ine weeks. i have lived as an onion plant. it has not pleased me. now i wouldst become the greatest of olive trees and, in truth, the greatest of salesman.
and how will this be accomplished？ for i have neither the knowledge nor the experience to achieve the greatness and already i have stumbled in ignorance and fallen into pools of self-pity. the answer is simple. i will commence my journey unencumbered with either the weight of unnecessary knowledge or the handicap of meaningless experience. nature already has supplied me with knowledge and instinct far greater than any beast in the forest and the value of experience is overrated, usually by old men who nod wisely and speak stupidly.
in truth, experience teaches thoroughly yet her course of instruction devours men's years so the value of her lessons diminishes with the time necessary to acquire her special wisdom. the end finds it wasted on dead men. furthermore, experience is comparable to fashion； an action that proved successful today will be unworkable and impractical tomorrow.
only principles endure and these i now possess, for the laws that will lead me to greatness are contained in the words of these scrolls. what they will teach me is more to prevent failure than to gain success, for what is success other than a state of mind？ which two, among a thouand wise men, will define success in the same words； yet failure is always described but one way. failure is man's inability to reach his goals in life, whatever they may be.
in truth, the only difference between those who have failed and those who have successed lies in the difference of their habits. good habits are the key to all success. bad habits are the unlocked door to failure. thus, the first law i will obey, which precedeth all others is &m