The Richest Man in Babylon

The Richest Man in Babylon

By George S. Clason, 1934

Once in ancient city of Babylon there lived a man called Arkad. He was very kind and donates a lot of money to poor. He wears costly dress, eat sumptuous food and drinks rarest wine. He spends a lot but his earnings continued to grow. He was the richest man in Babylon, he was so rich that the king himself took financial help from him for his kingdom.

One day his childhood friends came to him and asked him “Arkad, you are very lucky. You are the richest man in Babylon, but we are barely able to survive. You wear finest clothes and eat delicious food too, but sometimes we are not able to fulfill our family hunger neither we can provide them better clothing, if we could provide any of this thing to them then we will be the luckiest men in the world. But as far as we remember we were all of same kind in our childhood. We learned from same teacher, we played the same game together. You were not better than us neither you had any special skills. For long time your life was also same like us. As far as we know you haven’t done hard labour than us,but why your fate pleased only you and ignored all of us, while we remain just the same kind. Kindly tell us Arkad how can we become wealthy like you?”

After listening to them Arkad replied, “If you are facing money problem then it is the only reason that you didn’t know the principle of making wealth or you have forgotten the law howto create wealth. Don’t be hopeless my dear friends I will tell you my success story and soon you also will be wealthy like me.”

Arkad took a deep breath and started his story, “Yes my dear friends you were right, few year ago I was also like you, I worked hard but at the end of the day I left with nothing in the hand. The story started when I was very young and I saw many good things around me that could give me pleasure and satisfaction in my life and for this, wealth is very important. Wealth has many powers. If you are wealthy, many things are possible, you can decorate your houses, buy many precious things, you can sail the distant seas, you can afford delicious food, precious clothing and expensive diamonds and gems. You can do many things which your senses can enjoy. And when I realized all this, I decided to myself that I would claim my share of the good things from life. I would not be one of those who stand afar off enviously watching others enjoy.”

“As you know that I got a job to write on clay tablets in Babylon record room. One day moneylender Alga-mish came to me and he asked me to give the copy of ninth law. He told that if I would finish this job in two days then he would give me extra two copper coins. I worked hard, but the law was very long and my work didn’t finish at the given time when he returned. He got very angry and shoutedat me and said if I was his slave he would rip of my skin from the body. Regardless of his anger I asked him ‘Alga-mish, you are very rich, kindly tell me how canI become rich like you. If you promise me then I would finish your work by tomorrow morning and I would not charge you any amount for this.’ He smiled at my bold behaviour and told meto finish the work and tomorrow he will tell me the secret of becoming rich. I worked whole night without caring of my back pain and the bad odour of the lamp and I finished the work before his advent. I asked him ‘Alga-mish I have completed your work now it’s your turn to fulfill your promise.’ Alga-mish told Arkad listen carefully, ‘I found the road to wealth when I decided that Iwould pay myself one part of my earning, and I request you also to do the same.’ He looked at me without any words ‘Is that all?’ I asked. ‘That was sufficient to change the heart of the sheep herder to money lender’ he replied. ‘But I kept all the money that I earn, is it not?’ He replied ‘no absolutely not. Do you not pay your tailor for his work? Do you not pay cobbler? Do you not spend on food? Can you live without spending in Babylon? Where is your last month savings? Where is your last year savings? Idiot! You pay to everybody but not to yourself. You did not work for yourself you work for others. If you keep your earnings tenth part, then how much money will you save in ten years?’ My calculations were good I replied ‘It would be equal tomy one year earning.’ He said ‘You might be thinking that your whole night work has ruined but believe me Arkad I am paying you thousand times than your work, indeed you have to understand the hidden truth behind my saying.  You have to save one part of your earnings for yourself instead of thinking how less your earning is, and drive your home with the remaining earnings. Don’t buy unnecessary things and also you have to invest your savings somewhere else so that it can make you some extra wealth. Remember just like the tree the wealth also starts growing from a small seed. The first coin you save is your seed which in future will turn to a big tree. The sooner you plant the seed the sooner shall the tree will grow. And the more faithfully you nurture and water that tree with consistent savings, the sooner you may be able to rest under its shade.’ So after saying he took his tablet and went away.

I thought much about what he had said to me, and it seems reasonable. So I decided that I would try it. Each time I was paid I took one from each ten pieces of copper and hid it away. And strange as it may seems, I was no shorter of funds than before. I noticed little difference but I managed to get along without it. After an year Alga-mish visited Babylon and asked me ‘Son, have you paid to yourself not less than one tenth of all you have earned for the past year?’ I answered proudly ‘Yes master, I have.’ Again he asked ‘What did you have done with your savings?’ I replied that I have given it to Azmur, the brick maker, who told me he was travelling over far seas and in Tyre he would buy me the rare jewels of the Phoenicians. When he returns we shall sell these at high prices and divide the earnings.’

He suddenly reacted ‘How fool you are Arkad how can you believe a brick maker has better understanding about gems and jewels. Would you go to the bread master and enquire about the stars? No, you would go to an astrologer if you have a bit of sense. Your savings are gone, young man; you have uprooted your wealth tree which has just started to grow due to your foolishness. Now forget about it and start saving again and next time if you want advice about jewels then go to the jewel merchant.’ Alga-mish was right the Phoenicians gem sold to Azmur worthless bit of glass, but as Alga-mish had bid me, I again started to save from my earnings.”

“Again twelve months later Alga-mish came to the room of scribes and addressed me. ‘What progress have you made since last I saw you?’ This time I have purchased the bronze and gave to Aggar, the shield maker and every quarter month he pays me rentals.’ I replied. ‘That is good and what did you do with the rental?’ I replied ‘I do have a great feast with honey and fine wine and spiced cake. Also I have brought an expensive jacket and soon I am going to buy a young ass for the ride.’

Alga-mish laughed at me and said, ‘You are eating the children of your savings, then how can you expect them to work for you? And how can they have children that will also work for you? First you have to make an army of golden slaves then many rich banquet you can enjoy without any regret.’ So after saying,this he went away.

After this meeting I saw him after two years. He had got wrinkles on his face due to his old age and his shoulder also bowed. He asked me, ‘Arkad, did you get that wealth whom you dreamed about?’ I replied ‘not that much, that I want but yes, now I know the way to make wealth.’ ‘And do you still take suggestions from the brick maker?’ ‘No, but he gives me good advice about the bricks.’ After listening to me he said, ‘Arkad, now you had learned how to make wealth, and most importantly how to utilize it. And so you are able to take charge of responsibility. My sons do lot of spending and they never think about earning. My assets is wide spread and I cannot handle it, because I have grown old. If you go to Nipper and handle my property then I would make you my partner.’ I agreed to his proposal and now you can see where I have reached.”

After listening to Arkad’s whole story his friends said, “Your story is very inspiring and challenging my dear friend, and we will also follow the same path that you have followed.”

FIVE LAWS OF GOLD

1. Gold come gladly and in increasing quantity to any man who will put by not less than one-tenth of his earnings to create an estate for his future.
2. Gold labored diligently and pleasurably for the wise owner who finds for it profitable employment, multiplying even as the flocks of the field.
3. Gold cling to the protection of the cautious owner who invests it under the advice of men who are wise in its handling.
4. Gold slipped away from the man who invests it in businesses or purposes with which he is not familiar or which are not approved by those skilled in its keeping.
5. Gold flees from the man who forces it to impossible earnings or who followed the tempting advice of tricksters and schemers or who trusts it to his own inexperience and romantic desires in investment.