With the turmoil in our economy lately, I feel the business community is in need of an uplifting comment or two, and so I want to share the thoughts of a man who was born in another century and has profoundly impacted my life.
His name is Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915). In my opinion, he was another Dale Carnegie, a man of vision and deep-seated religious and ethical values.
I began reading his books, last printed in 1923, because a woman attending one of my speeches said I sounded like one of his disciples. She loaned me her copies and I have since acquired my own set.
The following is some of Hubbard's wisdom:
• Do unto others as though you were the others.
• Folks, who never do any more than they get paid for, never get paid for any more than they do.
• Never explain. Your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway.
• It is foolish to say sharp, hasty things, but it is a great deal more foolish to write 'em.
• When a man sends you an impudent letter, sit right down and give it back with interest 10 times compounded, and then throw both letters in the wastebasket.
• Initiative is doing the right thing without being told.
• An ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness.
• God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas, but for scars.
• The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.
• We help ourselves only as we help others.
• Give me the man who, instead of always telling you what should be done, goes ahead and does it.
• Education is an achievement, not a request.
• When you recognize a thing in the outside world, it is because it was yours already.
• Caste is a Chinese wall that shuts people in, as well as out.
• There are six requisites in every happy marriage. The first is faith and the remaining five are confidence.
• Women need education so they may be a better companion for a man; for all strong men are educated by women (Hillary Clinton's favorite).
• Do your work with your whole heart and you will succeed, there is so little competition.
• A retentive memory may be a good thing, but the ability to forget is the true token of greatness.
His name is Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915). In my opinion, he was another Dale Carnegie, a man of vision and deep-seated religious and ethical values.
I began reading his books, last printed in 1923, because a woman attending one of my speeches said I sounded like one of his disciples. She loaned me her copies and I have since acquired my own set.
The following is some of Hubbard's wisdom:
• Do unto others as though you were the others.
• Folks, who never do any more than they get paid for, never get paid for any more than they do.
• Never explain. Your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway.
• It is foolish to say sharp, hasty things, but it is a great deal more foolish to write 'em.
• When a man sends you an impudent letter, sit right down and give it back with interest 10 times compounded, and then throw both letters in the wastebasket.
• Initiative is doing the right thing without being told.
• An ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness.
• God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas, but for scars.
• The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.
• We help ourselves only as we help others.
• Give me the man who, instead of always telling you what should be done, goes ahead and does it.
• Education is an achievement, not a request.
• When you recognize a thing in the outside world, it is because it was yours already.
• Caste is a Chinese wall that shuts people in, as well as out.
• There are six requisites in every happy marriage. The first is faith and the remaining five are confidence.
• Women need education so they may be a better companion for a man; for all strong men are educated by women (Hillary Clinton's favorite).
• Do your work with your whole heart and you will succeed, there is so little competition.
• A retentive memory may be a good thing, but the ability to forget is the true token of greatness.