ill uic#ly lead himinto the fertile regions of prosperity.

The shir#er" on the other hand he !ho does not scruple toneglect his !or# !hen his employer is not about" therebyrobbing his employer of the time and labour for !hich he ispaid !ill uic#ly come to the barren region ofunemployment" and !ill loo# in vain for needful labour.

There !ill come a time" too" to the man !ho is not deeplyrooted in integrity" !hen it !ill seem necessary to hisprospects and prosperity that he should tell a lie or do adishonest thing I say" to the man !ho is not deeplyrooted in this principle" for a man of fixed and enlightenedintegrity #no!s that lying and dishonesty can never underany circumstance be necessary" and therefore he neither

needs to be tempted in this particular" nor can he possibly be tempted but the one so tempted must be able to castaside the subtle insinuation of falsehood !hich" in a time ofindecision and perplexity" arises !ithin him" and he muststand firmly by the principle" being !illing to lose andsuffer rather than sin# into obli uity. In this !ay only canhe become enlightened concerning this moral principle"and discover the glad truth that integrity does not lead toloss and suffering" but to gain and %oy2 that honesty anddeprivation are not" and cannot be" related as cause andeffect.


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It is this !illingness to sacrifice rather than be untrue thatleads to enlightenment in all spheres of life2 and the man

!ho" rather than sacrifice some selfish aim" !ill lie or

deceive" has forfeited his right to moral enlightenment" andta#es his place lo!er do!n among the devotees of deceit"among the doers of shady transactions" than men of nocharacter and no reputation.

' man is not truly armoured !ith integrity until he has become incapable of lying or deceiving either by gesture" !ord" or act2 until he sees" clearly" openly" and freed from

all doubt" the deadly effects of such moral turpitude. Theman so enlightened is protect from all uarters" and can nomore be undermined by dishonest men than the sun can bepulled do!n from heaven by madmen" and the arro!s ofselfishness and treachery that may be poured upon him !illrebound from the strong armour of his integrity and the

bright shield of his righteousness" leaving him unharmedand untouched.

' lying tradesman !ill tell you that no man can thrive and be honest in these days of #een competition. 5o! can sucha man #no! this" seeing that he has never tried honest3(oreover" such a man has no #no!ledge of honesty" andhis statement is therefore" a statement of ignorance" andignorance and falsehood so blind a man that he foolishlyimagines all are as ignorant and false as himself. I have#no!n such tradesmen" and have seen them come to ruin. Ionce heard a businessman ma#e the follo!ing statement ina public meeting7-+*o man can be entirely honest in

business2 he can only be approximately honest., 5eimagined that his statement revealed the condition of the


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business !orld2 it did not" it revealed his own condition.5e !as merely telling his audience that he !as a dishonestman" but his ignorance" moral ignorance" prevented him

from seeing this. 'pproximate honesty is only another termfor dishonesty. The man !ho deviated a little from thestraight path" !ill deviate more. 5e has no fixed principleof right and is only thin#ing of his o!n advantage. That hepersuades himself that his particular dishonesty is of a

!hite and harmless #ind" and that he is not so bad as hisneighbour" is only of the many forms of self delusion !hichignorance of moral principles creates.

Hight doing bet!een man and main in the varied relationsand transactions of life is the very soul of integrity. Itincludes" but is more than" honesty. It is the bac#bone ofhuman society" and the support of human institutions.

$ithout it there !ould be no trust" no confidence bet!eenmen" and the business !orld !ould topple to its fall.

's the liar thin#s all men are liars" and treats them as such"so the man of integrity treats all men !ith confidence. 5etrusts them" and they trust him. 5is clear eye and openhand shame the creeping fraud so that he cannot practicehis fraud on him. 's Emerson has so finely put it +Trustmen and they !ill be true to you" even though they ma#e anexception in your favor to al their rules of trade.,

The upright man by his very presence commands themorality of those about him ma#ing them better than they

!ere. (en are po!erfully influenced by one another" and"as good is more po!erful than evil" the strong and good


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man both shames and elevates" by his contact" the !ea#and bad.

The man of integrity carries about !ith him an unconsciousgrandeur !hich both a!es and inspires. 5aving liftedhimself above the petty" the mean" and the false" thoseco!ard vices slin# from his presence in confusion. Thehighest intellectual gift cannot compare !ith this loftymoral grandeur. In the memory of men and the estimationof the !orld the man of integrity occupies a higher placethan the man of genius. uc#minster says" +The moral

grandeur of an independent integrity is the sublimest thingin nature., It is the uality in man !hich produces heroes.The man of uns!erving rectitude is" intrinsically" al!ays ahero. It only needs the occasion to bring out the heroicelement. 5e is al!ays" too" possessed a permanenthappiness. The man of genius may be very unhappy" butnot to the man of integrity. *othing nor sic#ness" norcalamity" nor death can deprive him of that permanentsatisfaction !hich inheres in uprightness.

Hectitude leads straight to prosperity by four successivesteps. First" the upright man !ins the confidence of others.Second" having gained their confidence" they put trust inhim. Third" this trust" never being violated" produces agood reputation2 and fourth" a good reputation spreadsfurther and further" and so bring about success.

ishonesty has the reverse effect. y destroying theconfidence of others" it produces in them suspicion andmistrust" and these bring about a bad reputation" !hichculminates in failure.


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The Pillar of Integrity is held together by these four virileelements7

8. 5onesty

9. Fearlessness

:. Purposefulness

;. Invincibility

$onesty is the surest !ay to success. The day at last comes !hen the dishonest man repents in sorro! and suffering7 but not man ever needs to repent of having been honest.Even !hen the honest man fails as he does sometimes"through lac#ing other of these pillars" such as energy"economy" or system his failure is not the grievous thing it isto the dishonest man" for he can al!ays re%oice in the factthat he has never defrauded a fello! being. Even in hisdar#est hour he finds repose in a clear conscience.

Ignorant men imagine that dishonesty is a short cut toprosperity. This is !hy they practice it. The dishonest manis morally short sighted. )i#e the drun#ard !ho sees theimmediate pleasure of his habit" but not the ultimatedegradation" he sees the immediate effect of a dishonest act a larger profit but not its ultimate outcome2 he does notsee that an accumulated number of such acts mustinevitably undermine his character" and bring his businesstoppling about his ears in ruin. $hile poc#eting his gains"and thin#ing ho! cleverly and successfully he is imposingon others" he is all the time imposing on himself" and everycoin thus gained must be paid bac# !ith added interest"


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and from this %ust retribution there is no possible loopholeof escape. This moral gravitation is an sure and unvaryingas the physical gravitation of a stone to the earth.

The tradesman !ho demands of his assistants that theyshall be" and misrepresents his goods to customers" issurrounding himself on all hands !ith suspicion" mistrust"and hatred. Even the moral !ea#lings !ho carry out hisinstructions" despise him !hile defiling themselves !ith hisunclean !or#. 5o! can success thrive in such a poisonousatmosphere3 The spirit of ruin is already in such a

business" and the day of his fall is ordained. 'n honest man may fail" but not because he is honest" andhis failure !ill be honourable" and !ill not in%ure hischaracter and reputation. 5is failure" too" resultingdoubtless from his incapacity in the particular direction ofhis failure" !ill be a means of leading him into somethingmore suited to his talents" and thus to ultimate success.

Fearlessness accompanies honesty. The honest man has aclear eye and an unflinching gaAe. 5e loo#s his fello!menin the face" and his speech is direct and convincing. The liarand cheat hangs his head2 his eye is muddy and his gaAeobli ue. 5e cannot loo# another man in the eye" and hisspeech arouses mistrust" for it is ambiguous andunconvincing.

$hen a man has fulfilled his obligations" he has nothing tofear. 'll his business relations are safe and secure. 5ismethods and actions !ill endure the light of day. Should hepass through a difficult time" and" get into debt" everybody

!ill trust him and be !illing to !ait for payment" and all his


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debts !ill be paid. ishonest people try to avoid payingtheir debts" and they live in fear2 but the honest man triesto avoid getting into debt" but !hen debt overta#es him" he

does not fear" but" redoubling his exertions" his debts arepaid.

The dishonest are al!ays in fear. They do not fear debt" butfear that they !ill have to pay their debts. They fear theirfello!-men" fear the established authorities" fear the resultsof all that they do" and they are in constant fear of theirmisdeeds being revealed" and of the conse uences !hich

may at any moment overta#e them.The honest man is rid of all this burden of fear. 5e is lighthearted" and !al#s erect among his fello!s2 not assuming apart" and s#ul#ing and cringing" but being himself" andmeeting eye to eye. *ot deceiving or in%uring any" there arenone to fear" and anything and against him can onlyrebound to his advantage.

'nd this fearlessness is" in itself" a to!er to strength in aman4s life" supporting him through all emergencies"enabling him to battle manfully !ith difficulties" and in theend securing for him that success of !hich he cannot bedispossessed.

Purposefulness is the direct outcome of that strength of

character !hich integrity fosters. The man of integrity isthe man of direct aims and strong and intelligent purposes.5e does not guess" and !or# in the dar#. 'll his plans havein them some of that moral fiber of !hich his character is

!rought. ' man4s !or# !ill al!ays in some !ay reflecthimself" and the man of sound integrity is the man of sound


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plan. 5e !eights and considers and loo#s ahead" and so isless li#ely to ma#e serious mista#es" or to bungle into adilemma from !hich it is difficult to escape. Ta#ing a moral

vie! of all things" and al!ays considering moralconse uences" he stands on a firmer and more exaltedground than the man of mere policy and expedience2 and

!hile commanding a more extended vie! of any situation"he !ields the greater po!er !hich a more comprehensivegrasp of details !ith the principles involved" confers uponhim. (orality al!ays has the advantage of expediency. Itspurposes al!ays reach do!n far belo! the surface" and are

therefore more firm and secure" more strong and lasting.There is a native directness" too" about integrity" !hichenables the man to get straight to the mar# in !hatever hedoes" and !hich ma#es failure almost impossible.

Strong men have strong purposes" and strong purposeslead to strong achievements. The man of integrity is aboveall men strong, and his strength is manifested in thatthoroughness !ith !hich he does the business of his life2thoroughness !hich commands respect" admiration" andsuccess.

%nvincibility is a glorious protector" but it only envelopesthe man !hose integrity is perfectly pure and unassailable.*ever to violate" even in the most insignificant particular"the principle of integrity" is to be invincible against all theassaults of innuendo" slander" and misrepresentation. Theman !ho has failed in one point is vulnerable" and the shaftof evil" entering that point" !ill lay him lo!" li#e the arro!in the heel of 'chilles. Pure and perfect integrity is proofagainst all attac# and in%ury" enabling its possessor to meet


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all opposition and persecution !ith dauntless courage andsublime e uanimity. *o amount of talent" intellect" or

business acumen can give a man that po!er of mind and

peace of heart !hich come from an enlightened acceptanceand observance of lofty moral principles. (oral force is thegreatest po!er. )et the see#er for a true prosperity discoverthis force" let him foster and develop it in his mind and inhis deeds" and as he succeeds he !ill ta#e his place amongthe strong leaders of the earth.

Such is the strong and adamantine Pillar of integrity.

lessed and prosperous above all men !ill be he !ho buildsits incorruptible masonry into the temple of his life.

. F O R T H P I L L A R + S Y S T E M

System is that principle of order by !hich confusion isrendered impossible. In the natural and universal ordereverything is in its place" so that the vast universe runsmore perfectly than the most perfect machine. isorder inspace !ould mean the destruction of the universe2 anddisorder in a man4s affairs destroys his !or# and hisprosperity.

'll complex organiAations are built up by system. *o business or society can develop into large dimensions apartfrom system" and this principle is preeminently theinstrument of the merchant" the business man" and theorganiAer of institutions.

There are many departments in !hich a disorderly manmay succeed although attention to order !ould increase


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his success but he !ill not succeed in business unless hecan place the business entirely in the hands of a systematicmanager" !ho !ill thereby remedy his o!n defect.

'll large business concerns have been evolved alongdefinitely dra!n systematic lines" any violation of !hich

!ould be disastrous to the efficiency and !elfare of the business. 1omplex business or other organiAations are builtup li#e complex bodies in nature" by scrupulous attentionto details. The disorderly man thin#s he can be carelessabout every thing but the main end" but by ignoring the

means he frustrates the end. y the disarrangement ofdetails" organisms perish" and by the careless neglect ofdetails" the gro!th of any !or# or concern is prevented.

isorderly people !aste an enormous amount of time andenergy. The time frittered a!ay in hunting for things issufficient" !ere if conserved by order" to enable them toachieve any success" for slovenly people never have a place

for anything" and have to hunt" fre uently for a long time"for any article !hich they re uire. In the irritation" badhumour" and chagrin !hich this daily hunting for things

brings about" as much energy is dissipated as !ould bere uired to build up a big business" or scale the highestheights of achievement in any direction.

rderly people conserve both their time and energy. Theynever lose anything" and therefore never have to findanything. Everything is in its place" and the hand can be atonce placed upon it" though it be in the dar#. They can !ellafford to be cool and deliberate and so use their mental


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energies in something more profitable than irritation" badtemper and accusing others for their o!n lac# of order.

There is a #ind of genius in system !hich can performapparent !onders !ith ease. ' systematic man can getthrough so great a uantity of !or# in such a short time"and !ith such freedom from such exhaustion" as to appearalmost miraculous. 5e scale the heights of success !hile hisslovenly competitor is !allo!ing hopelessly in the bogs ofconfusion. 5is strict observance of the la! of order enableshim to reach his ends" s!iftly and smoothly" !ithout

friction or loss of time.The demands of system" in all department

Documents

6731108 James Allen Eight Pillars of Prosperity