The richest man in Babylon
Wealth, 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 shall the tree grow. And the more faithfully you nourish and water that tree with consistent saving, the sooner may you bask in contentment beneath its shade.
He who takes advice about his savings from one who is inexperienced in such matters shall pay with his savings for proving the falsity of their opinions.
- "Provide also that thy family may not want should the gods call thee to their realms": This means that you should make sure your family will not be in need if you pass away (i.e., if the gods "call you to their realms").
- "For such protection, it is always possible to make provision with small payments at regular intervals": You can secure this financial protection for your family by regularly setting aside small amounts of money. This refers to something like life insurance or saving for emergencies.
- "Therefore the provident man delays not in expectation of a large sum becoming available for such a wise purpose": A wise, forward-thinking person does not wait to accumulate a large sum of money all at once before starting to prepare for the future. Instead, they start making regular, small contributions as soon as possible.
A part of all you earn is yours to keep
For every ten coins thou places within thy purse take out for use but nine. Thy purse will start to fatten at once and its increasing weight will feel good in thy hand and bring satisfaction to thy soul.
Study thoughtfully thy accustomed habits of living. Herein may be most often found certain accepted expenses that may wisely be reduced or eliminated. Let thy motto be one hundred per cent of appreciated value demanded for each coin spent. “Therefore, engrave upon the clay each thing for which thou desireth to spend. Select those that are necessary and others that are possible through the expenditure of nine-tenths of thy income. Cross out the rest and consider them but a part of that great multitude of desires that mush go unsatisfied and regret them not. “Budget then thy necessary expenses. Touch not the one-tenth that is fattening thy purse. Let this be thy great desire that is being fulfilled. Keep working with thy budget, keep adjusting it to help thee. Make it thy first assistant in defending thy fattening purse.
Budget thy expenses that thou mayest have coins to pay for thy necessities, to pay for thy enjoyments and to gratify thy worthwhile desires without spending more than none-tenths of thy earnings.
A man’s wealth is not in the coins he carries in his purse; it is the income he buildeth, the golden stream that continually floweth into his purse and keepeth it always bulging. That is what every man desireth. That is what thou, each on of thee, desireth; an income that continueth to come whether thou work or travel.
Put each coin to laboring that it may reproduce its kind even as the flocks of the field and help bring to thee income, a stream of wealth that shall flow constantly into thy purse.
Guard thy treasure against loss by investing only where thy principal is safe, where it may be reclaimed if desirable, and where thou will not fail to collect a fair rental. Consult with wise men. Secure the advice of those experienced in the profitable handling of gold. Let their wisdom protect thy treasure from unsafe investments.
It behooves a man to make preparation for a suitable income in the days to come, when he is no longer young, and to make preparations for his family should he be no longer with them to comfort and support them.
The man who, because of his understanding of the laws of wealth, acquireth a growing surplus, should certain investments or provisions that may endure time arrives which he has so wisely anticipated.
To attract good luck to oneself, it is necessary to take advantage of opportunities. Therefore, in the future, I shall endeavor to make the best of such opportunities as do come to me.
Men of action are favoured by the goddess of good luck
The five laws of gold
- Gold cometh gladly and in increasing quantity to any man who will put by not less than one-tenth or his earning to create an estate for his future and that or his family.
- Gold laboureth diligently and contentedly for the wise owner who finds for it profitable employment, multiplying even as the flocks of the field.
- Gold slip peth away from the man who invests it in businesses or purposes with which he is not familiar or which are not approved by those skilled in its keep.
- Gold flees the man who would force it to impossible earnings or who followeth the alluring advice of tricksters and schemers or who trusts it to his own inexperience and romantic desires in investments.
Better a little caution than a great regret
We cannot afford to be without adequate protection
Where the determination is, the way can be found