The meeting that changed the world forever: Andrew Carnegie meets Napoleon Hill and lays ground for “Think and Grow Rich” (get your free copy in the sidebar)
Brief video about Napoleon Hill, Andrew Carnegie and the task of a lifetime
This google search story is about the first practical Philosophy of Personal Success. Andrew Carnegie was convinced that a formula of success existed. When he met young reporter Napoleon Hill, he asked him to write this philosophy.
20 years later, in 1928, Napoleon Hill published “The Law of Success in Sixteen Lessons”. It was the practical Philosophy of Personal Success, Andrew Carnegie had always dreamt of. “Think and Grow Rich” came out in 1937.
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Andrew Carnegie inspired “Think and Grow Rich”, Napoleon Hill wrote it, you can download it. Today. Free. See sidebar.
Even today, rags to riches stories are possible. Perhaps they are even more likely today than they were ever before, because of the Internet. Now, if you want to succeed like Andrew Carnegie did, read and apply the book that he inspired: “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. Get your free copy at the sidebar.
Andrew Carnegie was the richest man in America, may be even the richest man in the world. He inspired the #1 classic book on wealth creation: “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill.
Andrew Carnegie
Read 11 interesting facts about Andrew Carnegie, the mastermind behind Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich”. Andrew Carnegie donated most of his vast fortune to libraries (Carnegie-Libraries), schools, universities and many other organizations.
Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland on 25 November 1835.
He was the son of a weaver.
Andrew Carnegie rose from a bobbin boy in a textile factory to become one of the richest men in America.
He was the father of modern steel and was one of America’s richest men.
Andrew Carnegie was extremely successful when it came to investing his money.
He was one of the most intriguing characters of late nineteenth century America.
And he was the wealthiest man in the world at the beginning of the 20th century.
Andrew Carnegie saw a lack of education as a major downfall of society.
Andrew Carnegie was a philanthropist who donated the funds for lots of public libraries and they were named after him.
Andrew Carnegie believed that one should keep only the money required for his family; the rest of the money one earns should be used for the betterment of society.
Andrew Carnegie died on 11 August 1919 in Lenox, Massachusetts.
Andrew Carnegie always took action. Do the same and grab your free copy of “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill (see sidebar)
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“Think and Grow Rich” was Napoleon Hill’s biggest success, but not his first one. 20 years after Andrew Carnegie had commissioned Napoleon Hill with the task of a lifetime, the first practical philosophy of success was published: “The Law of Success in Sixteen Lessons”
There are a lot of rumors in circulation concerning the first meeting of Napoleon Hill with Andrew Carnegie. This is what Napoleon Hill tells about this historical day that led to “The Law of Success in Sixteen Lessons” and “Think and Grow Rich”
The following is a transcript of a speech that Napoleon Hill held before a live audience. He is telling the story of his first meeting with Andrew Carnegie in 1908 and how Mr. Carnegie commissioned him to write the first practical philosophy of success and achievement.
>> My brother and I had matriculated of Georgetown University Law school intending to become lawyers. We didn’t have any money but I did have ability to write and I promised that I would write stories about successful men, sell them to a magazine and pay our way through. And my first assignment fortunately was with Andrew Carnegie in Pittsburgh.
He gave me 3 hours. And when the 3 hours were over, he said: “Now, this interview is just beginning. Come on of the house, stay all night and after the dinner we’ll take up the interview again.” He kept me there three days and nights. And believe you me, I was more than flattered. I wondered what it was all about.
He kept talking to me about the need for a new philosophy. He said: “We’ve had many philosophies with days of Socrates and Plato on down to the days of William James and Emerson, but most of them dealt with the moral laws of life. What we need is an economic philosophy for the man on the streets that will enable him to make use of the know-how gained by men like myself over a lifetime of experience.” Well, it sounded (…) very nice to me except for one thing: I didn’t know exactly what that word philosophy meant. And finally, at the end of the third day, he said:
“Now, look here! I have been talking to you for three days about the need for a new philosophy. I’m gonna ask you a question about it: If I commission you to become the author of this philosophy, give you letters of introduction to men, whose experiences you will need in collaboration with yourself. Are you willing to put in 20 years of research, because that’s how long it will take, paying your own way as you go along without any subsidy from me – yes or no?”
Ladies and Gentlemen, there been many times in my life when I faced difficult problems and difficult decisions. And I don’t think I ever faced one more embarrassing than that. Because when Mr. Carnegie put that proposition to me (…), my hand was down in my pocket and I was fiddling with the money that I had there just about enough to get back to Washington and if I would have had to stay in a hotel instead of Mr. Carnegie’s house I wouldn’t have that much. I didn’t even know the meaning of the word Philosophy. And yeah, the richest men in the world wanted me to go to work for him for 20 years without pay.
Wasn’t that a situation for you? I started to tell Mr. Carnegie, I started to do exactly what you or the most of the people would have done under the same circumstances. Now, what do you think that was? What would you have done, if you would have faced that sort of proposition: going to work for 20 years without any pay for the richest man in the world? Well, yes that’s what I was about to do.
But something inside of me wouldn’t let me open my mouth until I got a hunch that if Mr. Carnegie kept me there for three days, it must have been for a purpose. That he must have seen something in me that I didn’t know was there. Also, that man, a man with Mr. Carnegie’s reputation for picking men, certainly didn’t pick me to do a job like that unless he knew I had the ability to do it.
And whatever this something was, this silent invisible person, who was standing, looking over my shoulder and whispering into my ear, said: Go ahead and tell him “Yes”.
I said: “Mr. Carnegie, I not only will accept the commission, Sir, but you may depend upon it that I will complete it.” He said: “I like the way you enter that (…) and I think you will do it. You have the job.” <<
Napoleon Hill had worked 20 years to write the first practical philosophy of success. It was entitled “The Law of Success in Sixteen Lessons”. Nine years and some research later, Napoleon Hill published his biggest success: “Think and Grow Rich”. You can grab yourself a free ebook copy in the sidebar.
This is a unique recording of Andrew Carnegie. He is reading passages from his essay “Wealth” which is also known as “The Gospel of Wealth” due to its last sentence. If you want to read the most famous book by Andrew Carnegie’s protégé Napoleon Hill, you can get your free copy of “Think And Grow Rich” on the right
Rare recording: Andrew Carnegie, steel magnate and major philanthropist reads from his essay “Wealth”, a.k.a. “The Gospel of Wealth”
“The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced”
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegies essay, published in 1889, was recorded in the Edison motion picture film studio, NY in 1914. Andrew Carnegie reads for approximately 6 minutes. The sound is a bit noisy but you find the transcript of his speech below.
Andrew Carnegie, millionaire and philanthropist on rich, poor, charity, and other issues. Recorded at Edison motion picture film studio, Bronx, NY., 20 January 1914. Record format: Edison Kinetophone cylinder
Andrew Carnegie:
(00:00 – 01:19)
“I quote from the Gospel of Wealth published twenty-five years ago. This then, is held to be the duty of the man of Wealth:
First: to set an example of modest, unostentatious living, shunning display; to provide moderately for the legitimate wants of those dependent upon him; and after doing so to consider all surplus revenues which come to him simply as trust funds, which he is strictly bound as a matter of duty to administer in the manner which, in his judgment, is best calculated to produce the most beneficial results for the community – the man of wealth thus becoming the mere trustee and agent for his poorer brethren, bringing to their service his superior wisdom, experience, and ability to administer, (…)” [pp.661-662]
(01:20 – 1:56)
“Those who would administer wisely must, indeed be wise, for one of the serious obstacles to the improvement of our race is indiscriminate charity. It were better for mankind that the millions of the rich were thrown into the sea than so spent as to encourage the slothful, the drunken, the unworthy. (…)” [p. 662]
(01:57 – 02:30)
“In bestowing charity, the main consideration should be to help those who help themselves; to provide part of the means by which those who desire to improve may do so; to give to those who (…) desire to rise the aids by which they may rise; to assist, but rarely or never to do all. (…)” [p. 663]
(02:30 – 02:59)
“He is the only true reformer who is as careful and as anxious not to aid the unworthy as he is to lead the worthy, and, perhaps even more so, for in alms-giving more injury is may be done by promoting vice than by relieving virtue. (…)” [p. 663]
(02:59 – 04:14)
“Thus is the problem of the Rich and Poor to be solved. The laws of accumulation should be left free; the laws of distribution free. Individualism will continue, but the millionaire will be but a trustee for the poor; entrusted for a season with a part of the increased wealth of the community, but administering it for the community far better than it could or would have done of itself. The best in minds will thus have reached a stage in the development of the race in which it is clearly seen that there is no mode of disposing of surplus wealth creditable to thoughtful and earnest men into whose hands it flows save by using it year by year for the general good. This day already dawns. (…)” [pp. 663 - 664]
(04:15 – 05:57)
“Men may die without incurring the pity of their fellows, (…) sharers in great business enterprises from which their capital cannot be or has not been withdrawn, (…) which is left entirely at death for public uses, yet the day is not far distant when the man who dies leaving behind him millions of available wealth, which was free for him to administer during life, will pass away “unwept, unhonored, and unsung,” no matter to what use he leaves the dross which he cannot take with him. Of such as these the public verdict will then be: “The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced. Such, in my opinion is the true gospel concerning Wealth, obedience to which is destined someday to solve the problems of the Rich and the Poor, to hasten the coming brotherhood of man, and at last to make our earth a heaven.” [p. 664]
These passages, read by Andrew Carnegie, are from his essay “Wealth” which is also known as “The Gospel of Wealth” . For this recording, Andrew Carnegie made some minor changes of the text, compared to the printed version of 1889. Spelling and punctuation refer to the printed version.
Read Andrew Carnegie’s famous essay “Wealth” (“The Gospel of Wealth”) in The North American Review Volume 0148 Issue 391 (June 1889). You can switch between the facsimile, text or pdf version:
Andrew Carnegie commissioned Napoleon Hill with writing a Philosophy of Personal Success without compensation. That was in 1908.
Napoleon Hill published the result of Andrew Carnegie’s commission in 1928. It had taken Napoleon Hill 20 years to interview more than 500 healthy people, millionaires and multi-millionaires about the achievement of personal success. The outcome was the book “The Law of Success in Sixteen Lessons”.
Nine years and many interviews, analyses, case studies and steps of perfection later, Napoleon Hill published a book that turned out to become a multi-million world wide super seller. Its title: “Think And Grow Rich”
Wasn’t this an impressive speech by Andrew Carnegie? If you’d like to read an impressive book, get your free copy of “Think And Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill on top right
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“Think And Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill free original copy top right
Napoleon Hill heard what Andrew Carnegie and another 500 millionaires told him about becoming a millionaire. He wrote it all in his book “Think And Grow Rich”. Now you can read it yourself. Get your free copy on the right or see the mindmap.
What did Andrew Carnegie know about becoming a millionaire?
“It is the mind that makes the body rich.”
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
A one-room weaver’s cottage in Dunfermline, Scotland, 25 November 1835. A newborn baby takes its first breath. His name is Andrew Carnegie.
A 100 room cottage in Lenox, Massachusetts, 11 August 1919. One of the richest men in history takes his last breath. His name is Andrew Carnegie, the very same person.
Born in Scotland, grown rich in America, he donated US$ 350,695,653.- (US$ 4.3 billion in 2005 figures) to charity. He founded 23 educational, scientific and cultural organizations, 2,509 Carnegie-Libraries in several countries, universities, schools and museums.
Andrew Carnegie, millionaire and philanthropist on rich and poor, charity, and other issues. Recorded at Edison motion picture film studio, Bronx, NY. 20 January 1914. Record format: Edison Kinetophone cylinder
This Mindmap gives you a quick overview of Andrew Carnegie’s Life and Philosophy. Please click once to enlarge, click again to zoom.
Mindmap on Andrew Carnegie (please click to enlarge)
Andrew Carnegie believed: “It is the mind that makes the body rich. There is no class so pitiably wretched as that which possesses money and nothing else. Money can only be the useful drudge of things immeasurably higher than itself.” And he is also quoted: “The man who dies thus rich, dies disgraced”.
Andrew Carnegie not only wanted to be rich himself. He wanted other people to get rich, too. He was convinced, that there was something existing like the “Formula of Success”. A set of rules easy enough, so that the average person would be capable to apply it.
In 1908 Andrew Carnegie met a young journalist for an interview. His name was Napoleon Hill. Napoleon Hill must have impressed steel-tycoon Andrew Carnegie, because Mr. Carnegie commissioned Napoleon Hill with a task that should finally take him 20 years to perform.
The result was a book: “The Law of Success in Sixteen Lessons”. This book was a concentrate of interviews with more than 500 millionaires and multimillionaires back then. And it finally contained the Formula of Success, Andrew Carnegie had postulated.
Moreover, it was the first publication of a series of 12 book which can considered as a Secret of Success Philosophy. The most successful book in this series is Napoleon Hills 2nd book “Think And Grow Rich”. It sold more than 30 million copies and still sells today.
Andrew Carnegie initiated and contributed to Napoleon Hill’s Philosophy of Success. What he knew to say about getting rich and becoming a millionaire is contained in all of Napoleon Hill’s 12 “money-get-on-make-money-get-rich-like-a-millionaire-books”. By the way: you can have your own free copy of Napoleon Hill’s most successful book “Think And Grow Rich” on top right.
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Andrew Carnegie donated his millions and founded 2,509 Libraries. May I give you a free copy of a book that is inspired by Andrew Carnegie? It’s Napoleon Hill’s 7-decades-longseller “Think And Grow Rich” (top right)
His meeting with Andrew Carnegie changed the life of Napoleon Hill forever. If you head right and get your free copy of his millionaire guide “Think And Grow Rich” it may change your life forever, too. Please retweet this.
In this video Napoleon Hill talks about his meeting with Andrew Carnegie
Napoleon Hill met steel-tycoon Andrew Carnegie, the world’s richest American at that time in 1908. As a young reporter he was, Mr. Hill wanted to interview the rich old Scotsman for “Bob Taylor’s Magazine”.
Andrew Carnegie liked Napoleon Hill’s attitude and made him the offer of a lifetime. He commissioned Napoleon Hill to interview the richest men back then to find a formula of Personal Success and how to get rich.
The steel-magnat and Philanthropist Carnegie believed in an Art of Success, getting rich from one’s own strength, that the average man could apply. He sent Napoleon Hill out to find proof or counter-evidence.
It took Napoleon Hill 20 years of interviews, case-studies, life-analysis and research. After that time he had conducted interviews with more than 500 wealthy individuals. He published “The Law of Success in 16 Lessons” exactly 20 years after his first meeting with Andrew Carnegie. His world-bestseller “Think And Grow Rich” was published 9 years later.
In this video he tells the story and explains the core principles of his Philosophy of Getting Rich.
Looking for a life changing experience? Head top right and get your free copy of Napoleon Hill’s “Think And Grow Rich”, one result of the historical meeting of two extraordinary men – please retweet this.
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