The richest man in Babylon

Wisdom is freely shared amongst men but gold isn’t, sons of men rush to where the gold is but without wisdom to hold onto it they will end up losing all their gold to the wise.

 

About a moon (Yes a moon, am becoming ancient! :-D) ago @dnahinga told me of this book, the richest man in Babylon by George S. Clason he was reading. It had wisdom of centuries ago but very much relevant if you want to be a master of Gold. I will not pretend to be doing a review of the book since I don’t know how but I will tell you of the various wise words that stroke home. Here we go;

Proper preparation is the key to our success. Our acts can be no wiser than our thoughts. Our thinking can be no wiser than our understanding. ~ George S. Clason

 

A man’s wealth is not in the purse he carries. A fat purse quickly empties if there be no golden stream to refill it.

 

But remember this, the sun that shines today is the sun that shone when thy father was born, and will still be shining when thy last grandchild shall pass into the darkness.

 

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.

 

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 seed the sooner shall the tree grow. And the more faithfully you nourish and water that tree with consistent savings, the sooner may you bask in contentment beneath its shade.

 

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.

 

Opportunity is a haughty goddess who wastes no time with those who are unprepared.

 

A PART OF ALL YOU EARN IS YOURS TO KEEP.

Gold in a purse is gratifying to own and satisfieth a miserly soul but earns nothing.

 

Good luck can be enticed by accepting opportunity.

Action will lead thee forward to the successes thou dost desire.

 

Be guided by the wisdom of age and not by the inexperience of youth.

 

THE FIVE LAWS OF GOLD

• Gold cometh gladly and in increasing quantity to any man who will put by not less than one-tenth of his earngs to create an estate for his future and that of his family.
• Gold laboreth diligently and contentedly for the wise owner who finds for it profitable employment, multiplying even as the flocks of the field.
• Gold clingeth to the protection of the cautious owner who invests it under the advice of men wise in its handling.
• Gold slippeth away from the man who invests it in businesses or purposes with which he is not familiar or which are not approved by those skilled in its keep.
• Gold flees the man who would force it to impossible earnings or who followeth the alluring advice of tricksters and schemers or who trusts it to his own inexperience and romantic desires in investment.

 

To him who is without knowledge of the five laws, gold comes not often, and goeth away quickly. But to him who abide 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.

To earn wealth is but a slight burden upon the thoughtful man. Bearing the burden consistently from year to year accomplishes the final purpose.

 

Our wise acts accompany us through life to please us and to help us. Just as surely, our unwise acts follow us to plague and torment us. In the front rank of the torments that do follow us are the memories of the things we should have done, of the opportunities which came to us and we took not.

 

Gold slippeth away in unexpected ways from those unskilled in guarding it.

 

BETTER A LITTLE CAUTION. THAN A GREAT REGRET

 

The walls of Babylon were an outstanding example of man’s need and desire for protection. This desire is inherent in the human race. It is just as strong today as it ever was, but we have developed broader and better plans to accomplish the same purpose.

In this day, behind the impregnable walls of insurance, savings accounts and dependable investments, we can guard ourselves against the unexpected tragedies that may enter any door and seat themselves before any fireside.

WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT ADEQUATE PROTECTION

 

The hungrier one becomes, the clearer one’s mind works— also the more sensitive one becomes to the odors of food.

 

If a man has in himself the soul of a slave, will he not become one no matter what his birth?

If a man has within him the soul of a free man, will he not become respected and honored in his own city in spite of his misfortune?

 

Does not thy great king fight his enemies in every way he can and with every force he has? Thy debts are thy enemies.

 

The soul of a free man looks at life as a series of problems to be solved and solves them, while the soul of a slave whines, ‘What can I do who am but a slave?

 

WHERE THE DETERMINATION IS, THE WAY CAN BE FOUND

 

Work, well-done, does good to the man who does it. It makes him a better man.