Have you ever read a book that recommends another book? If you have answered yes, then you must have also picked up the book and read that one too. This is how I felt after I read the book entitled: Happy For No Reason, by Marci Shimnoff. Which actually contains many book recommendations, names of research institutions, journal articles and success stories. But the read that caught my attention was the book entitled: Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill. This book is marketed as a money-making success book, however; it is also a book that is included in the genre of personal development as Shimnoff states. Which is why I also finally decided to pick it up and read. I am fascinated to learn of the success stories that Hill writes of including: Andrew Carnegie, who built the Pittsburg Carnegie Steel Company. Which became known as the U.S. Steel Company.
With the inclusion of success stories, Hill writes the many successful entrepreneurs / business men and women drop-out of school with little to none education, and still become very successful without formal schooling. This is an overarching idea that we hear in the public, relating to many who are successful without formal schooling. Thinking that it is OK to simply put talents to work, seek success through the making of money. And of course these words are my point of view, and I say that is OK too. But Napoleon Hill goes a step further, and maybe these thoughts are not what we hear through popularized media or book reviews. Is the emphasis on the need for humans to continue to seek knowledge, develop the intellect, but to also find ways of putting knowledge to practical uses. Of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, Hill writes:
“Thomas A. Edison had only three months of ‘schooling’ during his entire life. He did not lack education, neither did he die poor. Henry Ford had limited ‘schooling’ but he managed to do pretty well by himself, financially. The fact that Ford and Edison did not have much formal schooling does not give today’s young people an excuse to drop out of school. Today a minimum standard of formal education is necessary to get a good start in the world of business.”
(Hill, 82-83)
The above quote can be transferred to any field of study and expanded to any avenue of seeking knowledge. Hill seeks to provide a pathway to aim to put knowledge to practical uses. And as I have always thought, knowledge is power, but it is only power as to its uses. Knowledge should be viewed and assimilated to sacredness, a sacred source. As mis-uses and mis-treatments can create undesirable effects. But what is more beautiful with the desire to seek knowledge, develop mind / brain, is the development that occurs from within.
The word education is “derived from the Latin ‘educo,’ meaning to educe, to draw out, to develop from within” (80). The reading of these words / ideas brought much pleasure to my mind, as I would like to further add; the accumulation of knowledge might not be to seek a monetary gain – but the by-product becomes such. As well as being able to take care of life decisions, choices and simply carry the pursuit of knowledge. As knowledge to forms imagination, creativity and innovations.
The word education is “derived from the Latin ‘educo,’ meaning to educe, to draw out, to develop from within” (80). #ShaziaBlog #Quote
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Dedication: These thoughts are dedicated to the graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, and to all recent graduates. It was especially nice to see graduation ceremonies continue to take place and accommodated as much have been cancelled due to the Coronavirus health pandemic. Congratulations to all!
References:
- Hill, N. Think and Grow Rich. New York: Tarcher / Penguin, 2003. Print.
- Shimoff, M. Happy For No Reason. New York: Free Press, 2008. Print.
Related Links:
- SOCIETAL SYMPTOMS!
- Encyclopedia Britannica | Inventors and Inventions of the Industrial Revolution
- United States Military Academy at West Point
- The Napoleon Hill Foundation
- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Notes – These thoughts were originally hand-written on June 13th 2020.
My thoughts to share with love & kindness! 🙂
{HEART'S, FOREVER!} 