The Secret To Accumulating Wealth

Success secrets of the ancients and the greatest inspirational work on the subject of thrift, financial planning, and personal wealth.

Lo, Money Is Plentiful For Those Who Understand The Simple Rules of Its Acquisition

"Yet, once we were equal. We studied under the same master. We played the same games. And in neither the studies nor the games did you outshine us. And in the years since, you have been no more an honorable citizen than we."

"Nor have you worked harder or more faithfully, insofar as we can judge. Why, then, should a fickle fate single you out to enjoy all the good things in life and ignore us who are equally deserving?"

Thereupon Arkad remonstrated with them, saying, "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."

Arkad then recounted his encounter with Algamish, the money lender, and his wise words that profoundly changed his life. When working as a scribe in the hall of records, Arkad met and served Algamish when he came to order a copy of the Ninth Law. Through his desperation to break out of lean living, Arkad sought advice from the wealthy Algamish and pleaded to know the secret to wealth.

"I will tell you these things you wish to know because I am becoming an old man and an old tongue loves to wag", said Algamish. "Mark you well my words, if you do not you will fail to grasp the truth that I will tell you, and you will think that your night's work has been in vain." Algamish looked at Arkad 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."

"Is that all?" asked Arkad.

Algamish replied, "That was sufficient to change the heart of a sheep herder into the heart of a money lender."

"But all I earn is mine to keep, is it not?" Arkad demanded.

"Far from it," Algamish replied. "Do you not pay the garment-maker? 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 month? What for the past year? Fool! You pay everyone but yourself. Dullard, you labor for others. As well be a slave and work for what your master gives you to eat and ear. If you did keep for yourself one-tenth of all you earn, how much would you have in ten years?"

"My knowledge of the numbers did not forsake me, and Arkad answered, "As much as I earn in one year."

"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 you the abundance that you crave."

"A part of all you earn is yours to keep. 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 and still have enough food and charity and penance to the gods."

"Weatlh, 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 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."

George S. Clason
Author of The Richest Man In Babylon

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