The Richest Man in Babylon (1926) by George S. Clason

The Richest Man In Babylon tells his system. By George S. Clason Read by Sarah Partridge Originally published in 1926 as a series  of pamphlets entitled The Babylon Course in Financial Success For Those Who  Desire Much Gold.

And the most famous of the series was titled, The Richest  Man in Babylon, which I will now read. As a general disclaimer, the views and opinions  expressed in this book belong to the author and may not necessary reflect those of Master  Key Society or its affiliates. This recording is a production of Master Key Society for the  purpose of research, study, and discussion.

The Richest Man in Babylon. The Richest Man in Babylon had a system  which led him to the goal he desired. In this book he tells his system - gives it  to us to follow without cost or obligation.

His system is recommended to every person desiring  to arrive at that same goal, financial plenty. In old Babylon there once lived a  certain very rich man named Arkad. Far and wide was he famed for his great wealth. 

Also was be famed for his liberality. He was generous in his charities. He was generous with  his family.

He was liberal in his own expenses. But nevertheless each year his wealth  increased more rapidly than he spent it. And there were certain friends of younger  days who came to him and said: "You, Arkad, are more fortunate than we.

You have become the  richest man in all Babylon while we struggle for existence. You can wear the finest garments and  you can enjoy the rarest foods, while we must be content if we can clothe our families in raiment  that is presentable and feed them as best we can. "Yet, once we were equal.

We  studied under the same master. We played in the same games. And in neither  the studies nor the games did you outshine us.

And in the years since, you have been  no more an honorable citizen than we. "Nor have you worked harder or more  faithfully, insofar as we can judge. Why, then, should a fickle  fate single you out to enjoy all the good things of life and  ignore us who are equally deserving?

” Thereupon Arkad remonstrated with them,  saying, "If you have not acquired more than a bare existence in the years since we were  youths, it is because you either have failed to learn the laws that govern the building  of wealth, or else you do not observe them. “Fickle Fate' is a vicious goddess who brings  no permanent good to anyone. On the contrary, she brings ruin to almost every man upon  whom she showers unearned gold.

She makes wanton spenders, who soon dissipate  all they receive and are left beset by overwhelming appetites and desires  they have not the ability to gratify. Yet others whom she favors become misers and hoard  their wealth, fearing to spend what they have, knowing they do not possess the ability  to replace it. They further are beset by fear of robbers and doom themselves to  lives of emptiness and secret misery.

"Others there probably are, who can take  unearned gold and add to it and continue to be happy and contented citizens. But so  few are they, I know of them but by hearsay. Think you of the men who have inherited sudden  wealth, and see if these things are not so.

"His friends admitted that of the  men they knew who had inherited wealth these words were true, and  they besought him to explain to them how he had become possessed of so  much property, so he continued: "In my youth I looked about me and saw  all the good things there were to bring happiness and contentment. And I realized that  wealth increased the potency of all these. "Wealth is a power.

With wealth  many things are possible. "One may ornament the home with  the richest of furnishings. "One may sail the distant seas.

"One may feast on the delicacies of far lands. "One may buy the ornaments of the  gold worker and the stone polisher. "One may even build mighty temples for the Gods.

"One may do all these things  and many others in which there is delight for the senses and  gratification for the soul. "And, when I realized all this, I declared  to myself that I would claim my share of the good things of life. I would not  be one of those who stand afar off, enviously watching others enjoy.

I would not  be content to clothe myself in the cheapest raiment that looked respectable. I would  not be satisfied with the lot of a poor man. On the contrary, I would make myself a  guest at this banquet of good things.

"Being, as you know, the son of a humble  merchant, one of a large family with no hope of an inheritance, and not being endowed, as you have  so frankly said, with superior powers or wisdom, I decided that if I was to achieve what I  desired, time and study would be required. "As for time, all men have it in abundance. You,  each of you, have let slip by sufficient to have made yourselves wealthy.

Yet, you admit; you  have nothing to show except your good families, of which you can be justly proud. "As for study, did not our wise teacher teach us that learning was of two kinds: the  one kind being the things we learned and knew, and the other being the training that taught  us how to find out what we did not know? "Therefore did I decide to find out  how one might accumulate wealth, and when I had found out, to  make this my task and do it well.

For, is it not wise that we should enjoy while  we dwell in the brightness of the sunshine, for sorrows enough shall descend upon us when we  depart for the darkness of the world of spirit? "I found employment as a scribe in the hall of  records, and long hours each day I labored upon the clay tablets. Week after week, and month  after month, I labored, yet for my earnings I had naught to show.

Food and clothing and  penance to the gods, and other things of which I could remember not what, absorbed all my  earnings. But my determination did not leave me. "And one day Algamish, the money lender,  came to the house of the city master and ordered a copy of the Ninth Law, and he  said to me, I must have this in two days, and if the task is done by that time,  two coppers will I give to thee.

” "So I labored hard, but the law was long, and  when Algamish returned the task was unfinished. He was angry, and had I been his  slave, he would have beaten me. But knowing the city master would not  permit him to injure me, I was unafraid, so I said to him, 'Algamish, you are a very  rich man.

Tell me how I may also become rich, and all night I will carve upon the clay, and  when the sun rises it shall be completed. ’ "He smiled at me and replied, 'You are a  forward knave, but we will call it a bargain. ’ "All that night I carved, though my back pained  and the smell of the wick made my head ache until my eyes could hardly see.

But when he  returned at sunup, the tablets were complete. “Now,' I said, 'tell me what you promised. ' “You have fulfilled your part of our bargain, my  son,' he said to me kindly, 'and I am ready to fulfill mine.

I will tell you these things you  wish to know because I am becoming an old man, and an old tongue loves to wag. And when youth  comes to age for advice he receives the vision of years. But too often does youth think that age  knows only the wisdom of days that are gone, and therefore profits not.

But remember this, the sun  that shines today is the sun that shone when thy father was born, and will still be shining when  thy last grandchild shall pass into the darkness. “The thoughts of youth,' he continued,  'are bright lights that shine forth like the meteors that oft make brilliant the sky,  but the wisdom of age is like the fixed stars that shine so unchanged that the sailor  may depend upon them to steer his course. “Mark you well my words, for if you do not you  will fail to grasp the truth that I will tell you, and you will think that your  night's work has been in vain.

’ "Then he looked at me shrewdly from under his  shaggy brows and said in a low, forceful tone, 'I found the road to wealth when I decided  that a part of all I earned was mine to keep. And so will you. ’ "Then he continued to look at me with a glance  that I could feel pierce me but said no more.

“Is that all? ' I asked. “That was sufficient to change the heart of a sheep herder into the heart  of a money lender,' he replied.

“But all I earn is mine to  keep, is it not? ' I demanded. “Far from it,' he replied.

'Do you not pay the  garment-maker? Do you not pay the sandal-maker? Do you not pay for the things you eat?

Can  you live in Babylon without spending? What have you to show for your earnings of the  past mouth? What for the past year?

Fool! You pay to everyone but yourself. Dullard, you  labor for others.

As well be a slave and work for what your master gives you to eat and wear. If you  did keep for yourself one-tenth of all you earn, how much would you have in ten years? ' "My knowledge of the numbers did not forsake me,  and I answered, 'As much as I earn in one year.

' “You speak but half the truth,' he retorted.  'Every gold piece you save is a slave to work for you. Every copper it earns is its child that also  can earn for you.

If you would become wealthy, then what you save must earn,  and its children must earn, and its children’s children must earn, that all  may help to give to you the abundance you crave. “You think I cheat you for your long  night's work,' he continued, 'but I am paying you a thousand times over if you have  the intelligence to grasp the truth I offer you. “A part of all you earn is yours to keep. 

It should be not less than a tenth no matter how little you earn. It can be as  much more as you can afford. Pay yourself first.

Do not buy from the clothes-maker and the  sandal-maker more than you can pay out of the rest and still have enough for food and  charity and penance to the gods. “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 savings, the sooner may you bask in contentment beneath its shade. ’  "So saying, he took his tablets and went away.

"I thought much about what he had said to me,  and it seemed reasonable. So I decided that I would try it. Each time I was paid I took one  from each ten pieces of copper and hid it away.

And strange as it may seem, I was  no shorter of funds, than before. I noticed little difference as I managed to  get along without it. But often I was tempted, as my hoard began to grow, to spend it for some  of the good things the merchants displayed, brought by camels and ships from the land  of the Phoenicians.

But I wisely refrained. "A twelfth month after Algamish had gone  he again returned and said to me, 'Son, have you paid to yourself not less than one-tenth  of all you have earned for the past year? ’ "I answered proudly, 'Yes, master, I have.

' 'That is good,' he answered beaming upon  me, 'and what have you done with it? ” "I have given it to Azmur, the brick maker, who  told me he was traveling over the seven seas and in Tyre he would buy for me  the rare jewels of the Phoenicians. When he returns we shall sell these at  high prices and divide the earnings.

” "Every fool must learn,” he growled, 'but why  trust the knowledge of a brick maker about jewels? Would you go to the bread maker to inquire about  the stars? No, by my tunic, you would go to the astrologer, if you had power to think.

Your  savings are gone, youth, you have jerked your wealth-tree up by the roots. But plant another.  Try again.

And next time if you would have advice about jewels, go to the jewel merchant. If you  would know the truth about sheep, go to the herdsman. Advice is one thing that is freely given  away, but watch that you take only what is worth having.

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. ” Saying this, he went away. "And it was as he said.

For the Phoenicians are  scoundrels and sold to Azmur worthless bits of glass that looked like gems. But as Algamish  had bid me, I again saved each tenth copper, for I now had formed the habit  and it was no longer difficult. “A twelve-month later, Algamish came to  the room of the scribes and addressed me.

”What progress have you  made since last I saw you? ” "I have paid myself faithfully,' I replied,  'and my savings I have entrusted to Agger the shield maker, to buy bronze, and each  fourth month he does pay me the rental. ” "That is good.

And what do  you do with the rental? ' "I do have a great feast with honey and fine wine  and spiced cake. Also I have bought me a scarlet tunic.

And some day I shall buy me a young ass  upon which to ride. ” To which Algamish laughed, “You do eat the children of your savings.  Then how do you expect them to work for you?

And how can they have children  that will also work for you? First get thee an army of golden slaves and then  many a rich banquet may you enjoy without regret. ” So saying he again went away.

"Nor did I again see him for two years, when he once more returned and his face was full of deep  lines and his eyes drooped, for he was becoming a very old man. And he said to me, “Arkad, hast  thou yet achieved the wealth thou dreamed of? ” And I answered, “Not yet all  that I desire, but some I have and it earns more, and its earnings earn more.

” "And do you still take the  advice of brick makers? ” "About brick making they give  good advice,” I retorted. "Arkad,” he continued, “you have learned your  lessons well.

You first learned to live upon less than you could earn. Next you learned to  seek advice from those who were competent through their own experiences to give it. And, lastly,  you have learned to make gold work for you.

” "You have taught yourself how to acquire money,  how to keep it, and how to use it. Therefore, you are competent for a responsible  position. I am becoming an old man.

My sons think only of spending  and give no thought to earning. My interests are great and I fear too much for  me to look after. If you will go to Nippur and look after my lands there, I shall make you  my partner and you shall share in my estate.

” "So I went to Nippur and took charge of his  holdings, which were large. And because I was full of ambition and because I had mastered  the three laws of successfully handling wealth, I was enabled to increase greatly  the value of his properties. So I prospered much, and when the spirit of  Algamish departed for the sphere of darkness, I did share in his estate as  he had arranged under the law.

" So spake Arkad, and when he had finished his tale, one of his friends said, "You were indeed  fortunate that Algamish made of you an heir. ” "Fortunate only in that I had the desire  to prosper before I first met him. For four years did I not prove my definiteness  of purpose by keeping one-tenth of all earned?

Would you call a fisherman lucky who for years  so studied the habits of the fish that with each changing wind he could cast his nets about  them? Opportunity is a haughty goddess who wastes no time with those who are unprepared. " "You had strong will power to keep on after you lost your first year's savings.

You are  unusual in that way," spoke up another. "Will power! " retorted Arkad.

"What nonsense. Do you think will power gives a man the strength  to lift a burden the camel cannot carry, or to draw a load the oxen cannot budge? Will  power is but the unflinching purpose to carry a task you set for yourself to fulfillment.

If I  set for myself a task, be it ever so trifling, I shall see it through. How else shall I have  confidence in myself to do important things? Should I say to myself, 'For a hundred days  as I walk across the bridge into the city, I will pick from the road a pebble and  cast it into the stream,' I would do it.

If on the seventh day I passed by without  remembering, I would not say to myself, Tomorrow I will cast two pebbles which will  do as well. ' Instead, I would retrace my steps and cast the pebble. Nor on the twentieth day  would I say to myself, 'Arkad, this is useless.

What does it avail you to cast a pebble every  day? Throw in a handful and be done with it. ' No, I would not say that nor do it.

When I set  a task for myself, I complete it. Therefore, I am careful not to start difficult and  impractical tasks, because I love leisure. ” And then another friend spoke up  and said, "If what you tell is true, and it does seem as you have said,  reasonable, then being so simple, if all men did it, there would not  be enough wealth to go around.

” Wealth grows wherever men exert energy," Arkad  replied. "If a rich man builds him a new palace, is the gold he pays out gone? No, the brickmaker  has part of it and the laborer has part of it, and the artist has part of it.

And everyone who  labors upon the house has part of it Yet when the palace is completed, is it not worth all it cost?  And is the ground upon which it stands not worth more because it is there? And is the ground that  adjoins it not worth more because it is there?

Wealth grows in magic ways. No man can prophesy  the limit of it. Have not the Phoenicians built great cities on barren coasts with the wealth that  comes from their ships of commerce on the seas?

” "What then do you advise us to do that we also may  become rich? " asked still another of his friends. "The years have passed and we are no longer  young men and we have nothing put by.

" "I advise that you take the wisdom  of Algamish and say to yourselves, 'A part of all I earn is mine to keep. ' Say it in  the morning when you first arise. Say it at noon.

Say it at night. Say it each hour of every day. Say it to yourself until the words stand  out like letters of fire across the sky.

"Impress yourself with the idea. Fill  yourself with the thought. Then take whatever portion seems wise.

Let it be  not less than one-tenth and lay it by. Arrange your other expenditures to do this  if necessary. But lay by that portion first.

Soon you will realize what a rich feeling it is to  have something upon which you alone have claim. As it grows, it will stimulate you. A new joy of life  will thrill you.

Greater efforts will come to you to earn more. For of your increased earnings, will  not the same percentage be also yours to keep? "Then learn to make your treasure  work for you.

Make it your slave. Make its children and its  children's children work for you. "Insure an income for thy future.

Look thou at  the aged and forget not that in the days to come thou also will be numbered among them. Therefore invest thy treasure with greatest caution that  it be not lost. Usurious rates of return are deceitful sirens that sing but to lure the  unwary upon the rocks of loss and remorse.

"Provide also that thy family may not want  should the Gods call thee to their realms. For such protection it is always possible  to make provision with small payments at regular intervals. Therefore  the provident man delays not in expectation of a large sum becoming  available for such a wise purpose.

"Counsel with wise men. Seek the advice of men  whose daily work is handling money. Let them save you from such an error as I myself made in  entrusting my money to the judgment of Azmur, the brickmaker.

A small return and a  safe one is far more desirable than risk. "Enjoy life while you are here. Do not  overstrain or try to save too much.

If one-tenth of all you earn is as much as  you can comfortably keep, be content to keep this portion. Live otherwise according to your  income and let not yourself be afraid to spend. Life is good and life is rich with  things worthwhile and things to enjoy.

" His friends thanked him and went away. Some were  silent because they had no imagination and could not understand. Some were sarcastic because they  thought that one so rich should divide with old friends not so fortunate.

But some had in their  eyes a new light. They realized that Algamish had come back each time to the room of the scribes  because he was watching a man work his way out of darkness into light. When that man had found the  light, a place awaited him.

No one could fill that place until he had for himself worked out his own  understanding, until he was ready for opportunity. These latter were the ones, who, in the  following years, frequently revisited Arkad, who received them gladly. He counseled with  them and gave them freely of his wisdom as men of broad experience are always glad to do.

And he assisted them in so investing their savings  that it would bring in a good interest with safety and would neither be lost nor entangled  in investments that paid no dividends. The turning point in these men's lives  came upon that day when they realized the truth that had come from Algamish  to Arkad and from Arkad to them. A PART OF ALL YOU EARN IS YOURS TO KEEP.

The End. I hope that you’ve enjoyed this presentation and please remember to subscribe to receive  notifications of upcoming recordings. This recording is a production  of the Master Key Society.

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