One of my favorite all-time books is Samuel Smiles’s 1859 Self-Help. It is an inspiring essay on what amazing things people can accomplish if they apply some very simple virtues, like perseverance, energy, and self-discipline. It includes numerous real-life stories from giants in medicine, politics, philosophy, mathematics, science, business, economics, fine arts, and many other areas of human life. If you haven’t read it, you should. And read it with your kids too.
To whet your appetite, here is the closing paragraph for the first chapter, entitled “Self-Help—National and Individual”:
In fine, human character is moulded by a thousand subtle influences; by example and precept; by life and literature; by friends and neighbours; by the world we live in as well as by the spirits of our forefathers, whose legacy of good words and deeds we inherit. But great, unquestionably, though these influences are acknowledged to be, it is nevertheless equally clear that men must necessarily be the active agents of their own well-being and well-doing; and that, however much the wise and the good may owe to others, they themselves must in the very nature of things be their own best helpers.
[...] Fellow James Otteson posts an apt quotation from Samuel Smiles’ classic Self-Help ←The price of [...]
[...] chagrined to confess that I’ve never read anything by Samuel Smiles. Jim Otteson persuades me to do so. (HT Walter Grinder) Be Sociable, Share! TweetComments Add a Comment [...]
To “be their own best helpers.” It floors me to see how far Western culture has slipped away from responsibility. It is a decline that I am not sure we will be able to reverse. Smiles book is they type of book we should be reading in our schools. Teach Responsibility instead of this Self Esteem clap trap.
Yes Western culture has slipped with the responsibility factor. Perhaps a reversal could be accomplished, but it would take the few still their own “best helpers” to tow the line.
Schools should teach Responsibility! Should teach Ethics as well.