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This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copy order if, in its judgement, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of the copyright law. AUTHOR: WOOD, HENRY ALEXANDER WISE TITLE: PHILOSOPHY OF SUCCESS PLACE: NEW YORK DA TE : 1905 Restrictions on Use: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT BIBLIOGRAP HIC MTCRnFORM TARCFT Master Negative # Original Ma terial as Filmed - Existing Bibliographic Record ■174 ■KB 5 «ood, irenry Alexfinder ^7ise, 1866-1S39. A philosophy of success, by Kenry A. '.Vise ;Yood. Kew York, W. Ritchie, 1S05. 22 p. Iblf^, "An address delivered before the Collepe of progress, at I.ev^ York." TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA S^GE^i^k^TiVlB HB ^^^^^™N ^ATIO:__.f/.. S^JE FILMED: ^^^_^J^ INITIALS W^ FILMED BY: RESEARCH PI TBLICATTOMf^ TNC WOODRRm f^ rr 1 r V Association for information and image ilffanagement 1100 Wayne Avenue. Suite 1100 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 301/587-8202 Centimeter 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 MM I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I M rrTTTTTTT Inches IM Ml T 10 n mmIimiIiiiiIiii TTT 1.0 I.I 1.25 1^^ 2.8 2.5 1^ "" — m 3.2 2.2 l63 - 1 3.6 b; 1 -^ ^ 11- 2.0 i& i^ u l£ibu 1.8 1.4 III 1.6 12 13 14 15 mm mIiiiiIiiiiIiimImmIiiiiImmI TTi I M I I M I M 5 MflNUFfiCTURED TO flllM STRNDflRDS BY APPLIED IMRGE, INC. l.\^ri'^.". MW'':^m:x ■:^ '«L' 'T ^KT W. *|! 5^f ^/^" M r^': i^ ■>=~, fv. :-*. 'O^,. .» ^ Columbia (HnitJerssttj) tnt^fCttp0t3^rt»l|ork THE LIBRARIES <1 ,■* I I I I 1 V 1/ -r-i — »~ V 4^ ^\ A PHILOSOPHY OF SUCCESS BY HENRY A. WISE WOOD NEW YORK WILLIAM RITCHIE 1905 PRICE TEN CENTS ^|A PHILOSOPHY OF SUCCESS I i BY HENRY A. WISE WOOD > \% 'I NEW YORK WILLIAM RlTjeiil? • .'••: : : :•: :•*. ••1-903 • •• • • n • • • • • • • • • w J • • • • • • • « • • • • • • • • • • • ••• • • « • • •« • » ••• • • • t • Copyright, 190S by Henry A. Wise Wood And entered by him at Stationer's Hall, London Wherein it is shown that in all things reason is the rule of the road ? to success. /7^ y/^r '5? A " « • • * • • • • • « « • • • * • ••• • « • « • • • • • r • ( ••• ••• •. ; •:• : ^v •puea ii ^^ to#t.:u.:s. a. • • • The Lotus Press • .• • ••• ••• • « • • •• « • CJ 380748 An Address delivered before the College of Progress, at New York of Success y^ENTLEMEN: For I y- the opening subject this ^^^ morning I have taken the question, What is greatness? ^ This may seem both common- place and easily to be answered, but I assure you that it is neither. I speak from the standpoint of admiration of those who make practical successes of their lives: who address themselves to definite objects; and who, striving unceasingly, finally ac- complish them. I mean those who make success, not those [5] a pi^ilo^opJi^v of ^wccejSjS a l^i^tlojsopi^i? of ^ucceisjs who fall into it, or who trick it away from other men; but who conceive a worthy plan and ably carry it to a successful termination. We all agree that man is the noblest manifestation of nature; and not because of his physical capabilities is this so, but solely because of his mental suprem- acy. In the respect that the Bushman of Australia, the low- est human type, is superior to the ape, so is the European su- perior to the Bushman: and among ourselves in the same respect only can the one indi- vidual be greater than the other. We are fond of assuming that at birth all men are equal; but if such be the case equality [6] :/ / ceases soon after birth; and this not because of the differences which may exist in social en- vironment, or in educational advantage. Social environ- ment may polish and a liberal education may enlarge, but neither alone can make a man. Education may even stunt or enchain the mind instead of en- larging, strengthening, and in- spiring it. In my own case, it required great effort to enable me to break away from the confining influence of many things which had been taught me. Someone has said that educa- tion is the grave of the mind. I presume by this it was meant that the mere memorization of [7] a P'i^ilo^op^^v of ^uccejsjs i a PWo^opl^v of ^uccejsis all that has been thought and done is apt to satisfy the mind with existing knowledge, and the present state of things; and, that, being satiated, the mind is apt to strive no further. We must not, however, con- fuse education with learning; teachings with knowledge. Education, as I distinguish it, too often consists of the posses- sion of information forced in from without; the acceptation — as a general rule without question or analysis — of ready- made thought. Learning, on the other hand, is the result of absorption, — the taking in by natural process, — of information which, before it is accepted, has undergone [8] ■^ digestion, verification and ar- rangement. By the first process we gain undigested information; by the latter, knowledge: and upon a capacity for knowledge is based greatness. In the one case the mind becomes merely a store- house; in the other a workshop. From the storehouse may come many things of beauty which the world already knows; but it is to the workshop that the world must look for its future. What is it makes a man great ? Social advantage may polish, culture may beautify, learning may equip and inspire him: but what natural faculties must there be lodged within him to render him great ? Mental Independ- [9] a PWo^opli^v of ^uccejsjs i a i^i^dojjop]^^ of ^uccejsjs ence, Mental Honesty, Mental Courage, Mental Strength, Mental Skill, and Mental In- dustry. These, it seems to me, are the main points of Mental Supremacy; and Mental Su- premacy alone is the true sub- stance of greatness. Mental Independence ac- cepts nothing that cannot bear the analysis of reason; nothing that will not subject itself to the laws of logical deduction. Upon this head I say to you take no material into the work- shop that you have not tested. Grant nothing. Do not accept the conclusions of another with- out first having checked his cal- culations. Let neither the fame of a name, nor popular clamor, [10] \4f nor even centuries of previous general acceptance throw you oflf your guard. Treat all alike: analyze everything before you rely upon it; and above all do not accept your own conclu- sions until they have withstood tests as severe as those you would apply to them were they offered by another. Let nothing enter and abide in your mind which has not first received thought: turn nothing out of your mind which is not the result of thought. Mental Independence pre- supposes Mental Honesty. Be honest with yourself; examine constantly your own conclu- sions. See whether they are based upon foundations of cor- ni-i i t'i a i^i^ilo^op]^^ of ^uccejSjs V" a l^i^tlojsopi^i? of ^uccejS0 rectly understood fact; or whether they are come at mere- ly by intuition. Few men think: the majority rely upon intuition. Such men are mentally lazy; they let the mind work without control or supervision, and act without hesitation upon what- ever it happens to turn out. t is hard work to reason con- ^cutively unless you are used to it; and as most men never attempt to gain the faculty, few possess it. Intuition may be a good look- out at the bow, but it cannot direct the course of a ship. Its dictates are based upon the apparent, rather than the real, substance of things, and there- fore are more apt to get you in- [12] to trouble than out of it. In- tuition causes you to jump at conclusions; it does not show you the way to them. When it has landed you there it is dif- ficult to find your way back, be- cause you leapt blindfold. For this reason intuitive conclu- sions, whether held by others or by ourselves, are the most diffi- cult to combat. On the other hand, though somewhat more laborious in the formation, con- clusions reached by consecutive reasoning are very sure; and, when suspected, may easily be retraced and verified or, if wrong, set right^^^ ^Therefore, do^ot jump at 'conclusions; approach them slowly and cautiously: take the [13] a pi!^ilo^op\^v of ^ucct^^ long way around, for it will prove the sure way across. Do not assume things; find them out. And do not fool yourselves. Remember that neither the laws of nature, of business, nor of other forms of human action can regard your opinion, or my opinion. Nor will they act on our behalf simply because we wish them so to do, or because wc think they should. They can be set in motion only by compulsion; and can only be compelled by those who under- stand them; who grasp the prin- ciples upon which they work, and who are skillful enough to provide conditions to which they will respond. If a man wants to move a [14] X. 1 f ii ) \ / stone on the hillside, and is wise, he does not try to push it by mainforce fromits restingplace; but digs beneath it on the lower side, knowing that when by his labor and skill he has provided the proper conditions at its base, the action of gravitation will do the rest. If, however, he knows nothing of the effects of gravi- tation, and is not familiar with the means by which it can be utilized, the removal of that stone will present a difficulty that appears far greater, in fact, than it really is. Be honest with yourselves: do not let the egotism of your opinions get you into conflict with the laws of nature; or with those of human conduct. [15] \ a l^i^tlojsop]^^ of ^uccejsjs a l^i^tloisopl^t of ^uccejS0 Yield to the facts and yield gladly, not grudgingly. Do not wait till you run against them: hunt them up. They may be rocks in your sea, and should be on your chart. When they threaten do not hide from them, and seek to escape in a fog of your own making. Honestly and manfully come out and admit them. Gentle- men, be honest with yourselves and the facts will be your best friends: live at peace with the facts and you need have no fear for the result. After Mental Honesty comes Mental Courage. Do not fear to think. Do not fear to rea- son. Do not fear to beheve what your thought and reason [16] f ut dictate. Remember, numbers do not constitute truth; — fact, alone, does. If you have the fact do not fear the numbers. If you are with the multitude do not feel safe from the fact. In such a conflict there is more strength in a very small fact than in a very large crowd. If an ugly fact confront you do not dodge; do the only possible thing — reason upon it. Look it in the face and size it up; not fearfully, timidly; but cour- ageously, firmly. When you have done that, act, quickly, surely, manfully; but never sneak off to avoid the conflict, for then you are less of a man than you were before; and, worst of all, you yourself will [17] *• 4 I 1 4. a PWo^opl^i^ of ^uccejsjs ^i i a f^i^tlojsjopi^t of ^uccejsjs know it. Those who disHke reason, fear facts; those who fear facts hate truth; — these, usually, are the failures in life. Have courage to test your own beliefs; and courage to dis- card them if they fail when tested. Have courage to ac- cept the beliefs of others when you know them to be right; and courage to submit your own beliefs to the analysis of others, be the result what it may. Have courage to assert the right in the face of ridicule; and courage to attack the wrong even in the house of its friends. The facts being with you, fear nothing. After Mental Courage comes the quality of Mental Strength. * , •• J , It consists mainly of two mo- tive powers, concentration and continuity. These are to be gained by practise,yand are in- dispensable to a proper use of the mind. They must be sus- ceptible of application in any direction at short notice. Mental Skill is the science of handling the mind; the faculty of generalship. For lack of the possession of it the best quali- ties may result in nothing; while where it is highly de- veloped and well directed its instant and precise manipula- tion of the forces at its com- mand will render it capable of winning many conflicts which otherwise could not be gained. Of Mental Industry I need [18] [19] i 4 h a p}^ilo^op\)v of ^ucceiEJ)2j i a l^i^tlojsop]^^ of ^uccejSjS only say that it is the means by which the various other facul- ties are fed, organized, trained, and appHed. It suppHes to the mind materials to be used; and insists that they be worked up. Its duty is never to permit a cessation of employment. As with an army, whether the mind be at rest or in action, no break can occur in its drill or its dis- cipline without a loss of that efficiency failing which the rarest array of brilliant talents can never be focused into that stupenduous force which the world calls greatness. In conclusion, gentlemen, I desire to add but this: — In the life of every man there must come a time when he is called > V. ^' r I upon to decide between his mind and his body; between his mental and his physical be- ing: a time when he must de- termine either to utilize his mind to provide pleasures for his body; or to employ his body as a support, as an assistant, for his mind. If he make his physical be- ing paramount and reduce his mind to the mere position of caretaker and caterer, he must admit himself to be in very close relationship with those of his fellows whose intellectual activity ceases when they have obtained food, drink and lodg- ing. If, on the other hand, he hold his mind to be his most precious possession, to be cared [20] [21] I a l^l^iloisopi^t of ^uccejsJjs for and developed to the high- est pitch of usefulness, and his body merely as a means to that end, then he may justly regard himself as the highest develop- ment of the highest type of man. [22] h i i \ { i /^ - > i-W n COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES This book is due on the date indicated below, or at the expiration of a definite period after the date of borrowing, as provided by the library rules or by special arrangement with the Librarian in charge. DATE BORROWED DATE DUE DATE BORROWED DATE DUE [ C28 (1149) 100M t 'ill ili m I' r, * b.y; 4 VK '■3 ■'^m •"•<* 1^ r. ' GAyLAMOUNT ' ^w ^^. ■^■'it^Hi-/ jifj-f /v JL # 'S^-' '■»"'<^u i y -M- T rfe. 4^^ • '^ ^•^: •^ ifc. -rt^