1.2 Chapter 1

Love is essential for a fulfilling life, but poverty hinders its expression. Giving is the natural way to show love. Without anything to give, one cannot fulfill their roles as a spouse, parent, citizen, or individual. Material possessions are important for a full life, personal growth, and spiritual development. Therefore, it is important to strive for wealth. It is natural and noble to desire riches and to study the science of acquiring wealth. Neglecting this study is neglecting one's duty to oneself, God, and humanity. To live fully in soul, man must have love, and love is denied expression by poverty. A man's highest happiness is found in the bestowal of benefits on those he loves. Love finds its most natural and spontaneous expression in giving. The man who has nothing to give cannot fill his place as a husband or father, as a citizen or as a man. It is in the use of material things that a man finds full life for his body, develops his mind, and unfolds his soul. It is therefore of supreme importance to him that he should be rich. It is perfectly right that you should desire to be rich. If you are a normal man or woman, you cannot help doing so. It is perfectly right that you should give your best attention to the science of getting rich, for it is the noblest and most necessary of all studies. If you neglect this study, you are derelict in your duty to yourself, to God, and to humanity, for you can render to God and humanity no greater service than to make the most of yourself.