# Persevere explained — The Art of Money Getting

> Chapter companion for The Art of Money Getting by P. T. Barnum.

## What happens

This chapter emphasizes the necessity of perseverance and self-reliance in achieving success. It warns against laziness, hesitation, and borrowing trouble, and uses examples from generals and proverbs to illustrate that unwavering determination and faith in oneself are crucial to overcoming obstacles and reaching one's goals.

## Themes in this chapter

### Perseverance and Self-Reliance

The entire chapter is a treatise on the necessity of perseverance and self-reliance, arguing that these qualities can be cultivated and are essential for success.

## Character check-ins

### Solomon

Quoted for the proverb: 'He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.'

## Key lines

> It is this go-aheaditiveness, this determination not to let the 'horrors' or the 'blues' take possession of you, so as to make you relax your energies in the struggle for independence, which you must cultivate.

You must cultivate a forward-driving determination that prevents despair or discouragement from sapping your energy in the fight for self-sufficiency.

_Highlights the core message of cultivating perseverance against emotional setbacks._

> If you hesitate, some bolder hand will stretch out before you and get the prize.

If you delay, someone more daring will seize the opportunity before you do.

_Emphasizes the competitive urgency of decisive action._

> Until you can get so that you can rely upon yourself, you need not expect to succeed.

You cannot expect to achieve success until you learn to depend on your own abilities.

_Directly ties self-reliance to the possibility of success._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_art_of_money_getting_se/chapters/persevere
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_art_of_money_getting_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_art_of_money_getting_se/chapters