I’ve collected some favorite quotes from the book The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason as opposed to a full blown review.
“Thou makest me to realize the reason why we have never found any measure of wealth. We never sought it. Thou hast labored patiently to build the staunchest chariots in Babylon. To that purpose was devoted your best endeavors. Therefore, at it thou didst succeed. I strove to become a skillful lyre player. And, at it I did succeed.”
“If you have not acquired more than a bare existence in the years since we were youths, it is because you either have failed to learn the laws that govern the building of wealth, or else you do not observe them.”
“In my youth I looked about me and saw all the good things there were to bring happiness and contentment. And I realized that wealth increased the potency of all these. “Wealth is a power. With wealth many things are possible.”
‘But all I earn is mine to keep, is it not?’ I demanded. ” ‘Far from it,’ he replied.
‘Every gold piece you save is a slave to work for you. Every copper it earns is its child that also can earn for you. If you would become wealthy, then what you save must earn, and its children must earn, that all may help to give to you the abundance you crave.
It should be not less than a tenth no matter how little you earn. It can be as much more as you can afford. Pay yourself first. Do not buy from the clothes-maker and the sandal-maker more than you can pay out of the rest.
Advice is one thing that is freely given away, but watch that you take only what is worth having. He who takes advice about his savings from one who is inexperienced in such matters, shall pay with his savings for proving the falsity of their opinions.’
When I set a task for myself, I complete it. Therefore, I am careful not to start difficult and impractical tasks, because I love leisure.
“Then,” continued Arkad, “if each of you desireth to build for himself a fortune, is it not wise to start by utilizing that source of wealth which he already has established?”
That what each of us calls our ‘necessary expenses’ will always grow to equal our incomes unless we protest to the contrary.
All men are burdened with more desires than they can gratify. Because of my wealth thinkest thou I may gratify every desire? ‘Tis a false idea. There are limits to my time. There are limits to my strength. There are limits to the distance I may travel. There are limits to what I may eat. There are limits to the zest with which I may enjoy.
A man’s wealth is not in the coins he carries in his purse; it is the income he buildeth, the golden stream that continually floweth into his purse and keepeth it always bulging.
“Gold is reserved for those who know its laws and abide by them.”
“Gold bringeth unto its possessor responsibility and a changed position with his fellow men. It bringeth a fear lest he lose it or it be tricked away from him. It bringeth a feeling of power and ability to do well. Likewise, it bringeth opportunities whereby his very good intentions may bring him into difficulties.”
And I am like many another simplehearted one who starts to help a friend and ends up by doing his task for him.
If you desire to help thy friend, do so in a way that will not bring thy friend’s burden upon thyself.
