I gave a speech a couple of years ago on the "Power of Positive Business." In the audience was a woman who is the manager of a real estate company in San Diego. She is, like me, a positive thinker, and much to my surprise, sent me a set of books by the turn-of-the-century author Elbert Hubbard, president of Roycrofters Corp.
Why did she send (loan) me the books? Because she liked my collection of well-spoken wisdom, which permeates my speeches; such things as, "The road to success is always under construction." Well, Elbert wrote and also collected these same types of literary wisdom. I was so moved by her sending me the books that I thought I would share some of Elbert's wisdom, circa 1900, with you. Here goes…
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 to him 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 bequest.
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 man, for all strong men are educated by women. (Hilary 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.
I think you can see why Elbert and I hit it off. I was saddened to see his books were last reprinted in 1923, and that he and his wife were lost when the Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk on May 17, 1915.
Why did she send (loan) me the books? Because she liked my collection of well-spoken wisdom, which permeates my speeches; such things as, "The road to success is always under construction." Well, Elbert wrote and also collected these same types of literary wisdom. I was so moved by her sending me the books that I thought I would share some of Elbert's wisdom, circa 1900, with you. Here goes…
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 to him 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 bequest.
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 man, for all strong men are educated by women. (Hilary 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.
I think you can see why Elbert and I hit it off. I was saddened to see his books were last reprinted in 1923, and that he and his wife were lost when the Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk on May 17, 1915.