Barnum explicitly argues that Luck does not exist. Finding gold purses in the street day after day is impossible; success and failure follow from proper methods and causes, not chance. Like causes produce like effects—if a man adopts proper methods, luck will not prevent him from succeeding. If he fails, reasons exist though perhaps undiscovered, explaining the failure through causation rather than accident. Luck is a false explanation used by those unwilling to examine actual causes of success or failure.
Referenced by
- Caution and boldness both necessary
- Focused effort beats scattered powers
- Luck does not exist
- Personal capacity, vocational fit, and relentless effort are the engine of wealth creation
- Poor boys rise more reliably than rich boys
- Practical skill prevents destitution
- Speculation outside expertise destroys wealth
- Sustained focused effort and perseverance produce wealth, not luck
- Wealth without earned understanding corrupts character
- Wholesale effort and thoroughness trump half measures
- Wholesale effort trumps half measures
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