Self-Help - With Illustrations of Conduct and Perseverance - Samuel Smiles

Jul 31, 2026

A revised edition of Samuel Smiles’ Self-Help presents lessons in personal effort, character, and perseverance through varied anecdotal portraits. It clarifies that the book is not an endorsement of selfishness, but a call to diligent self-application that ultimately strengthens one’s responsibility to help others. The narrative addresses the value of failure as discipline for the true worker—sparking renewed efforts, self-culture, self-control, and growth in knowledge and wisdom—while emphasizing that worthy aims, patience, and courage matter more than outcomes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLifestyle

FormatPDF

Pages366

Reading Time9 h 24 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

Introduction To The First Edition

Chapter 1. Self-Help—National And Individual

Chapter 2. Leaders Of Industry—Inventors And Producers

Chapter 3. Three Great Potters—Palissy, Böttgher, Wedgwood

Chapter 4. Application And Perseverance

Chapter 5. Helps And Opportunities—Scientific Pursuits

Chapter 6. Workers In Art

Chapter 7. Industry And The Peerage

Chapter 8. Energy And Courage

Chapter 9. Men Of Business

Chapter 10. Money—Its Use And Abuse

Chapter 11. Self-Culture—Facilities And Difficulties

Chapter 12. Example—Models

Chapter 13. Character—The True Gentleman

SELF-HELP WITH ILLUSTRATIONS OF CONDUCT AND PERSEVERANCE BY SAMUEL SMILES 1859 [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) Self-Help By Samuel Smiles. This edition was created and published by Global Grey ©GlobalGrey 2019 Get more free ebooks at [globalgreyebooks.com](globalgreyebooks.com) [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) CONTENTS Preface Introduction To The First Edition Chapter 1. Self-Help—National And Individual Chapter 2. Leaders Of Industry—Inventors And Producers Chapter 3. Three Great Potters—Palissy, Böttgher, Wedgwood Chapter 4. Application And Perseverance Chapter 5. Helps And Opportunities—Scientific Pursuits Chapter 6. Workers In Art Chapter 7. Industry And The Peerage Chapter 8. Energy And Courage Chapter 9. Men Of Business Chapter 10. Money—Its Use And Abuse Chapter 11. Self-Culture—Facilities And Difficulties Chapter 12. Example—Models Chapter 13. Character—The True Gentleman [OceanofPDF.com](OceanofPDF.com) PREFACE This is a revised edition of a book which has already been received with considerable favour at home and abroad. It has been reprinted in various forms in America; translations have appeared in Dutch and French, and others are about to appear in German and Danish. The book has, doubtless, proved attractive to readers in different countries by reason of the variety of anecdotal illustrations of life and character which it contains, and the interest which all more or less feel in the labours, the trials, the struggles, and the achievements of others. No one can be better aware than the author, of its fragmentary character, arising from the manner in which it was for the most part originally composed,—having been put together principally from jottings made during many years,—intended as readings for young men, and without any view to publication. The appearance of this edition has furnished an opportunity for pruning the volume of some superfluous matter, and introducing various new illustrations, which will probably be found of general interest. In one respect the title of the book, which it is now too late to alter, has proved unfortunate, as it has led some, who have judged it merely by the title, to suppose that it consists of a eulogy of selfishness: the very opposite of what it really is,—or at least of what the author intended it to be. Although its chief object unquestionably is to stimulate youths to apply themselves diligently to right pursuits,—sparing neither labour, pains, nor self-denial in prosecuting them,—and to rely upon their own efforts in life, rather than depend upon the help or patronage of others, it will also be found, from the examples given of literary and scientific men, artists, inventors, educators, philanthropists, missionaries, and martyrs, that the duty of helping one’s self in the highest sense involves the helping of one’s neighbours. It has also been objected to the book that too much notice is taken in it of men who have succeeded in life by helping themselves, and too little of the multitude of men who have failed. “Why should not Failure,” it has been asked,“have its Plutarch as well as Success?” There is, indeed, no reason why Failure should not have its Plutarch, except that a record of mere failure would probably be found excessively depressing as well asuninstructive reading. It is, however, shown in the following pages that Failure is the best discipline of the true worker, by stimulating him to renewed efforts, evoking his best powers, and carrying him onward in selfculture, self-control, and growth in knowledge and wisdom. Viewed in this light, Failure, conquered by Perseverance, is always full of interest and instruction, and this we have endeavoured to illustrate by many examples. As for Failure per se, although it may be well to find consolations for it atthe close of life, there is reason to doubt whether it is an object that ought tobe set before youth at the beginning of it. Indeed,“how not to do it” is o

FAQs

What is the purpose of Self-Help in this revised edition?

The book aims to encourage youth to pursue right goals with diligence, labour, patience, and self-denial, relying on their own efforts rather than patronage. It also teaches that helping oneself in a higher sense includes helping one’s neighbours.

Why does the author address objections about the book’s title?

Some readers misread the title as praising selfishness. The author states the opposite: the chief goal is to stimulate youths to apply themselves diligently and develop character.

How does the book treat failure?

Failure is presented as the best discipline for the true worker because it renews effort and promotes self-culture, self-control, and growth in wisdom. It argues that records of mere failure may be depressing, but failure conquered by perseverance offers instruction.

Jul 31, 2026

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