Samuel Smiles

The Rev. Mr. Owen, formerly of Bilston,--a good friend and adviser of working people,--used to tell a story of a man who was not an economist, but…

John was ashamed, astonished, conscience-stricken, charmed, and wouldn't touch it. "Hasn't thee had thy share? Then I'll ha' no more! "he said. He…

In the same way, a workman of even the humblest sort, whose prosperity and regularity of conduct show to his fellow-workmen what industry, temperance…

A man's daily life is the best test of his moral and social state. Take two men, for instance, both working at the same trade and earning the same…

It is in this. The one man is intelligent and prudent; the other is the reverse. The one denies himself for the benefit of his wife, his family,…

"I say, mate," said one workman to another, as they went home one evening from their work, "will you tell me how it is that you contrive to get on?…

"Yes! there's this in it,--that it has made you ask me the question, how I manage to keep my family so comfortably, and put money in the Penny Bank,…

"Why, Jack, if you had your rights to-morrow, would they put your money back into your pocket after you had spent it?--would your rights give your…

"Good-night!" And Jack turned off at the lane-end towards his humble and dirty cottage in Main's Court. I might introduce you to his home,--but "home…

The _chief secret_ was now revealed. Ransom's secret, about the penny, was a very good one, so far as it went. But he had not really told the whole…

Take up a prospectus and tables of a Provident Society, intended for the use of those classes who have a penny a day to spend,--that is, nearly all…

2. For _a penny a day_ (payments ceasing at sixty years of age), a man or woman of thirty-one years of age may secure the sum of £50 payable at death…

3. For _a penny a day_, a young man or woman of fifteen may secure a sum of £100, the payment of the penny a day continuing during the whole of life,…

5. For _a penny a day_,--the payment commencing from the birth of any child,--a parent may secure the sum of £20, payable on such child reaching…

6. For _a penny a day_, continued until the child readies the age of twenty-one years, the sum of £45 may be secured, to enable him or her to begin…

7. For _a penny a day_, a young man or woman of twenty-four may secure the sum of £100, payable on reaching the age of sixty, with the right of…

The effecting of a life assurance by a working man, for the benefit of his wife and children, is an eminently unselfish act. It is a moral as well as…

The late Joseph Baxendale was the constant friend of the working people who co-operated with him in the labours of his life. He was a man of strong…

He posted up Texts along his warehouses, so that those who ran might read. "Never despair," "Nothing without labour," "He who spends all he gets,…

"Method is the hinge of business; and there is no method without Punctuality. Punctuality is important, because it subserves the Peace and Good…

Some may inquire, "Who was Joseph Baxendale?" He was, in fact, Pickford and Co., the name of a firm known all over England, as well as throughout the…

The carrying on of such an important and extensive business required much capital, great energy, and first-rate business management. The horses…

The carrying business required a great deal of personal supervision. Only a man of determined spirit and indomitable energy could have done it. He…

Besides overtaking the vans, he would sometimes travel by a by-road--for he knew nearly every road in the country--push on, and then double back upon…

Had Mr. Baxendale resisted the new means of conveyance, he would, before long, have been driven off the road. But he clearly foresaw the ultimate…

He also became a large shareholder in railways. His status in the South-Eastern line was so great, that he was invited to become chairman of the…

His arduous labours in connection with his own business, as well as with railway extension, having thrown him into ill-health, he went abroad for…

"An old servant of the concern observed, a short time ago, that he began life in the employ of Pickford, upon low wages, and that by frugality and…

"Suppose a young man to pursue this system: Let him obtain the first twenty pounds, add each year ten pounds, he will at the end of six years be…

"The concern in which we are engaged has been defrauded by those who have for thirty years received salaries, the savings from which, had they…

"Upon industry and frugality our well-doing depends. It is not great talents, but steady application, that is required. There are none of us that may…

"If business is more pressing than usual, give additional time, that your own accounts may not fall into confusion, and that you may not be the means…

"Late occurrences lead me to draw your attention to this subject: it is important in every sense, both as regards your public and private stations.…

"It seldom happens that we can do any important services, but small services are always in use. Take, therefore, every opportunity of assisting…

"Care preserves what Industry gains. He who attends to his business diligently but _not_ carefully, throws away with one hand what he gathers with…

"The acquisition of property, the accumulation of capital, is already in the power of the better-paid working class; and legislation has but few…

Employers can do a great deal towards promoting habits of thrift, prudence, and sobriety amongst their workpeople. Though the working man does not…

If masters fully understood the immense amount of influence which they possess, they would extend their sympathy and confidence to their…

But masters can do more than this. They can actively aid their workmen in the formation of prudent habits, by establishing savings banks for men…

At the same time there is much want of sympathy between masters and men. In fact, want of sympathy pervades all classes--the poorer, the working, the…

Charity cannot remedy the evil. Giving money, blankets, coals, and such-like, to the poor--where the spirit of sympathy is wanting,--does not…

On the other hand, the operative class consider their interests to be quite distinct from those of the master class. They want to get as much for…

The great end of both is gain, worldly gain, which sometimes involves a terrible final loss. A general suspicion of each other spreads, and society…

Some allege that this want of sympathy arises, for the most part, from the evils of Competition. It is "heartless," "selfish," "mischievous,"…

And yet there is something to be said for competition, as well as against it. It is a struggle,--that must be admitted. All life is a struggle.…

Put a stop to competition, and you merely check the progress of individuals and of classes. You preserve a dead uniform level. You stereotype society…

Under competition, the lazy man is put under the necessity of exerting himself; and if he will not exert himself, he must fall behind. If he do not…

Success grows out of struggles to overcome difficulties. If there were no difficulties, there would be no success. If there were nothing to…

Of course, man is much more than a competing being. That is only one of his characteristics, and not the highest or noblest. He has sensibilities,…

One of the results of industry and thrift is the accumulation of Capital. Capital represents the self-denial, the providence, and the enterprise of…

There is not a mechanic but has the use of the money of the master who employs him. When the unskilled labourer lays down his spade, he leaves idle a…

The workman in good employment is not liable to losses by bad debts; he has no obsolete machinery from time to time left useless on his hands; and he…

This account of the manufacturing buccaneer is a picture drawn by a man of genius from his imagination. There are probably many readers who believe…

Let us first take a large manufacturing firm, or rather series of firms, well known in South Lancashire. We mean the cotton-spinning mills of the…

Then, as to what the Ashworths have done for the benefit of their workpeople. Schooling, by means of mutual instruction classes, was in operation…

Misgivings were not unfrequently expressed that the zeal and expenditure incurred by the Messrs. Ashworth might one day be turned against them, to…

The New Eagley Mills being situated in a narrow valley, several miles from Bolton, and the property being in the possession of the owners, they…

The masters have added to their other obligations to the workpeople, the erection of comfortable cottages for their accommodation. They are built…

The regularity of their employment, accompanied with the payment of wages on Friday night, doubtless promoted their local attachment to the place.…

Manufacturers such as these do not, like Plugson of St. Dolly Undershot, gather up their fortunes and run away, leaving a groat each to their…