It was also observed that, as wisdom increased, the mental forces were conserved, not driven to excess, exercised but not exhausted, which increased the limit of force. Accordingly one possessing wisdom and a slight degree of force could, by properly directing that force, accomplish more than one that had greater force and a less degree of wisdom. It was seen that well-laid plans and determined efforts often brought small returns, while the great successes were the outgrowth of small beginnings. That there must be reasons ...
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It was also observed that, as wisdom increased, the mental forces were conserved, not driven to excess, exercised but not exhausted, which increased the limit of force. Accordingly one possessing wisdom and a slight degree of force could, by properly directing that force, accomplish more than one that had greater force and a less degree of wisdom. It was seen that well-laid plans and determined efforts often brought small returns, while the great successes were the outgrowth of small beginnings. That there must be reasons for all this is self-evident. Tracing backward from effect to cause, it was easily determined that physical prowess need not be considered, since some of the greatest leaders have been slight, weak men. Then the educational line was carefully investigated, and but a few of the greatest were college bred, and some were illiterate. It was evident that the secret lay not in education. It was also noticed that some people had the ability to absorb knowledge as easily as a sponge absorbs water, yet were unable to derive any benefit from their learning, while their classmates who were unable or unwilling to learn often startled the world by some great achievement. Negative natures make the best students, but positive natures produce the most action. Further research proved that the most obedient is boy in school often became a clerk for the worst rascal; That the educated, independent thinker was the best of all; That the man who was the most anxious to obtain money had the least; that he whose sole ambition was to own a cottage got no more; That the man who hated the most was loved the least; and that the man who tried to frighten others was himself afraid. It was observed that haters' bodies were always tensely drawn, the muscles incapable of relaxation, both mind and body shriveled and contracted, functions deranged and the bodies full of aches and pains. The explanation was that hatred; jealousy and despondency had an attraction for a tense, inharmonious frame of mind and produced the corresponding effects in the body. It was also seen that successful men went in herds, and unsuccessful men did likewise, but in different herds; That the man who could swear the loudest would run the quickest; That what constituted success to one was failure and humiliation to another; That one man would become a victim to circumstances, while his brother laughed at surroundings and suggestions and "sailed on"; That some men talked of doing great things, while others just did things and said nothing; That talkative people could not stop their chatter even if they desired; that silent men could talk more interestingly than the talkers; That any line of business was a medium for an accumulation of wealth to the right man. All these things led us to believe that neither the size of the man nor the learning he possessed had anything to do with the accomplishment of his object, but that, instead, the condition of his mind, coupled with the desire and expectation of success, seemed to attract everything to him. Then followed considerable research into the psychological makeup of the human mind in order to determine whether our friend Cassius was right, when he said, "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings," and if so wherein lay the fault. The study of mental language and power of suggestion showed clearly that confidence concerning one's ability to do could be developed, and that the belief made the doing possible. Its demonstration of thought projection opened the way to the realization of the fact that thought is a literal element, and the study of self-demonstrated that "Know thyself" is the deepest and best advice ever given to mankind. It embraces the knowledge that character or self can be strengthened and ennobled; That force can be added to one;
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