2014-04 Samuel Smiles: Thrift
We must know how to earn, how to spend,
and how to save. Independence
can only be established by the exercise of forethought, prudence, frugality,
and self-denial. To be just as well as generous, men must deny themselves. The
essence of generosity is self-sacrifice. Practise the virtue of Thrift
Comparatively few people can be rich; but most have it in their power to acquire, by industry and economy, sufficient to meet their personal wants. They may even become the possessors of savings sufficient to secure them against penury and poverty in old age.
Thrift means economy for the purpose of securing
independence. Thrift requires that money should be used and not abused—that it
should be honestly earned and economically employed for the glorious privilege Of being
Independent."
The
book, “Thrift” by Samuel Smiles, is intended as a sequel to
"Self-Help," and "Character." It might, indeed, have
appeared as an introduction to these volumes; for Thrift is the basis of
Self-Help, and the foundation of much in Character.
Some of
the finest qualities of human nature are intimately related to the right use of
money; such as generosity, honesty, justice, and self-denial.
"Thrift " Chapter 2 Habits of Thrift
"The
secret of all success is to know how to deny yourself.
Competence
and comfort lie within the reach of most people. But it is only by the exercise of labour, energy, honesty, and thrift,
that they can advance their own position or that of their class.
Society suffers far more from waste of money than from want of money. It is easier to make money than to know how
to spend it prudently. It is not what a man gets that constitutes his wealth, but his
manner of spending and economizing.
Thrift
of Time is equal to thrift of money. Franklin said, "Time is gold." If one wishes
to earn money, it may be done by the proper use of time. But time may also be
spent in doing many good and noble actions. It may be spent in learning, in
study, in art, in science, in literature.
Time
can be economized by being systematic and orderly. There must be a place for
everything, and everything in its place. There must also be a time for everything,
and everything must be done in time.
Nobody denies that thrift may be
practised. Nor is
thrift a painful virtue. On the contrary, it enables us to avoid much contempt
and many indignities. It requires us to deny ourselves, but not to abstain from
any proper enjoyment. It provides many honest pleasures, of which
thriftlessness and extravagance deprive us.
Thrift does not require superior courage, nor superior
intellect, nor any superhuman virtue. It merely requires common sense, and the
power of resisting selfish enjoyments.
In
fact, thrift is merely common sense in every-day working action. It needs no
fervent resolution, but only a little patient self-denial. The more the habit of thrift is
practised, the easier it becomes; and the sooner it compensates the self-denier
for all sacrifices.
Comparatively few people can be rich; but most have it in their power to acquire, by industry and economy, sufficient to meet their personal wants. They may even become the possessors of savings sufficient to secure them against penury and poverty in old age.
It is not the want of opportunity but the want of
will, that stands in the way of economy. Men may labour unceasingly with hand
or head; but they cannot abstain from spending too freely, and living too
highly. They often spend all that they earn.
Money represents a multitude of objects without value, or
without real utility; but it also represents something much more precious,—and
that is independence. In this light it is of great moral importance.
As
men become wise and thoughtful, they generally become provident and frugal.
Thinking
people believe that life is now too fast, and that we are living at
high-pressure. In short, we live extravagantly. We live beyond our means.
Many persons are diligent enough in making money, but do not
know how to economize it,—or how to spend it. They have sufficient skill and
industry to do the one, but they want the necessary wisdom to do the other.
The habit of saving dispenses with everything which is
not essential, and avoids all methods of living that are wasteful and
extravagant. A purchase made at the lowest price will be dear, if it be a
superfluity. Little expenses lead to great.
"Not to have a mania for buying, is to possess a
revenue." Many are carried away by the habit of bargain-buying.
"Here is something wonderfully cheap: let us buy it." "Have you
any use for it?" "No, not at present; but it is sure to come in
useful, some time."
Men
must prepare in youth and in middle age the means of enjoying old age
pleasantly and happily. It
is, in fact, in youth that economy should be practised, and in old age that men
should dispense liberally, provided they do not exceed their income.
Self-respect is the root of most of the virtues—of
cleanliness, chastity, reverence, honesty, sobriety. To think meanly of one's
self is to sink; sometimes to descend a precipice at the bottom of which is
infamy.
We
can each elevate ourselves; cherish pure thoughts; perform good actions; live
soberly and frugally. We can provide against the evil day. We can read good
books, listen to wise teachers, and place ourselves under the divinest
influences on earth. We can live for the highest purposes and with the highest
aims in view.
The
true prosperity of the nation consisted not so much in the fact that the nation
was growing in wealth—though wealth was a necessary attribute of prosperity—but
that it was growing in virtue; and that there was a more equable distribution
of comfort, contentment, and the things of this lower world."
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