My excerpts from the Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason.
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If you’ve 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 you don’t observe them.
Fate brings no permanent good to anyone rather she brings ruin to almost everyman upon whom she showers unearned gold.
I found the road to wealth when I decided that a part of all I earned is mine to keep.
You pay the sandal maker, you pay for the food you eat. What have you to show for your earnings of the past month? past year? Fool! You pay to everyone but yourself.
If you keep for yourself, one-tenth of all you earned. How much would you have in ten years?
Every gold piece you save is a slave to work for you. Every corper it earns is its child that can also work for you.
If you would become wealthy, then what you save must earn, and its children must earn, that all may help give you the abundance you crave for.
A part of all you earn is yours to keep. It should not be less than a tenth no matter how little you earn. It can be as much as you can afford. Pay yourself first.
Wealth like a tree grows from a tiny seed. The first copper you save is the seed from which your tree of wealth shall grow.
The sooner you plant that tree. The sooner shall the tree grow.
If you need advice about jewels, go to the jewel merchant. If you would know the truth about sheep, go to the herdsman.
Live upon less than you earn.
Seek advice from those who are competent through their experience to give it.
Should I say to myself, ‘for a hundred days as I walk across this bridge into the city, I will pick a pebble from the road and cast into the stream!’ I would do it. If on the seventh day, I passed by without remembering, I would not say to myself, ‘tomorrow, I shall cast two pebbles, which will do as well. Instead, I will retrace my steps and cast the pebble.
A small return and a safe one is far more desirable than a risk.
What each of us calls our necessary expenses will always grow to equal our incomes unless we protest to the contrary.
Substantial belongings, gold, lands, herds, merchandise, income bring investments.
Write down each thing for which thou desireth to spend. Select those that are necessary and others than are possible through the expenditure of nine-tenths of thy income. Cross out the rest and don’t regret it.
A man’s wealth is not the coin he carries in his purse; it is the income he buildeth, the golden stream that continually floweth into his purse.
The first sound rule of investment is security for the principal. Is it wise to be intrigued by larger earnings when the principal may be lost?
Be not misled by romantic desires to make wealth rapidly.
Before thou loan to any man, assure thyself of his ability to pay and reputation for doing so.
Before thou entrust it as an investment in any field. Acquaint thyself with dangers which may beset it.
Guard thy treasure from loss by investing only where the principal is safe. where it may be reclaimed if desirable, and where though will not fail to collect a fair rental. Consult with wise men. Secure advise of those experienced in the profitable handling of gold. Let thy wisdom protect thy from unsafe investments.
No man’s family can fully enjoy life unless they do have a plot of ground wherein children can play in the clean earth and where the wife may raise not only blossoms but good rich herbs to feed her family.
Every man should own the roof that sheltereth him and his.
A man should make preparation for a suitable income in the days to come, when he is no longer young, and to make preparation for his his family. Should he be no longer with them to comfort and support them.
He should plan certain investments or provisions that may endure safely for many years, yet will be available when the time arrives which he has so wisely anticipated.
A man may buy houses or lands for this purpose. If wisely chosen for their usefulness and value in the future, they are permanent in value and their earnings or sale will provide well for his purpose.
Every man should insure a treasure for his old age and the protection of his family, no matter how prosperous his business and investments may be.
Preceding desire accomplishment must be desire. Thy desire must be strong and definite.
For a man to wish to be rich, is of little purpose. For a man to desire five pieces of gold is a tangible desire which he can press to fulfilment.
In learning to secure is his one definite small desire he has trained himself to secure a larger one. This is the process by which wealth is accumulated.
Desires must be simple and definite.
As a man perfecteth himself in his calling, even so, doth his ability to earn increase.
The more of wisdom we know, the more we can earn.
That man who seeks to earn more of his craft shall richly be rewarded.
A man must do these if he respects himself:
– He must pay his debts with all the promptness.
– He must take care of his family that they may think and speak well of him.
– He must make a will of record that, in case the gods call him, proper and honourable division of his properties be accomplished.
– He must have true compassion upon those who are injured or smitten by misfortune and aid them within reasonable limits.
– He must do deeds of thoughtfulness to those dear to him.
I look to find the goddess of Goodluck in places where the doings of men are worthwhile and more worthy of reward – in the tilling of the soil, in honest trading.
When a man playeth games, the chances of profit are always against him and always in favour of the gamekeeper.
To attract Goodluck to oneself, it is necessary to take advantage of opportunities.
Action will lead thee to the successes thou dost desire.
Men of action are favoured by the goddess of good luck.
5 LAWS OF GOLD
1 Gold cometh gladly and in increasing quantity to any man who will put by not less than one-tenth of his earnings to create an estate for his future and that of his family.
2. Gold laboreth diligently and contentedly for the wise owner who finds profitable employment, multiplying even as the flocks of the field.
3. Gold clingeth to the protection of the cautious owner who invests it under the advice of men wise in it’s handling.
4. Gold slippeth away from the man who invests it in business or purposes which he is not familiar or which are not approved by those skilled in its keep.
5. Gold flees the man who would force it to impossible earnings or who followeth the alluring advice of tricksters and schemers and who trusts it to his own inexperience and romantic ideas in investment.
There is no chain of disaster that would not come to an end.
To him who is without knowledge of the 5 laws, gold cometh not often and goeth away quickly. But to him who abideth by the five laws, gold comes and works as his dutiful slave.
Wealth that comes quickly goeth the same way.
Wealth that stayeth to give enjoyment and satisfaction to its owner comes gradually because it is a child born of knowledge and persistent purpose.
If thou desire to help a friend, do so in a way that would not bring the friends burden upon thyself.
The safest loans are to those whose possessions are more valuable than the loan they desire.
Humans in the throes of great emotions are not safe risks for the gold lender.
The wise leader wishes not the risk of the undertaking but the guarantee of safe payment.
It is good to help. But help must be given wisely, lest, in our desire to help we but take upon ourselves the burden that belongs to another.
I like not idle gold, even less I like too much risk.
Be not be swayed by foolish sentiments of obligation to trust thy treasure to any person.
Associate thyself with men whose success is established that thy treasure may earn liberally under their skilful use and guided safely under their wisdom and experience.
Babylon endured century after century because it was fully protected.
The walls of Babylon was an outstanding example of man’s need for protection.
Where the determination is, the way can be found.
Each time I have paid myself one-tenth of all I earned. Each time my good wife and I have lived upon seventh-tenths. Each time I paid my creditors two-tenths.
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