The Richest Man in Babylon – George S. Clason

My favourite quotes from the book The Richest Man in Babylon:

A part of all you earn is yours to keep.

Why should so few men be able to acquire all the gold? Because they know how. One may not condemn the man for succeeding because he knows how. Neither may one with justice take away from a man what he has fairly earned, to give to a man of less ability.

If you get paid 10 coins, take out only nine for spending.

A man’s wealth is not in the coins that he carries in his purse, but in the income he builds. The stream of money that comes in constantly whether you work or travel.

That’s what each of us calls necessary expenses will always grow to equal our incomes unless we protest to the contrary. Don’t confuse necessities with desires.

Preceding all accomplishment must be desire, which is strong and definite. The wish to be rich is of little purpose, but to desire 10 pieces of gold is a tangible desire which he can press to fulfillment.

The more wisdom we know, the more we may earn.

That man who seeks to learn more of his craft will be richly rewarded.

Where determination is, the way can be found.

The hungrier one becomes, the clear ones mind becomes.

How can you call yourself a free man when your weakness has brought you here. If a man has in himself a soul of a slave, will he not become one no matter what his birth?