The Richest Man in Babylon
The Richest Man in Babylon Book
“The Richest Man in Babylon” is a classic self-help book that was first published in 1926. The book was written by George S. Clason, a businessman and writer who was inspired by the ancient Babylonian parables that he had encountered during his travels in the Middle East.
The book is set in ancient Babylon and tells the story of a wealthy man named Arkad, who shares his financial wisdom with a group of his friends. The parables and stories that Arkad shares offer timeless advice on personal finance, including the importance of saving, investing, and avoiding debt.
“The Richest Man in Babylon” was originally distributed as a series of pamphlets by banks and insurance companies in the 1920s and 1930s. The book was later compiled into a single volume and has since sold millions of copies around the world.
The book’s enduring popularity is due in part to its timeless message and the simplicity and clarity of its writing. The parables and stories that Clason shares are accessible and relatable, even to modern readers. The book’s focus on personal finance and the importance of financial literacy has made it a favorite among readers looking to improve their own financial situations.
Beyond its practical advice, “The Richest Man in Babylon” also has a deeper moral message. The book stresses the importance of living a life of integrity and responsibility, and emphasizes the value of hard work, patience, and perseverance.
Overall, “The Richest Man in Babylon” is a classic work of self-help literature that has inspired readers for nearly a century. The book’s timeless wisdom on personal finance, integrity, and personal responsibility has made it a favorite among readers of all ages and backgrounds.
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The Richest Man in Babylon Summary
“The Richest Man in Babylon” by George S. Clason is a classic self-help book that offers financial wisdom and advice in the form of ancient Babylonian parables. The book tells the story of a wealthy man named Arkad, who shares his financial knowledge with a group of his friends. Through the parables and stories he tells, Arkad offers practical advice on saving, investing, and avoiding debt.
The book’s enduring popularity is due to its simple and clear writing style, as well as its timeless message. The book stresses the importance of financial literacy, hard work, patience, and personal responsibility. It also emphasizes the value of living a life of integrity and responsibility. Overall, “The Richest Man in Babylon” is a valuable guide for anyone looking to improve their financial situation and live a fulfilling life.
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The Richest Man in Babylon Quotes
Page Page 3
From my belt hung a handsome purse, heavy with coins… there were pieces of gold which made me feel assured of the future and unafraid to spend the silver.
Page 6
A mans wealth is not in the purse he carries. A fat purse quickly empties if there be no golden stream to refill it.
Page 7
It costs nothing to ask wise advice from a good friend and Arkad was always that.
Page 11
As for time, all men have it in abundance.
Page 12
As for study, did not our wise teacher teach us that learning was of two kinds: the one kind being the things we learned and knew, and the other being the training that taught us how to find out what we did not know?
Page 13
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.
Page 14
What have you to show for your earnings of the past month? What for the past year? Fool! You pay everyone but yourself.
Page 18
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.
Page 26
Start thy purse to fattening
Page 27
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?
Page 28
Which desirest thou the most? Is it the gratification of they desire of each day… things quickly gone and forgotten? Or is it substantial belongings… The coins thou takest from thy purse bring the first. The coins thy leavest within it will bring the latter.
Page 29
That what each of us calls our ‘necessary expenses’ will always grow to equal our incomes unless we protest the contray.
Page 30
The purpose of a budget is to help thy purse to fatten. It is to assist thee to have thy necessities and insofar as attainable, thy other desires.
Page 30
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 the expenditures for definite and gratifying purposes.
Page 33
the third cure for a lean purse: to put each coin to laboring that it may reproduce its kind even as the flocks of the field and help bring thee income, a stream of wealth that shall flow constantly into thy purse.
Page 33
Before thou loan it to any man assure thyself of his ability to repay and his reputation for doing so, that thou mayest not unwittingly be making him a present of thy hard-earned treasure.
Page 34
Consult with wise men. Secure the advice of those experienced in the profitable handling of gold. Let their wisdom protect thy treasure from unsafe investments.
Page 35
money lenders gladly consider the desires of men who seek homes and land for their families.
Page 38
Provide in advance for the needs of thy growing age and protection of thy family.
Page 40
This is the process by which wealth is accumulated: first in small sums, then in larger ones as a man learns and becomes more capable.
Page 41
Things to make a man’s life rich with gainful experiences.
Page 45
To ignore the gambling table would be to overlook an instinct common to most men, the love of taking a chance with a small amount of silver in the hope of winning much gold.
Page 50
Opportunity waits for no man. Today it is here; soon it is gone. Therefore delay not!
Page 50
In this tale we see how good luck waits to come to that man who accepts opportunity.
Page 53
The wisdom of making a payment immediately when we are convinced our bargain is wise… If the bargain be good, the dost thou need protection against thy own weakness as much as against any other man.
Page 55
No man willingly permits the their to rob his bins of grain. Nor does any man willingly permit an enemy to drive away his customers and rob him of his profits. When once I did recognize that such acts as these my enemy was committing, with determination I conqured him. So must every man master his own spirit of procrastination before he can expect to share the rich treasures of Babylon.
Page 56
Good luck can be enticed by accepting opportunity.
Page 63
5 Laws of Gold
Page 74
Gold bringeth unto its possessor responsibility and a changed position with his fellow men. It bringeth a feeling of power and ability to do good. Likewise it bringeth opportunities thereby his very good intentiones may bring him into difficulties.
Page 76
If you desire to help thy friend, do so in a way that will not bring thy friend’s burdens upon thyself.
Page 85
Better a little caution than a great regret.
Page 90
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.
Page 94
he who spends more than he earns is sowing the winds of needless self-indulgence from which he is sure to reap the whirlwinds of trouble and humiliation.
Page 97
No man is otherwise who cannot respect himself and no man can respect himself who does not repy honest debts.
Page 100
My debts were my enemies, but the men I owed were my friends for they had trusted me and believed in me.
Page 101
Where the determination is, the way can be found.
Page 106
That man who keepeth in his purse both gold and silver that he need not spend is good to his family and loyal to his king.
Page 107
Therefore each time the moon is full, two-tenths of all I have earned shall be divided honorably and fairly among those who have trusted me and to whom I am indebted. Thus in due time will all my indebtedness be surely paid.
Page 109
Threrefore, at the end of one moon, my indebtedness is reduced by almost four pieces of silver and I possess almost two pieces of silver besides, upon which no man hath claim. My heart is lighter than it hath been for a long time.
Page 110
In my purse I now have twenty one pieces of silver that are mine. It maketh my head to stand straight upon my shoulders and maketh me proud to walk among my friends.
Page 113
If you pay for all you buy and then pay some on what you owe, that is better than you have done, for ye ain’t paid down the account none in three years.
Page 122
I don’t shirk. I like to work and I like to do good work, for work is the best friend I’ve ever known. It has brought me all the good things I’ve had, my farm and cows and crops, everything.
Page 124
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.
Page 127
better still I like the fine enterprise with which thou offerest them. Such spirit can carry thee far on the road to success.
Page 130
Cling no longer to thy master. Get once again the feeling of being a free man. Act like a free man and succeed like one! Decide what thou desireth to accomplish and then work will aid thee to achieve it!