Other editions of book Acres of Diamonds

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In "Acres of Diamonds," Russell Conwell shows success is a spiritual idea--the result of spiritual principles. Though not a "get rich guide," Conwell's book shows how to find a fortune-if you know where to look. There are as many opportunities for success today as in Conwell's time, if not more so, because they are found first and foremost in one's own conscience. Through his ministry and philosophy that "all good things are possible," Conwell opened the doors of opportunity for untold millions. "Acres of Diamonds" echoes his core belief-that each of us is placed here on earth for the primary purpose of helping others. Conwell was a minister, the founder of Temple University, and two hospitals where no one was ever turned away for lack of money. He was also a famous lecturer. In his lecture, the story is told of a man who sells his farm to travel far and wide in search of diamonds. There is a moral to the story in "Acres of Diamonds," a story which Conwell presented as a lecture more than 6,000 and to untold numbers of people.

In "Acres of Diamonds," Russell Conwell shows success is a spiritual idea--the result of spiritual principles. Though not a "get rich guide," Conwell's book shows how to find a fortune-if you know where to look. There are as many opportunities for success today as in Conwell's time, if not more so, because they are found first and foremost in one's own conscience. Through his ministry and philosophy that "all good things are possible," Conwell opened the doors of opportunity for untold millions. "Acres of Diamonds" echoes his core belief-that each of us is placed here on earth for the primary purpose of helping others. Conwell was a minister, the founder of Temple University, and two hospitals where no one was ever turned away for lack of money. He was also a famous lecturer. In his lecture, the story is told of a man who sells his farm to travel far and wide in search of diamonds. There is a moral to the story in "Acres of Diamonds," a story which Conwell presented as a lecture more than 6,000 and to untold numbers of people.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The original inspiration for "Acres of Diamonds", Conwell's most famous essay, occurred in 1869 when Conwell was traveling in the Middle East. The work began as a speech, "at first given," wrote Conwell in 1913, "before a reunion of my old comrades of the Forty-sixth Massachusetts Regiment, which served in the Civil War and in which I was captain."[8] It was delivered as a lecture on the Chautauqua circuit prior to his becoming pastor of the Grace Baptist Church in Philadelphia in 1882[9] and was first published in book form in 1890 by the John Y. Huber Company of Philadelphia.[10] Before his death in 1925, Conwell would deliver it over 6,152 times around the world.[10] The central idea of the work is that one need not look elsewhere for opportunity, achievement, or fortune; the resources to achieve all good things are present in one's own community. This theme is developed by an introductory anecdote, credited by Conwell to an Arab guide, about a man who wanted to find diamonds so badly that he sold his property and went off in futile search for them. The new owner of his home discovered that a rich diamond mine was located right there on the property. Conwell elaborates on the theme through examples of success, genius, service, or other virtues involving ordinary Americans contemporary to his audience: "dig in your own backyard!"

Russell Conwell, in full Russell Herman Conwell, (born February 15, 1843, South Worthington, Massachusetts, U.S.—died December 6, 1925, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), American lawyer, author, clergyman, and educator whose lecture “Acres of Diamonds,” which expressed his formula for success, brought him fame and wealth on the Chautauqua circuit.In 1862 Conwell began law study at Yale but left a few weeks later to raise a company for service in the American Civil War, in which he was awarded the rank of captain. Admitted to the bar in 1865 (after graduating from Albany Law School, Albany, New York), he practiced law in Minneapolis and Boston. In 1867 he was editor in chief of the Minneapolis Daily Chronicle, and he was co-owner of the Somerville (Massachusetts) Journal.Conwell was ordained a minister in 1881 and in 1882 was called to Grace Baptist Church in Philadelphia, a small congregation struggling with debt. The church prospered under his leadership, moving eventually to the much larger Baptist Temple. Conwell founded Temple University in 1884 as a series of night study courses for ministerial students; the school received a college charter in 1888 and became a university in 1907, with Conwell as its first president (from 1887).Conwell delivered his lecture “Acres of Diamonds” no fewer than 6,000 times. The theme of the lecture was that opportunity lurks in everyone’s backyard. Everyone, Conwell believed, can and ought to get rich and then use that money for the good of others. “Keep clean, fight hard, pick your openings judiciously, and have your eyes forever fixed on the heights toward which you are headed” was his simple formula for success and the central emphasis of his preaching. (britannica.com)