Self Help; with Illustrations of Conduct and Perseverance

There is nothing less accidental than the painting of a fine picture or the chiselling of a noble statue. Every skilled touch of the artist’s brush or chisel, though guided by g...

“THE best part of every man’s education,” said Sir Walter Scott, “is that which he gives to himself.” The late Sir Benjamin Brodie delighted to remember this saying, and he used...

THERE is a famous speech recorded of an old Norseman, thoroughly characteristic of the Teuton. “I believe neither in idols nor demons,” said he, “I put my sole trust in my own s...

ONE of the most strongly-marked features of the English people is their spirit of industry, standing out prominent and distinct in their past history, and as strikingly characte...

“Neither the naked hand, nor the understanding, left to itself, can do much; the work is accomplished by instruments and helps, of which the need is not less for the understandi...

“That which raises a country, that which strengthens a country, and that which dignifies a country,—that which spreads her power, creates her moral influence, and makes her resp...

HAZLITT, in one of his clever essays, represents the man of business as a mean sort of person put in a go-cart, yoked to a trade or profession; alleging that all he has to do is...

“Patience is the finest and worthiest part of fortitude, and the rarest too . . . Patience lies at the root of all pleasures, as well as of all powers. Hope herself ceases to be...

“HEAVEN helps those who help themselves” is a well-tried maxim, embodying in a small compass the results of vast human experience. The spirit of self-help is the root of all gen...

HOW a man uses money—makes it, saves it, and spends it—is perhaps one of the best tests of practical wisdom. Although money ought by no means to be regarded as a chief end of ma...

“Rich are the diligent, who can command Time, nature’s stock! and could his hour-glass fall, Would, as for seed of stars, stoop for the sand, And, by incessant labour, gather al...

“Ever their phantoms rise before us, Our loftier brothers, but one in blood; By bed and table they lord it o’er us, With looks of beauty and words of good.”—_John Sterling_.

WE have already referred to some illustrious Commoners raised from humble to elevated positions by the power of application and industry; and we might point to even the Peerage...

SELF-CULTURE—FACILITIES AND DIFFICULTIES. Sir W. Scott and Sir B. Brodie on self-culture—Dr. 314–359 Arnold’s spirit—Active employment salutary—Malthus’s advice to his son—Impor...

CHARACTER—THE TRUE GENTLEMAN. Character a man’s best possession—Character of Francis 382–408 Horner—Franklin—Character is power—The higher qualities of character—Lord Erskine’s...

WORKERS IN ART. Sir Joshua Reynolds on the power of industry in 154–201 art—Humble origin of eminent artists—Acquisition of wealth not the ruling motive with artists—Michael Ang...

LEADERS OF INDUSTRY—INVENTORS AND PRODUCERS. Industry of the English people—Work the best 27–66 educator—Hugh Miller—Poverty and toil not insurmountable obstacles—Working men as...

SELF-HELP—NATIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL. Spirit of Self-Help—Institutions and men—Government a Page reflex of the individualism of a nation—Cæsarism and 1–26 Self-Help—William Dargan...

THREE GREAT POTTERS—PALLISSY, BÖTTGHER, WEDGWOOD. Ancient pottery—Etruscan ware—Luca della Robbia, the 67–93 Florentine sculptor: re-discovers the art of enamelling—Bernard Pall...

MONEY—ITS USE AND ABUSE. The right use of money a test of wisdom—The virtue of 290–313 self-denial—Self-imposed taxes—Economy necessary to independence—Helplessness of the impro...

MEN OF BUSINESS. Hazlitt’s definition of the man of business—The chief 263–289 requisite qualities—Men of genius men of business—Shakespeare, Chaucer, Spenser, Milton, Newton, C...

HELPS AND OPPORTUNITIES—SCIENTIFIC PURSUITS. No great result achieved by accident—Newton’s 118–153 discoveries—Dr. Young—Habit of observing with intelligence—Galileo—Inventions...

EXAMPLE—MODELS. Example a potent instructor—Influence of 360–381 conduct—Parental example—All acts have their train of consequences—Disraeli on Cobden—Words of Babbage—Human res...

ENERGY AND COURAGE. Energy characteristic of the Teutonic race—The 223–262 foundations of strength of character—Force of purpose—Concentration—Courageous working—Words of Hugh M...

APPLICATION AND PERSEVERANCE. Great results attained by simple means—Fortune favours 94–117 the industrious—“Genius is patience”—Newton and Kepler—Industry of eminent men—Power...

INDUSTRY AND THE PEERAGE. The peerage fed from the industrial ranks—Fall of old 202–222 families: Bohuns, Mortimers, and Plantagenets—The peerage comparatively modern—Peerages o...