15 Laws Summarized

15 Laws Summarized

1. Definite Purpose
a. Definite Plans: By this term is meant that one must proceed,
toward the attainment of ones Definite Purpose, with plans which
are as definite and as clearly defined and fixed in ones mind as is the
purpose itself. Merely deciding upon a definite purpose and then
waiting for it to materialize through outside effort is not enough. In
other words, one must acquire the habit of doing everything one
does with the aid of plans that are clearly defined. Nothing must be
left to luck or chance. the place to begin developing this habit is
in connection with the small details of ones daily work.
b. Organized Effort: As has already been explained else- where in
this course, the term organized effort means that one must develop
the strategic ability to direct ones efforts in such a manner as to take
advantage of the Law of Increasing returns. This calls for cooperative
ability of the highest order.
c. Proficiency in chosen vocation: By this term is meant that ones
definite purpose in life must be in harmony with ones training and
education. If the definite purpose is out of proportion to ones
ability, then it is obvious that greater ability must be developed
before one can hope to attain the object of that purpose.
2. Self-Confidence
a. Accurate self-analysis: By this term is meant that one must take
accurate inventory of ones ability. It means, also, that accurate
inventory must be taken of temperament, native ability or natural
inclination. In brief, it means that a man must know his own goods
before he can sell them to best advantage.

b. Thoroughness: Briefly, this term means that one must form the
habit of finishing all that one begins
c. Knowledge of self: one must know ones own faults and virtues in
order to guard against the one while developing the other. More
specifically, however, these terms mean that one must understand
ones inherent racial tendencies - those tendencies that are acquired
through both physical and social heredity.
d. Courage: the meaning of this term is obvious. One must possess
the spirit of fearlessness to face opposition of every nature whatsoever, and sufficient combativeness to master the ordinary obstacles
with which one is apt to meet in the struggle for the attainment of any
definite purpose.
3. Initiative and Leadership
a. Tactfulness: Willingness to give and take. Dealing with others in
a manner that harmonizes with their nature. Careful avoidance of
words and deeds that antagonize others.
b. Sound Judgment: Judgment, which is generally known as horse
sense. Judgment that is based upon the problem at hand and not
upon cut and dried rules of procedure. Judgment that grows out of
knowledge of all the facts in connection with the problem at hand.
Judgment that is deliberate and free from bias or prejudice.
c. Self Discipline: It has been truthfully said that no man can direct
others efficiently until he has learned to direct himself. By this term
is meant that one must be free from greed and selfishness and avarice
and egotism.
d. Knowledge of Human Nature: Ability to accurately analyze others
and the courage to see in them that which is there instead of that
which one would wish to see. Many a person goes down to defeat
through misplaced confidence in others for no other reason than that
of seeing in them those qualities that are not there. Every mans own
character is written so all who will may read it, in the expression of

his eyes, the tone of his voice, the posture of his body, the style of his
clothes and the nature of his deeds! There is no established rule for
interpreting human nature through these outward appearances. Each
person must create his own method.
e. Positive Attitude: By this term is meant that pessimism and doubt
and fear and cynicism and procrastination must be eliminated by the
development of their opposites.
f. Firmness of Decision: Decision that is free from vacillation; that is
positive; that admits of but one interpretation as to its meaning.
4. Imagination
a. Optimism: Freedom from cynicism and doubt. Expectation that
investigation will always disclose the best and not the worst. Cheerfulness. The habit of looking for the positive side of all conditions.
b. Analysis and synthesis: the habit of studying a problem from all
conceivable angles. The practice of uncovering the facts and of
studying their relation to one another.
c. Sense of proportions: the habit of comparing facts and coordinating
them into a definite plan in a harmonious, well balanced manner.
d. Observation: the habit of ascertaining the nature of all facts and
conditions connected with or affecting in any way ones plans.
e. Vision: the ability to arrange old ideas or concepts in a definite plan
or a new combination, and to reason both inductively or deductively,
thereby determining in advance the possible effect of a given cause.
f. Deductive and Inductive Reasoning: By the term Deductive reasoning is meant the process of reasoning from the known to the unknown;
the process of arriving at all of the facts of a given problem by studying
the known facts of that problem. Inductive reasoning is reasoning that
is based upon hypotheses or facts that are assumed to exist.

5. Action
a. Sound judgment: (see previous explanation).
b. Determination: the will to exhaust all known ways and means of
attaining the object of ones desires; stick-to-it-iveness.
c. Willingness to work hard: Meaning of this term is obvious. Freedom
from the desire for something for nothing.
d. Unselfish ambition: Ambition that depends, for its realization, upon
merit. Ambition that is not based upon willingness or desire to profit at
anothers expense.
6. Enthusiasm
a. Balance: Mental equilibrium. Keeping within the bounds of reason
and observing natural law and the rights of others.
b. Sound judgment: (see previous explanation).
c. Health: Freedom from annoying symptoms which have no
existence except in the imagination, and, from organic weaknesses.
7. Self-Control
a. Poise: Freedom from nervousness and fear.
b. Adaptation to environment: Ability to cooperate with others
without causing friction or antagonism.
c. Willpower: Determination to transform ones desires into a certain
amount of opposition is a great help to a man.
d. Patience: Mastery of worry and anxiety and nervousness.
e. Coordination of effort: orderliness of procedure, through the aid of
well-perfected plans.

8. Doing More Than Paid For

a. Willingness to serve: unselfish love for service in behalf of others,
based upon knowledge of Law of Compensation.
b. Generosity: Willingness to help others without expectation of direct
monetary compensation; with full understanding that such help
develops a positive character in the one rendering it and is, therefore,
adequate reward within itself.
c. Knowledge of Cause and Effect: this term is self-explanatory. It
means the ability to recognize the fact that there is a cause for every
effect which, in turn, leads to the discovery of the fact that those who
form the habit of doing more than they are paid to do will eventually
be paid for more than they do.
9. Attractive Personality
a. Neatness in personal appearance: the selection of clothes that are
appropriate for ones calling and which harmonize with ones personality and physical appearance.
b. Health: (see previous explanation).
c. Fluency of speech: the ability to speak correctly, with a spirit of
earnestness that carries conviction.
d. Love for humanity: Willingness to share with others their joys and
sorrows; the ability to show and to feel a keen interest in the business,
personal or social problems of others.
e. Tactfulness: (see previous explanation).
10. Accurate Thought
a. Observance of law and evidence: Ability to distinguish between
facts and mere hearsay information.
b. Analysis and synthesis: Ability to organize, classify, and coordinate
facts; the ability to determine the constituent factors of any problems;

the ability to reason inductively and deductively; the ability to

recognize effects by their causes, and causes by their effects.
c. Willingness to recognize facts: Freedom from bias and prejudice;
the desire for truth regardless of the source from which it may come
or the effect of its discovery.
d. Open-mindedness: A mind that is never closed to logic or truth;
that is capable of accepting as a fact a reasonable hypothesis; a mind
that withholds judgment until there is a reasonable foundation upon
which to build judgment.
e. Education general and specialized: the acquired knowledge on
general subjects to give one a reasonably comprehensive understanding of the vital forces of life, such as the subjects of biology, psychology, physiology, physics, botany, astronomy, philosophy and world
history, all of which have a tendency to develop the mind and
provide a background for specialized education. The term specialized education has reference to training which fits one for some
specific vocation or profession. A General education is of far greater
importance as an essential factor in accurate thinking than is a
specialized education. To be an accurate thinker one must be what is
called well read.
11. Concentration
a. Poise: (see previous explanation).
b. Persistence: the willpower to stick to a thing until it has been
mastered and made to harmonize with ones plans; the habit of
finishing all one begins.
c. Meditation: the habit of silently comparing past experiences; the
habit of relaxing the body and allowing the mind to rest in silent
repose, thus permitting the subconscious mind to pass its plans and
the result of its deductions over to the conscious mind in the form of
what is called a hunch.

d. Prayer (or Affirmation): A demand for Divine guidance, based upon

either faith, or, knowledge of the power of creative thought as
described in Lesson ten.
12. Tolerance
a. Open-mindedness: (see previous explanation).
b. Forbearance: Patience with those whose viewpoints do not harmonize with ones own.
c. Sense of justice: this term is self-explanatory.
d. Sympathy: this term is self-explanatory.
e. Thirst for truth: the desire for truth regardless of the form in which it
may be found or the effect it may have upon ones own personal
interests or viewpoints.
13. Failure
a. Retrospective analysis: the habit of studying and comparing past
experiences after the expiration of a long period of time.
b. Introspective analysis: the habit of studying ones own changing and
varying moods with the object of ascertaining the psychological cause
of these changes and variations.
c. Comparison of men and events: the habit of studying cause and effect
as disclosed by the acts and experiences of others.
d. Trained memory: Memory that preserves every fragment of fact of an
evidential nature that may enable one to learn from past experiences.
e. Knowledge of evolutionary process: understanding of the law of
growth through the aid of which strength and power grow out of
resistance.

f. Knowledge of cause and effect: this term is self-explanatory. The

habit of arriving at causes by analyzing their effects, and vice versa.
14. Cooperation
a. Willingness to do team work: the meaning of this term is obvious.
There can be no cooperation between persons without teamwork.
b. Knowledge of natural laws: the ability to discern the fact that all
animal and vegetable growth is the result of cooperation between the
laws of nature, and the intelligence to learn from this fact that persons
may profit individually by cooperative effort.
c. Adaptation to environment: (see previous explanation).
d. Knowledge of economics: this term is self-explanatory. When one
understands economic philosophy, it becomes evident that cooperative effort brings advantages to all who participate in it.
15. The Golden Rule
a. Honesty: this term is self-explanatory.
b. Love for humanity: (see previous explanation).
c. Willingness to forgive: Freedom from the spirit of vengeance.
d. Knowledge of Natural Laws (see previous explanation).
e. Recognition of interdependency of men: By this term is meant that
the existing system of social integration renders all men dependent
upon one another; that absolute independence is not only impossible
of realization, but inconsistent with the best interests of mankind.
From this fact, the conclusion may be readily drawn that it is expedient
to apply the Golden rule in all of our transactions with our fellowmen.
Recognition of the inter- dependency of men leads to recognition of
the soundness of the Golden rule and of the advantages accruing to all
who make it the basis of their relationships with others.