By Dr Charles Leyman Kachitsa
Even geographical areas considered very remote in olden days there was a visible divide between the haves and the have nots. The separation of people in clusters of status has been there in this world since time immemorial. Apparently, though resources for those who have them might be quite visible, often the identification of status classes was perceptual just like it is now.
The world has been trying to find means in how poverty in humanity could be eradicated practically. For so many years this has been the agenda of governments across the globe to reducing any gaps that might exist between status classes. The irony in most cases is that, as a subjective issue to an extent, labelling one as poor may be relative.
One has to be careful when defining people according to status as to what the referent point is. Those who have thought certain parts of the world is poor, have had seconds thoughts on visiting such areas and discovering how blessed in resources they are.
The quotes this week are an extraction from a book which when read in full should be able to transform the thinking and interpretation of what success means for the reader. I am sure the few selected quotations listed below from the book will enlighten you to one or two lessons to enhance your life. Read and enjoy:
THE RICHEST MAN IN BABYLON by George S. Clason
“Ahead of you stretches your future like a road leading into the distance. Along the road are ambitions you wish to accomplish ….. desires you wish to gratify. —– LO, MONEY IS PLENTFUL FOR THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THE SIMPLE RULES OF ITS ACQUISITION.”
“……. Babylon became the wealthiest city of the ancient world because its citizens were the richest people of their time. They appreciated the value of money. They practised sound financial principles in acquiring money, keeping money and making their money earn more money. They provided for themselves what we all desire — incomes for the future.”
“Being, as you know, the son of a humble merchant, one of a large family with no hope of an inheritance, and not being endowed, as you have so frankly said, with superior powers or wisdom, I decided that if I was to achieve what I desired, time and study would be required. —– As for time, all men have it in abundance. You, each of you, have let slip by sufficient time to have yourself wealthy. Yet, you admit; you have nothing to show except your good families, of which you can be justly proud. —– As for study, did our wise teacher not teach us that learning was of two kinds: the one kind being the things we learned and knew, and the other being the training that taught us how to find out what we did not know?”
“Babylon is an outstanding example of man’s ability to achieve great objectives, using whatever means are at his disposal. All of the resources supporting this large city were man-developed. All of its riches were man-made. ——- Babylon possessed just two natural resources – fertile soil and water in the river. With one of the greatest engineering accomplishments of this or any other day, Babylonian engineers diverted the waters from the river by means of dams and immense irrigation canals. Far out across that arid valley went these canals to pour the life giving waters over the fertile soil. This ranks among the first engineering feats known to history. Such abundant crops as were the reward of this irrigation system the world had never seen before.”
