Overcoming Poverty

No one can become prosperous while he really expects or half expects to remain poor. We tend to get what we expect, and to expect nothing is to get nothing.

No one can prosper while truly or even partly expecting to remain poor. We tend to get what we expect. If we expect nothing, we get nothing.

When every step you take is on the road to failure, how can you hope to arrive at the success goal?

If every step you take leads toward failure, how can you hope to reach success?

Prosperity begins in the mind and is impossible while the mental attitude is hostile to it. It is fatal to work for one thing and to expect something else, because everything must be created mentally first and is bound to follow its mental pattern.

Prosperity begins in the mind. It is impossible if your mental attitude is hostile to it. It is disastrous to work for one thing while expecting something else. That is because everything must first be created in the mind and will inevitably follow that mental pattern.

Most people do not face life in the right way. They neutralize a large part of their effort because their mental attitude does not correspond with their endeavor, so that while working for one thing they are really expecting something else. They discourage, drive away, the very thing they are pursuing by holding the wrong mental attitude towards it. They do not approach their work with that assurance of victory which attracts, which forces results, that determination and confidence which knows no defeat.

Most people do not face life the right way. They cancel out much of their effort because their attitude does not match what they are trying to do. So, while working for one thing, they actually expect something else. Their wrong attitude discourages and drives away the very thing they are pursuing. They do not approach their work with the assurance of victory that attracts and produces results. They lack the determination and confidence that know no defeat.

To be ambitious for wealth and yet always expecting to be poor, to be always doubting your ability to get what you long for, is like trying to reach East by traveling West. There is no philosophy which will help a man to succeed when he is always doubting his ability to do so, and thus attracting failure.

Wanting wealth while always expecting to be poor is like trying to reach the East by traveling West. The same is true if you always doubt your ability to get what you long for. No philosophy can help a man succeed if he always doubts his ability to succeed and thus attracts failure.

The man who would succeed must think success, must think upward. He must think progressively, creatively, constructively, inventively, and, above all, optimistically.

A man who wants to succeed must think about success and aim higher. He must think progressively, creatively, constructively, inventively, and above all, optimistically.

You will go in the direction in which you face. If you look towards poverty, towards lack, you will go that way. If, on the other hand, you turn squarely around and refuse to have anything to do with poverty,—to think it,—live it, or recognize it—you will then begin to make progress towards the goal of plenty.

You will go in the direction you face. If you look toward poverty and lack, you will go that way. But if you turn around and refuse to think about, live with, or acknowledge poverty, you will begin to move toward abundance.

As long as you radiate doubt and discouragement, you will be a failure. If you want to get away from poverty, you must keep your mind in a productive, creative condition. In order to do this you must think confident, cheerful, creative thoughts. The model must precede the statue. You must see a new world before you can live in it.

As long as you radiate doubt and discouragement, you will fail. If you want to escape poverty, you must keep your mind productive and creative. To do this, you must think confident, cheerful, creative thoughts. The model must come before the statue. You must see a new world before you can live in it.

If the people who are down in the world, who are side-tracked, who believe that their opportunity has gone forever, that they can never get on their feet again, only knew the power of reversal of their thought, they could easily get a new start.

Some people are struggling and have been pushed aside. They believe their opportunity is gone forever and that they can never get back on their feet. If only they knew the power of reversing their thoughts, they could easily make a fresh start.

If you would attract good fortune you must get rid of doubt. As long as that stands between you and your ambition, it will be a bar that will cut you off. You must have faith. No man can make a fortune while he is convinced that he can't. The "I can't" philosophy has wrecked more careers than almost anything else. Confidence is the magic key that unlocks the door of supply.

If you want to attract good fortune, you must get rid of doubt. As long as doubt stands between you and your ambition, it will block your way. You must have faith. No one can make a fortune while convinced they can't. The "I can't" philosophy has ruined more careers than almost anything else. Confidence is the magic key that unlocks the door to what you need.

I never knew a man to be successful who was always talking about business being bad. The habit of looking down, talking down, is fatal to advancement.

I have never known a successful man who was always talking about how bad business was. The habit of thinking and speaking negatively is fatal to progress.

The Creator has bidden every man to look up, not down. He made him to climb, not to grovel. There is no providence which keeps a man in poverty, or in painful or distressing circumstances.

The Creator has told every man to look up, not down. He made him to climb, not to crawl. No divine plan keeps a man in poverty or in painful or distressing circumstances.

The Creator never put vast multitudes of people on this earth to scramble for a limited supply, as though He were not able to furnish enough for all. There is nothing in this world which men desire and struggle for, and that is good for them, of which there is not enough for everybody.

The Creator did not put vast numbers of people on earth to scramble for a limited supply. That would suggest he could not provide enough for all. There is enough for everyone of everything people desire and struggle for that is good for them.

Take the thing we need most—food. We have not begun to scratch the possibilities of the food supply in America.

Take the thing we need most: food. We have barely begun to explore the possibilities for America's food supply.

The State of Texas could supply food, home, and luxuries to every man, woman, and child on this continent. As for clothing, there is material enough in the country to clothe all its inhabitants in purple and fine linen. We have not begun yet to touch the possibilities of our clothing and dress supply. The same is true of all of the other necessities and luxuries. We are still on the outer surface of abundance, a surface covering kingly supplies for every individual on the globe.

Texas could provide food, homes, and luxuries for every man, woman, and child on this continent. There is enough material in the country to clothe all its inhabitants in purple and fine linen. We have barely begun to tap the possibilities for supplying clothing. The same is true of all other necessities and luxuries. We have only scratched the surface of abundance. Beneath that surface lie supplies fit for a king, enough for every person on the globe.

When the whale ships in New Bedford Harbor and other ports were rotting in idleness, because the whale was becoming extinct, Americans became alarmed lest we should dwell in darkness; but the oil wells came to our rescue with abundant supply. And then, when we began to doubt that this source would last, Science gave us the electric light.

Whales were becoming extinct, and whaling ships sat idle and rotting in New Bedford Harbor and other ports. Americans feared they would be left in darkness, but oil wells came to the rescue with an abundant supply. Then, when Americans began to doubt that the oil supply would last, science gave them electric light.

There is building material enough to give every person on the globe a mansion finer than any that a Vanderbilt or Rothschild possesses. It was intended that we should all be rich and happy; that we should have an abundance of all the good things the heart can crave. We should live in the realization that there is an abundance of power where our present power comes from, and that we can draw upon this great source for as much as we can use.

There is enough building material to give everyone on earth a mansion finer than any owned by a Vanderbilt or Rothschild. We were meant to be rich and happy. We were meant to have plenty of all the good things our hearts could desire. We should live knowing that the source of our present power has plenty more to offer. We can draw from this great source as much power as we can use.

There is something wrong when the children of the King of kings go about like sheep hounded by a pack of wolves. There is something wrong when those who have inherited infinite supply are worrying about their daily bread; are dogged by fear and anxiety so that they can not take any peace; that their lives are one battle with want; that they are always under the harrow of worry, always anxious. There is something wrong when people are so worried and absorbed in making a living that they can not make a life.

There is something wrong when the children of the King of kings go about like sheep pursued by a pack of wolves. There is something wrong when those who have inherited an infinite supply worry about their daily bread. Fear and anxiety pursue them, giving them no peace. Their lives are one battle against want. Worry weighs on them, and they are always anxious. There is something wrong when people are so worried and absorbed in earning a living that they cannot make a life.

We were made for happiness, to express joy and gladness, to be prosperous. The trouble with us is that we do not trust the law of infinite supply, but close our natures so that abundance cannot flow to us. In other words, we do not obey the law of attraction. We keep our minds so pinched and our faith in ourselves so small, so narrow, that we strangle the inflow of supply. Abundance follows a law as strict as that of mathematics. If we obey it, we get the flow; if we strangle it, we cut it off. The trouble is not in the supply; there is abundance awaiting everyone on the globe.

We were made to be happy, to express joy and gladness, and to prosper. Our trouble is that we do not trust the law of infinite supply. Instead, we close ourselves off so that abundance cannot flow to us. In other words, we do not obey the law of attraction. Our minds are so closed and our faith in ourselves so small and narrow that we choke off the flow of supply. Abundance follows a law as strict as mathematics. If we obey the law, abundance flows to us. If we choke off the flow, we cut it off. The trouble is not with the supply. Abundance awaits everyone on the globe.

Prosperity begins in the mind, and is impossible with a mental attitude which is hostile to it. We can not attract opulence mentally by a poverty-stricken attitude which is driving away what we long for. It is fatal to work for one thing and to expect something else. No matter how much one may long for prosperity, a miserable, poverty-stricken, mental attitude will close all the avenues to it. The weaving of the web is bound to follow the pattern. Opulence and prosperity can not come in through poverty-thought and failure-thought channels. They must be created mentally first. We must think prosperity before we can come to it.

Prosperity begins in the mind, and it is impossible if your attitude works against it. We cannot attract wealth by thinking about poverty, because that attitude drives away what we long for. It is fatal to work for one thing and expect another. No matter how much we long for prosperity, a miserable, poverty-stricken attitude will close every path to it. The woven fabric is bound to follow the pattern. Wealth and prosperity cannot come through thoughts of poverty and failure. They must first be created in the mind. We must think about prosperity before we can achieve it.

How many take it for granted that there are plenty of good things in this world for others, comforts, luxuries, fine houses, good clothes, opportunity for travel, leisure, but not for them! They settle down into the conviction that these things do not belong to them, but are for those in a very different class.

How many people take it for granted that the world’s good things are for others, but not for them! Comforts, luxuries, fine houses, good clothes, opportunities to travel, and leisure are all for someone else. They become convinced that these things do not belong to them, but to people in a very different class.

But why are you in a different class? Simply because you think yourself into another class; think yourself into inferiority; because you place limits for yourself. You put up bars between yourself and plenty. You cut off abundance, make the law of supply inoperative for you, by shutting your mind to it. And by what law can you expect to get what you believe you can not get? By what philosophy can you obtain the good things of the world when you are thoroughly convinced that they are not for you?

But why are you in a different class? Simply because you think yourself into a different class. You think yourself inferior because you set limits for yourself. You put barriers between yourself and plenty. You shut your mind to abundance, cutting it off and making the law of supply ineffective for you. How can you expect to get what you believe you cannot get? How can you obtain the good things in the world when you are convinced they are not for you?

One of the greatest curses of the world is the belief in the necessity of poverty. Most people have a strong conviction that some must necessarily be poor; that they were made to be poor. But there was no poverty, no want, no lack, in the Creator's plan for man. There need not be a poor person on the planet. The earth is full of resources which we have scarcely yet touched. We have been poor in the very midst of abundance, simply because of our own blighting limiting thought.

One of the world's greatest curses is the belief that poverty is necessary. Most people firmly believe that some people must be poor, that they were made to be poor. But the Creator's plan for humanity included no poverty, want, or lack. No one on earth needs to be poor. The earth is full of resources we have barely begun to use. We have been poor in the midst of abundance simply because of our own harmful, limiting thoughts.

We are discovering that thoughts are things, that they are incorporated into the life and form part of the character, and if we harbor the fear thought, the lack thought, if we are afraid of poverty, of coming to want, this poverty thought, fear thought incorporates itself in the very life texture and makes us the magnet to attract more poverty like itself.

We are discovering that thoughts are things. They become part of our lives and shape our character. If we dwell on fear and lack, we may fear poverty and going without. These thoughts of poverty and fear become woven into our lives, making us magnets that attract more poverty.

It was not intended that we should have such a hard time getting a living, that we should just manage to squeeze along, to get together a few comforts, to spend about all of our time making a living instead of making a life. The life abundant, full, free, beautiful, was intended for us.

We were not meant to struggle so hard to make a living. We were not meant to just scrape by, gather a few comforts, and spend nearly all our time making a living instead of making a life. We were meant to live abundant, full, free, and beautiful lives.

Let us put up a new image, a new ideal of plenty, of abundance. Have we not worshiped the God of poverty, of lack, of want, about long enough? Let us hold the thought that God is our great supply, that if we can keep in tune, in close touch with Him, so that we can feel our at-one-ness with Him, the great Source of all supply, abundance will flow to us and we shall never again know want.

Let us embrace a new vision, a new ideal of plenty and abundance. Haven’t we worshiped the God of poverty, scarcity, and want long enough? Let us remember that God is our great source of supply. If we stay in tune and in close touch with him, we can feel our oneness with him. Then abundance will flow to us from this great source of all supply, and we will never again know want.

There is nothing which the human race lacks so much as unquestioned, implicit confidence in the divine source of all supply. We ought to stand in the same relation to the Infinite Source as the child does to its parents. The child does not say, "I do not dare eat this food for fear that I may not get any more." It takes everything with absolute confidence and assurance that all its needs will be supplied, that there is plenty more where these things came from.

Humanity lacks nothing so much as complete, unquestioning trust in the divine source of all supply. We should relate to the Infinite Source as a child relates to its parents. A child does not say, "I don't dare eat this food because I might not get any more." The child accepts everything with complete confidence that all its needs will be met. It knows there is plenty more where these things came from.

We do not have half good enough opinions of our possibilities; do not expect half enough of ourselves; we do not demand half enough, hence the meagerness, the stinginess of what we actually get. We do not demand the abundance which belongs to us, hence the leanness, the lack of fulness, the incompleteness of our lives. We do not demand royally enough. We are content with too little of the things worth while. It was intended that we should live the abundant life, that we should have plenty of everything that is good for us. No one was meant to live in poverty and wretchedness. The lack of anything that is desirable is not natural to the constitution of any human being.

We do not think nearly highly enough of our possibilities. We do not expect nearly enough of ourselves or demand nearly enough. That is why we get so little. We do not demand the abundance that belongs to us. As a result, our lives are meager and incomplete. We do not demand enough, as if we were royalty. We settle for too little of what is worthwhile. We were meant to live abundant lives, with plenty of everything that is good for us. No one was meant to live in poverty and misery. It is not natural for any human being to lack anything desirable.

Erase all the shadows, all the doubts and fears, and the suggestions of poverty and failure from your mind. When you have become master of your thought, when you have once learned to dominate your mind, you will find that things will begin to come your way. Discouragement, fear, doubt, lack of self-confidence, are the germs which have killed the prosperity and happiness of tens of thousands of people.

Clear your mind of all shadows, doubts, fears, and thoughts of poverty and failure. Once you learn to control your thoughts, you will find that things begin to come your way. Discouragement, fear, doubt, and lack of self-confidence are the germs that have killed the prosperity and happiness of tens of thousands of people.

Every man must play the part of his ambition. If you are trying to be a successful man you must play the part. If you are trying to demonstrate opulence, you must play it, not weakly, but vigorously, grandly. You must feel opulent, you must think opulence, you must appear opulent. Your bearing must be filled with confidence. You must give the impression of your own assurance, that you are large enough to play your part and to play it superbly. Suppose the greatest actor living were to have a play written for him in which the leading part was to represent a man in the process of making a fortune—a great, vigorous, progressive character, who conquered by his very presence. Suppose this actor, in playing the part, were to dress like an unprosperous man, walk on the stage in a stooping, slouchy, slipshod manner, as though he had no ambition, no energy or life, as though he had no real faith that he could ever make money or be a success in business; suppose he went around the stage with an apologetic, shrinking, skulking manner, as much as to say, "Now, I do not believe that I can ever do this thing that I have attempted; it is too big for me. Other people have done it, but I never thought that I should ever be rich or prosperous. Somehow good things do not seem to be meant for me. I am just an ordinary man, I haven't had much experience and I haven't much confidence in myself, and it seems presumptuous for me to think I am ever going to be rich or have much influence in the world." What kind of an impression would he make upon the audience? Would he give confidence, would he radiate power or forcefulness, would he make people think that that kind of a weakling could create a fortune, could manipulate conditions which would produce money? Would not everybody say that the man was a failure? Would they not laugh at the idea of his conquering anything?

Every man must act the part of the person he wants to become. If you are trying to be successful, you must act the part. If you are trying to show wealth, you must act wealthy, not weakly, but vigorously and grandly. You must feel wealthy, think about wealth, and appear wealthy. Your manner must show confidence. You must convey your own assurance that you are capable of playing your part, and playing it superbly. Suppose a play were written for the greatest living actor. In the leading role, he would play a man making a fortune. The character would be strong, vigorous, and forward-looking, a man who conquered through his very presence. Now suppose the actor dressed like an unsuccessful man. Suppose he walked onto the stage hunched over, slouching, and careless in his manner. He would seem to have no ambition, energy, or life. He would seem to have no real faith that he could ever make money or succeed in business. Suppose he moved around the stage apologetically, timidly, and furtively, as if to say, "Now, I don't believe I can ever do what I've set out to do. It's too big for me. Other people have done it, but I never thought I would be rich or prosperous. Somehow good things don't seem to be meant for me. I'm just an ordinary man. I haven't had much experience, and I don't have much confidence in myself. It seems presumptuous to think I'll ever be rich or have much influence in the world." What impression would he make on the audience? Would he inspire confidence? Would he radiate power or forcefulness? Would he make people think that such a weakling could create a fortune or shape conditions to make money? Wouldn't everyone say that the man was a failure? Wouldn't they laugh at the idea of his conquering anything?

Poverty itself is not so bad as the poverty thought. It is the conviction that we are poor and must remain so that is fatal. It is the attitude of mind that is destructive, the facing toward poverty, and feeling so reconciled to it that one does not turn about face and struggle to get away from it with a determination which knows no retreat.

Poverty itself is not as bad as thinking in terms of poverty. The fatal thing is believing that we are poor and must remain poor. This attitude is destructive. It means facing poverty and accepting it so completely that we do not turn around and fight to escape it with a determination that never retreats.

If we can conquer inward poverty, we can soon conquer poverty of outward things, for, when we change the mental attitude, the physical changes to correspond.

If we can conquer inner poverty, we can soon conquer poverty in our outward circumstances. For when we change our mental attitude, our physical circumstances change to match it.

Holding the poverty thought, keeps us in touch with poverty-stricken, poverty-producing conditions; and the constant thinking of poverty, talking poverty, living poverty, makes us mentally poor. This is the worst kind of poverty.

Thinking about poverty keeps us connected to conditions marked by poverty and conditions that produce it. Constantly thinking about poverty, talking about it, and living in it makes us mentally poor. This is the worst kind of poverty.

We can not travel toward prosperity until the mental attitude faces prosperity. As long as we look toward despair, we shall never arrive at the harbor of delight.

We cannot move toward prosperity until we set our minds on it. As long as we look toward despair, we will never reach the harbor of delight.

The man who persists in holding his mental attitude toward poverty, or who is always thinking of his hard luck and failure to get on, can by no possibility go in the opposite direction, where the goal of prosperity lies.

A man who keeps his mind fixed on poverty cannot possibly move toward prosperity. Nor can he do so if he is always thinking about his bad luck and failure to get ahead.

There are multitudes of poor people in this country who are half satisfied to remain in poverty, and who have ceased to make a desperate struggle to rise out of it. They may work hard, but they have lost the hope, the expectation of getting an independence.

Many poor people in this country are partly content to remain in poverty. They have stopped struggling desperately to escape it. They may work hard, but they have lost the hope and expectation of becoming financially independent.

Many people keep themselves poor by fear of poverty, allowing themselves to dwell upon the possibility of coming to want, of not having enough to live upon, by allowing themselves to dwell upon conditions of poverty.

Many people keep themselves poor by fearing poverty. They dwell on the possibility of being in need, not having enough to live on, and living in poverty.

When you make up your mind that you are done with poverty forever; that you will have nothing more to do with it; that you are going to erase every trace of it from your dress, your personal appearance, your manner, your talk, your actions, your home; that you are going to show the world your real mettle; that you are no longer going to pass for a failure; that you have set your face persistently toward better things—a competence, an independence—and that nothing on earth can turn you from your resolution, you will be amazed to find what a reenforcing power will come to you, what an increase of confidence, reassurance, and self-respect.

When you decide that you are done with poverty forever, you will have nothing more to do with it. You will erase every trace of poverty from your dress, your appearance, your manner, your speech, your actions, and your home. You will show the world what you are really made of and no longer be seen as a failure. You will keep working toward better things: financial security and independence. When you decide all this, and nothing on earth can turn you from your resolve, you will be amazed. You will find a new strength within you and a greater sense of confidence, reassurance, and self-respect.

Resolve with all the vigor you can muster that, since there are plenty of good things in the world for everybody, you are going to have your share, without injuring anybody else or keeping others back. It was intended that you should have a competence, an abundance. It is your birthright. You are success organized, and constructed for happiness, and you should resolve to reach your divine destiny.

Resolve with all your strength to claim your share of the good things in the world. There is plenty for everyone, and you can claim your share without hurting anyone or holding others back. You were meant to have enough, even an abundance. It is your birthright. You are made for success and built for happiness. Resolve to reach your divine destiny.