THINK AND GROW RICH! (Complete Edition). Napoleon Hill

son's discovery and use of the Carnegie formula may prove to be the oasis in the Desert of Lost Hope, for which you have been searching. This secret was extensively used by President Woodrow Wilson, during the World War. It was passed on to every soldier who fought in the war, carefully wrapped in the training received before going to the front. President Wilson told me it was a strong factor in raising the funds needed for the war. More than twenty years ago, Hon. Manuel L. Quezon (then Resident Commissioner of the Philippine Islands), was inspired by the secret to gain freedom for his people. He has gained freedom for the Philippines, and is the first President of the free state. A peculiar thing about this secret is that those who once acquire it and use it, find themselves literally swept on to success, with but little effort, and they never again submit to failure! If you doubt this, study the names of those who have used it, wherever they have been mentioned, check their records for yourself, and be convinced. There is no such thing as SOMETHING FOR NOTHING! The secret to which I refer cannot be had without a price, although the price is far less than its value. It cannot be had at any price by those who are not intentionally searching for it. It cannot be given away, it cannot be purchased for money, for the reason that it comes in two parts. One part is already in possession of those who are ready for it. The secret serves equally well, all who are ready for it. Education has nothing to do with it. Long before I was born, the secret had found its way into the possession of Thomas A. Edison, and he used it so intelligently that he became the world's leading inventor, although he had but three months of schooling. The secret was passed on to a business associate of Mr. Edison. He used it so effectively that, although he was then making only $12,000 a year, he accumulated a great fortune, and retired from active business while still a young man. You will find his story at the beginning of the first chapter. It should convince you that riches are not beyond your reach, that you can still be what you wish to be, that money, fame, recognition and happiness can be had by all who are ready and determined to have these blessings. How do I know these things? You should have the answer before you finish this book. You may find it in the very first chapter, or on the last page. While I was performing the twenty year task of research, which I had undertaken at Mr. Carnegie's request, I analyzed hundreds of well known men, many of whom admitted that they had accumulated their vast fortunes through the aid of the Carnegie secret; among these men were: --

      HENRY FORD

      WILLIAM WRIGLEY JR.

      JOHN WANAMAKER

      JAMES J. HILL

      GEORGE S. PARKER

      E. M. STATLER

      HENRY L. DOHERTY

      CYRUS H. K. CURTIS

      GEORGE EASTMAN

      THEODORE ROOSEVELT

      JOHN W. DAVIS

      ELBERT HUBBARD

      WILBUR WRIGHT

      WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN

      DR. DMTID STARR JORDAN

      J. ODGEN ARMOUR

      CHARLES M. SCHWAB

      HARRIS F. WILLIAMS

      DR. FRANK GUNSAULUS

      DANIEL WILLARD

      KING GILLETTE

      RALPH A. WEEKS

      JUDGE DANIEL T. WRIGHT

      JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER

      THOMAS A. EDISON

      FRANK A. VANDERLIP

      F. W. WOOLWORTH

      COL. ROBERT A. DOLLAR

      EDWARD A. FILENE

      EDWIN C. BARNES

      ARTHUR BRISBANE

      WOODROW WILSON

      WM. HOWARD TAFT

      LUTHER BURBANK

      EDWARD W. BOK

      FRANK A. MUNSEY

      ELBERT H. GARY

      DR. ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL

      JOHN H. PATTERSON

      JULIUS ROSENWALD

      STUART AUSTIN WIER

      DR. FRANK CRANE

      GEORGE M. ALEXANDER

      J. G. CHAPPLINE

      HON. JENNINGS RANDOLPH

      ARTHUR NASH

      CLARENCE DARROW

      These names represent but a small fraction of the hundreds of well known Americans whose achievements, financially and otherwise, prove that those who understand and apply the Carnegie secret, reach high stations in life. I have never known anyone who was inspired to use the secret, who did not achieve noteworthy success in his chosen calling. I have never known any person to distinguish himself, or to accumulate riches of any consequence, without possession of the secret. From these two facts I draw the conclusion that the secret is more important, as a part of the knowledge essential for self-determination, than any which one receives through what is popularly known as "education."

      What is EDUCATION, anyway?

      This has been answered in full detail. As far as schooling is concerned, many of these men had very little. John Wanamaker once told me that what little schooling he had, he acquired in very much the same manner as a modern loco-motive takes on water, by "scooping it up as it runs." Henry Ford never reached high school, let alone college. I am not attempting to minimize the value of schooling, but I am trying to express my earnest belief that those who master and apply the secret will reach high stations, accumulate riches, and bargain with life on their own terms, even if their schooling has been meager.

      Somewhere, as you read, the secret to which I refer will jump from the page and stand boldly before you, IF YOU ARE READY FOR IT! When it appears, you will recognize it. Whether you receive the sign in the first or the last chapter, stop for a moment when it presents itself, and turn down a glass, for that occasion will mark the most important turning-point of your life.

      We pass now, to Chapter One, and to the story of my very dear friend, who has generously acknowledged having seen the mystic sign, and whose business achievements are evidence enough that he turned down a glass. As you read his story, and the others, remember that they deal with the important problems of life, such as all men experience.

      The problems arising from one's endeavor to earn a living, to find hope, courage, contentment and peace of mind; to accumulate riches and to enjoy freedom of body and spirit.

      Remember, too, as you go through the book, that it deals with facts and not with fiction, its purpose being to convey a great universal truth through which all who are READY may learn, not only WHAT TO DO, BUT ALSO HOW TO DO IT! and receive, as well, THE NEEDED STIMULUS TO MAKE A START.

      As a final word of preparation, before you begin the first chapter, may I offer one brief suggestion which may provide a clue by which the Carnegie secret may be recognized? It is this-- ALL ACHIEVEMENT, ALL EARNED RICHES, HAVE THEIR BEGINNING IN AN IDEA! If you are ready for the secret, you already possess one 17 18 half of it, therefore, you will readily recognize the other half the moment it reaches your mind.

      THE AUTHOR

      ---

      CHAPTER 1

      INTRODUCTION

       Table of Contents

      THE MAN WHO "THOUGHT" HIS WAY INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH THOMAS A. EDISON

      TRULY, "thoughts are things," and powerful things at that, when they are mixed with definiteness of purpose, persistence, and a BURNING DESIRE for their translation into riches, or other material objects.

      A