A Verse Digest of P. T. Barnum’s The Art of Money Getting (1880)
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DON’T GET ABOVE YOUR BUSINESS
young men after apprenticeship
often lie about, doing nothing
I am not going to be a hireling
more difficult to accumulate first dollars
than all the succeeding millions
money is good for nothing unless you value it
nothing is worth anything unless it costs effort
like buying a ticket in the lottery
and drawing a prize
it is easy come easy go
waiting for dead men’s shoes
should be up and doing with determined wills
industry, perseverance, economy and good habits
gradually is the best way to acquire a fortune
a poor cabin boy died worth nine million dollars
a poor Irish boy paid taxes on a million dollars income
a poor farmer boy died worth twenty millions
there is no royal road to learning
there is no royal road to wealth
but there is a royal road to both
the road to learning is a royal one
the road that enables knowledge
in the pleasant process of intellectual growth
he is able to solve the most profound problems
to count the stars
to analyze every atom of the globe
to measure the firmament
this regal highway is the only road worth traveling
so in regard to wealth
go on in confidence
study the rules
study human nature
study mankind
expanding the intellect and the muscles
you arrive at a state of independence
as a general thing
the poor boys get rich
the rich boys get poor
the poor today are rich in the next generation
experience leads them on and they become rich
the business makes the man
the man makes the business
whether a blacksmith, a shoemaker, a farmer, banker or lawyer
so long as his business is legitimate, he may be a gentleman
any legitimate business is a double blessing
it helps the man engaged in it and it helps others
farmer supports his own family
but also benefits the merchant
who needs the products of his farm
the tailor not only makes a living by his trade
but also benefits others who cannot make clothing
the basement is much crowded
but plenty of room up-stairs
no profession, trade, or calling
is overcrowded in the upper story
the man most sought has always enough to do
if his habits are good and his integrity undoubted
Money Getting Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X
Money Getting is a verse digest of P.T. Barnum’s The Art of Money Getting (1880)