The golden age-Certain conditions of success-The discipline of life-The dignity of work—Carlyle quoted-Work and duty— A caution against overwork-Natural instinct to seek ease and repose-Work as a means and an end-Work a source of men- tal enjoyment-Great men not insensible to the pleasure of doing great things-We must not wait for opportunities, but make them-"Guesses at Truth" quoted-In what spirit we should work-Examples of the evil effects of ill-regulated labour-John Leyden-Sir Walter Scott-Contrasted with Goethe-Work does not kill-Newton-Montesquieu-Oxen- stjerna-Quesnel-Lanquet's advice to Sir Philip Sidney-Its soundness-An American essayist on Over-doing it—Life passes before man learns how to live-The philosophy of living explained-A new road to wealth-Hare quoted-Sir Henry- Taylor quoted-Various theories of life considered-Professor Huxley's-In what respects deficient-A poet's ideal-Con- trasted with that of Girard, Magliabecchi, Astor-Mr. Freedley's six business qualities-His omissions-Repetition of advice re- specting physical health-Rest found in variations of pursuit -Necessity of proper hours of sleep-George Dawson on a man's duty-What, after all, is the secret of success-Differently expounded by different expositors-Stewart's, Randolph's, Meyer Amschel's-Freedley's advice qualified by Sir Arthur Helps-Career of Edward Baines examined-John Hunter's rúle-Fowell Buxton's secret-Practical wisdom from "Poor Richard"-Remarkable story told by John Foster-The man who succeeded-Lord Lytton finds the secret of success in "the will to labour "-Whatever the secret, it cannot dispense with perseverance and industry-The secret as set forth in this volume-But what is meant by success-Generally identified with "getting money"-Is it good to start for success?—The question answered by a consideration of the moral evils of fail- ure-Commanding success by deserving it-Apparent justness often means real success- -Francis Horner contrasted with Lord Bolingbroke-The latter a "brilliant failure"-Lord Lytton quoted-Success in life only attainable when we choose our ob- ject wisely-Remarks on the popular idea of getting-on-Mr. Swinburne's song of gold-Some closing considerations-Suc- cess possible to every man who goes the right way to seek it- We must not wait for opportunities-There is a place in life for T must be admitted at the outset, that in the following pages I have no exclusive, peculiar, or wonderful "Secret" to unfold. If there be a royal road to knowledge, I know of none to success, and I make no pretensions to have discovered a shorter or easier path than before existed. The reader who takes up this book in the hope of learning some new way of Money-making, some fresh exposition of the gospel of Getting-on, may find himself disappointed. I do indeed profess to set forth the Secret of Success; but it is a secret which has always been known to the successful. And then, again, the "Success" to which I seek to direct the reader's attention is no novel form of worldly prosperity, no extraordinary phase of fortune, but rather the acquisition of "a sound mind in a sound body," the complete culture of the physical, moral, and intellectual faculties of the individual. It is true that I have not neglected the ordinary meaning which the world gives to "success," nor do I wish to contend that competent means for the wholesome enjoyment of life is not a very reasonable and proper object for a man's energies. But I have endeavoured to realise for the word a wider and higher significance, and to deal with it as representing the development of mind, soul, and body-the living, so far as is possible to man, a "perfect life." This is the only "success" which secures happiness. The materialistic "success," the "success" of the great speculator, the millionaire—is too frequently a deplorable failure. "I confess," says Mr. Hillard, "that increasing years bring with them an increasing respect for men who do not succeed in life, as these words are commonly used." Men who do not succeed in life, as the Croesuses of society succeed, are the men who work for the good of their fellows, the men who endow the world with the masterpieces of art and literature, the men who in the happiness of others find their own happiness. It is well that the reader, whatever pursuit or calling he may adopt, should do his best in it; that is a matter of duty and honour which cannot be conscientiously neglected. It is told of a certain merchant-prince of Boston, that, on one occasion, he reprimanded for slovenly work a mechanic who had known him when in a very humble position. "I tell you what, Billy Gray," exclaimed the man, "I shan't stand such words from you. Why, I can remember when you were nothing but a drummer in a regiment!" "And so I was," retorted the merchant; "so I was a drummer; but didn't I drum well, eh?-didn't I drum well?" Now, to my thinking, this "drumming well" is the true, the genuine success. I hold that "success in life" is doing one's duty as well as it can be done in whatever may be one's position; not for the sake of the reward that may accompany it, and yet not despising or refusing that reward when it comes. In this kind of success there is a pure and permanent pleasure, wholly unknown to those for whom Success is synonymous with Mammon. The steadfast striving for this loftier success can never be without a happy issue. As Dr. Donne says :— "We are but farmers of ourselves; yet may, If we can stock ourselves and thrive, uplay Much, much good treasure for the great rent-day." If virtue be its own best recompense, so is the love of knowledge. The habit of diligent application, the habit of temperate living, the habit of high thinking, ever carries in itself a blessing. The cultivation of such habits is the Secret of Success; and it is a secret which lies within the reach of all of us, if we will but use our opportunities and our means aright. Count Hamilton said of Richelieu, that "this great man commanded little armies, and little armies did great things." Let not the reader be discouraged if his means be small; he may accomplish great things with them if he once lay firm hold upon the Secret of Success. It may be objected to the present volume that it follows in the track of worthy predecessors, such as the evergreen "Pursuit of Knowledge under Difficulties" by Mr. Craik, and the admirable" 'Self-Help" by Mr. Smiles. To some extent, no doubt, it traverses the same ground. On the other hand, it |