Self Help; with Illustrations of Conduct and Perseverance

Name: Self Help; with Illustrations of Conduct and Perseverance
Author: Samuel Smiles

By Samuel Smiles

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

Philosophy & Ethics

About This Book

The work presents a series of didactic essays and anecdotal sketches urging young readers to cultivate industry, perseverance, and moral character through self-reliance and patient effort. It combines biographical examples of inventors, engineers, artists, educators, and reformers with practical reflections on overcoming failure, the value of mutual aid, and the responsibilities of labor and study. Emphasis falls on disciplined application, personal improvement, and public service, arguing that character and sustained effort, rather than patronage or luck, produce meaningful achievement.

About the Author

Samuel Smiles

Samuel Smiles was a Scottish author and social reformer, best known for his influential work "Self Help," which emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and perseverance. Born in 1812, Smiles wrote extensively on the lives of notable figures in industry and engineering, contributing significantly to the literature of the Victorian era. His biographies, such as "Lives of Boulton and Watt" and "The Life of George Stephenson," highlight the achievements of inventors and industrialists, reflecting his interest in the progress of technology and society. Smiles' writings continue to inspire readers with their themes of self-improvement and industriousness.