The Richest Man in Babylon quotes

Nearby, cleaving the blue heavens, was the painted tower of the Temple of Bel. In the shadow of such grandeur was his simple home and many others far less neat and well cared for.

Babylon was like this — a mixture of grandeur and squalor, of dazzling wealth and direst poverty, crowded together without plan or system within the protecting walls of the city.

Behind him, had he cared to turn and look, the noisy chariots of the rich jostled and crowded aside the sandaled tradesmen as well as the barefooted beggars.

"If I did have two shekels," Bansir responded gloomily, "to no one could I lend them — not even to you, my best of friends; for they would be my fortune — my entire fortune.

No one lends his entire fortune, not even to his best friend.

"

We have been satisfied to work long hours and spend our earnings freely. We have earned much coin in the years that have passed, yet to know the joys that come from wealth, we must dream about them. Bah!

Are we more than dumb sheep?

We live in the richest city in all the world. The travelers do say none equals it in wealth. About us is much display of wealth, but of it we ourselves have naught.

"Income, that is the thing," ejaculated Bansir. "

I wish an income that will keep flowing into my purse whether I sit upon the wall or travel to far lands.

Arkad must know how a man can make an income for himself. Dost suppose it is something he could make clear to a mind as slow as mine?"

"

Wealth is a power. With wealth many things are possible.

"One may ornament the home with the richest of furnishings.

"And, when I realized all this, I decided to myself that I would claim my share of the good things of life.

I would not be one of those who stand afar off, enviously watching others enjoy.

I would not be content to clothe myself in the cheapest raiment that looked respectable. I would not be satisfied with the lot of a poor man. On the contrary, I would make myself a guest at this banquet of good things.

"Then he looked at me shrewdly from under his shaggy brows and said in a low, forceful tone,

I found the road to wealth when I decided that a part of all I earned was mine to keep.

And so will you.'

Do you not pay the sandal- maker? Do you not pay for the things you eat? Can you live in Babylon without spending? What have you to show for your earnings of the past mouth? What for the past year? Fool!

You pay to everyone but yourself.

Dullard, you labor for others. As well be a slave and work for what your master gives you to eat and wear. If you did keep for yourself one-tenth of all you earn, how much would you have in ten years?'

"'You speak but half the truth,' he retorted. '

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.

"'

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.

But plant another. Try again. And next time if you would have advice about jewels, go to the jewel merchant. If you would know the truth about sheep, go to the herdsman.

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.' Saying this, he went away.

For four years did I not prove my definiteness of purpose by keeping one-tenth of all earned? Would you call a fisherman lucky who for years so studied the habits of the fish that with each changing wind he could cast his nets about them?

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

"

And is the ground upon which it stands not worth more because it is there? And is the ground that adjoins it not worth more because it is there?

Wealth grows in magic ways. No man can prophesy the limit of it.

Have not the Phoenicians built great cities on barren coasts with the wealth that comes from their ships of commerce on the seas?"

“Deride not what I say because of its simplicity.

Truth is always simple.

I told thee I would tell how I built my fortune. This was my beginning. I, too, carried a lean purse and cursed it because there was naught within to satisfy my desires.

It is to assist thee to have thy necessities and, insofar as attainable, thy other desires. It is to enable thee to realize thy most cherished desires by defending them from thy casual wishes.

Like a bright light in a dark cave thy budget shows up the leaks from thy purse and enables thee to stop them and control thy expenditures for definite and gratifying purposes.

“This, then, is the second cure for a lean purse. Budget thy expenses that thou mayest have coins to pay for thy necessities, to pay for thy enjoyments and to gratify thy worthwhile desires without spending more than nine-tenths of thy earnings.”

“

Misfortune loves a shining mark.

Gold in a man’s purse must be guarded with firmness, else it be lost. Thus it is wise that we must first secure small amounts and learn to protect them before the gods entrust us with larger.”

“The first sound principle of investment is security for thy principal. Is it wise to be intrigued by larger earnings when thy principal may be lost? I say not.

The penalty of risk is probable loss.

Study carefully, before parting with thy treasure, each assurance that it may be safely reclaimed. Be not misled by thine own romantic desires to make wealth rapidly.

I beg of thee, do not delay. Go upon the morrow to the son of my friend and bargain with him to pay ten percent of thy earnings into this investment. Go promptly upon the morrow.

Opportunity waits for no man. Today it is here; soon it is gone.

Therefore, delay not!’

I feel that we have found the way. Both the tales did illustrate how good luck follows opportunity. Herein lies a truth that many similar tales of good luck, won or lost, could not change. The truth is this:

Good luck can be enticed by accepting opportunity.

“Those eager to grasp opportunities for their betterment, do attract the interest of the good goddess. She is ever anxious to aid those who please her. Men of action please her best.

“Those eager to grasp opportunities for their betterment, do attract the interest of the good goddess. She is ever anxious to aid those who please her.

Men of action please her best.

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

“

Gold is reserved for those who know its laws and abide by them.

”

V.

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.

“‘These are the five laws of gold as written by my father. I do proclaim them as of greater value than gold itself, as I will show by the continuance of my tale.’

“

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.

“

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.

“

In the strength of thine own desires is a magic power.

Guide this power with thy knowledge of the five laws of gold and thou shalt share the treasures of Babylon.”

“I thought not that you would. But it is there and simple too. Just this:

If you desire to help thy friend, do so in a way that will not bring thy friend’s burdens upon thyself.

”

The token is his father’s—a worthy man of small means who did pledge his land and herd to back his son’s enterprises. The youth found success at first and then was over-zealous to gain great wealth. His knowledge was immature. His enterprises collapsed.

Youth is ambitious. Youth would take short cuts to wealth and the desirable things for which it stands.

To secure wealth quickly youth often borrows unwisely.

“

Gold, you see, Rodan, is the merchandise of the lender of money.

It is easy to lend. If it is lent unwisely then it is difficult to get back. The wise lender wishes not the risk of the undertaking but the guarantee of safe repayment.

The walls of Babylon had once again repulsed a mighty and vicious foe determined to loot her rich treasures and to ravish and enslave her citizens.

Babylon endured century after century because it was fully protected. It could not afford to be otherwise.

The walls of Babylon were an outstanding example of man’s need and desire for protection. This desire is inherent in the human race.

8. The Camel Trader of Babylon

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

Tarkad, the son of Azure, certainly thought so. For two whole days he had tasted no food except two small figs purloined from over the wall of a garden.

“Ill fortune! Wouldst blame the gods for thine own weakness.

Ill fortune pursues every man who thinks more of borrowing than of repaying.

Come with me, boy, while I eat. I am hungry and I would tell thee a tale.” Tarkad flinched from the brutal frankness of Dabasir, but here at least was an invitation to enter the coveted doorway of the eating house.

“‘If thou contentedly let the years slip by and make no effort to repay, then thou hast but the contemptible soul of a slave.

No man is otherwise who cannot respect himself and no man can respect himself who does not repay honest debts.

’

“

My debts were my enemies, but the men I owed were my friends for they had trusted me and believed in me.

“I staggered weakly to my feet. What mattered hunger? What mattered thirst? They were but incidents on the road to Babylon. Within me surged the soul of a free man going back to conquer his enemies and reward his friends.

“

Where the determination is, the way can be found

” Dabasir replied. “I now had the determination so I set out to find a way. First I visited every man to whom I was indebted and begged his indulgence until I could earn that with which to repay. Most of them met me gladly.

More than eight pieces of silver we have paid to our creditors. Even Alkahad did not protest.

Great is the plan for it leadeth us out of debt and giveth us wealth which is ours to keep.

Three times the moon had been full since I last carved upon this clay. Each time I paid to myself one-tenth of all I earned. Each time my good wife and I have lived upon seven-tenths even though at times it was difficult.

The plan is of untold value.

Hath it not made an honorable man of an ex-slave?

Again the moon shines full and I remember that it is long since I carved upon the clay. Twelve moons in truth have come and gone.

Old Alkahad is not so bad after all, for he said, “

Thou wert once a piece of soft clay to be pressed and molded by any hand that touched thee, but now thou art a piece of bronze capable of holding an edge.

If thou needst silver or gold at any time come to me.”

Sharru Nada shrugged his shoulders, “

Any man may find himself a slave.

It was a gaming house and barley beer that brought me disaster. I was the victim of my brother’s indiscretions. In a brawl he killed his friend.

Promise me, boy, if thou get a master, work for him as hard as thou canst. If he does not appreciate all thou do, never mind.

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

’ He stopped as a burly farmer came to the enclosure and looked at us critically.

“

I was whirled away from my dearest hopes as the hurricane snatches the tree from the forest and casts it into the surging sea.

Again a gaming house and barley beer had caused me disaster.