minds on their weaknesses or their
shortcomings.

If they read of some one doing a great thing or making a worth-while
accomplishment they say, "I never could do such a thing."

These persons are always saying, "I never have luck. I can't do this. I
can't do that."

Always knocking, always thinking can't instead of can, will make fear,
irresoluteness, uncertainty and weakness of character.

Saying "I can't, I haven't the ability, I am unlucky" and such like
makes you weak and knocks out all chance for doing things.

Nothing comes out of the brain that wasn't burned in by thought. If you
accuse yourself, belittle your capacity, or drown your good impulses
with doubt and self-accusation, you are putting away a lot of bad
thought in your brain and no wonder you will lack in initiative,
ambition and courage.

To those who claim to be unlucky I want to say you are not unlucky, you
simply lack pluck.

You start at undertakings with a handicap of fear, and a made-up mind
you can't accomplish. No one ever got anywhere with anything with such a
millstone around his neck.

Many a man has been whipped in a fight, defeated in a contest, or beaten
at an undertaking, but he didn't show it or let the other fellow know
it; he just kept on with a brave front and finally the other fellow
quit, mistaking grim determination, pluck and perseverance for strength
and victory.

Ethan Allen with his handful of men was asked to surrender by the
British general with his superior force. By all rights and rules of war
Ethan was licked, but he didn't give in. He replied, "Surrender h--ll;
I've just commenced to fight." If Ethan had accused himself and said, "I
can't whip that big bunch, there's no hope," he would have been whipped
to a finish.

Don't show the enemy, or the world, your weakness. Don't admit anything
impossible that is capable of accomplishment.

It's the "I can" man who wins. No man ever won a fight if he started out
by saying, "I can't whip him, he is too much for me, I am no match for
him, but I'll try."

No person ever made success in business if he started in with
uncertainty, lack of confidence and unbelief in his ability.

Knock yourself and the world will accept you at your own estimate. Show
streaks of yellow cowardice and the mob will pounce on you like a pack
of hungry wolves.

Accuse yourself, curse your luck, belittle your worth, be afraid, and
you will remain a mere bump on a log, unnoticed, uninteres