Fundamentals of Prosperity: What They Are and Whence They ComeBabson, Roger Ward
Philosophy
Fundamentals of Prosperity: What They Are and Whence They Come
Babson, Roger Ward
Business; Success
The line X-Y represents the country's net gain or growth. Based on the
economic theory that "action and reaction are equal when the two factors
of time and intensity are multiplied to form an area," the sums of the
areas above and below said line X-Y must, over sufficiently long periods
of time, be equal, provided enough subjects are included, properly
weighed and combined. An area of prosperity is always followed by an
area of depression; an area of depression in turn is always followed by
an area of prosperity. The areas, however, need not have the same
shapes.
It will be seen that each area is divided into halves by a narrow white
line. This is to emphasize the fact that the first halves of areas below
the X-Y line are really reactions from the extravagance, inefficiency
and corruption which existed during the latter half of the preceding
"prosperity" area. Contrariwise, the first halves of areas above the X-Y
line are really reactions from the economy, industry and righteousness
developed during the hard times just preceding. The high points of the
stock market have come in the early part of the prosperity areas and the
low points have come about the beginning of the depression areas. In
1914 the war held down prices of all securities. The highest prices of
bonds have usually come about the end of the depression areas and high
money rates, and lowest bond prices at about the end of the prosperity
areas.
But what causes these fluctuations in business and prices? Statistics
show that panics are caused by spiritual causes, rather than financial,
and that prosperity is the result of righteousness rather than of
material things. Hence, the importance to industry and commerce of the
forces already mentioned. These spiritual forces are the true
fundamentals of prosperity. This in turn leads us to consider from where
they come and upon what we are to depend for their further development.
The following pages will give the answer.
* * * * *
What are the sources of these fundamentals of prosperity? Where do we
get this faith, integrity, industry, cooeperation and interest in the
soul of man upon which civilization is based?
As already explained, we do not get it from the raw materials. We have
always had the raw materials. We do not get it from education. From a
statistical point of view Germany is the best educated country in the
world. It has the least illiteracy. It has the largest percentage of
scientific culture. No, these three fundamentals do not come from
education. They do not come from the inheritance of property. I
mentioned in the preceding pages the investigation we made of leading
captains of industry in America, the men who head the various greatest
industries in this country. Out of this group of men, only ten per cent.
inherited their business, while only fifteen per cent. received special
education. This shows that the source of these qualities is from
something more than wealth or education.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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