The Secret Of Wealth

Over-consumption is the thing which is keeping us in an upset condition and we are trying to rename it "under-production".

But the essence of over-consumption is in the over-consumption of labor. We have no right to require the labor of more than one man to supply our needs. Each person produces a certain amount of labor, head or hand, and each person has a right to consume that amount of labor and no more.

The world will grow richer, this Country will grow richer and each of us individually will grow richer if, and only if, we produce more than we consume.

When more than one-half of the adult population of this Country produces more than it consumes, then the Country will grow richer and then the complaint of under-production or over-consumption, whichever you may choose to call it, will disappear.

"It is not the greatness of a man's means that makes him independent, so much as the smallness of his wants."--Cobbett. 

CHAPTER XXII

"Industry hath annexed thereto the fairest fruits and the richest rewards."--Barrow.

IT IS unfortunately true that, when we are making the most money, we save the smallest percentage of our incomes. It takes a little adversity to make us realize the importance of saving.

The American people have never given very serious study to the matter of thrifty living. Most people assume that saving a dollar or five dollars out of each week's pay envelope or ten per cent or twenty per cent out of each year's income proves them to be thrifty, while it does nothing of the sort.

Thrift does not consist of putting aside a dollar a week. Recently, S. W. Straus, President of the American Society for Thrift, gave a good definition of thrift which is clear and understandable. It was:--

"Laying aside a few dollars each week does not necessarily make one a thrifty person. Thrift means so much more than merely money--it means personal efficiency--it means foresight--it means prudence--it means sane and legitimate self-control--it means all that makes for character. It is as much removed from miserliness on the one hand as it is from extravagance on the other. As we build the ideals of thrift, we build character."

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