Acres of Diamonds Summary – Russell H. Conwell

Acres of Diamonds (1892)

by Russell H. Conwell

Paperback | Ebook | Audiobook | Gutenberg

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Acres of Diamonds Summary

Acres of Diamonds is a transcription of a short (15k-word, 60-min-read), inspirational speech delivered more than 6,000 times, all over the world, by Russell Conwell during his lifetime.

This last paragraph from Conwell’s speech captures the essence of his two most important ideas – that the means and opportunities for great success, wealth and happiness can be found right in front of you – in your own community – and that the grass is always greener where you water it.

“Greatness consists not in the holding of some future office, but really consists in doing great deeds with little means and the accomplishment of vast purposes from the private ranks of life. To be great at all one must be great here, now, in Philadelphia. He who can give to this city better streets and better sidewalks, better schools and more colleges, more happiness and more civilization, more of God, he will be great anywhere.

Let every man or woman here, if you never hear me again, remember this, that if you wish to be great at all, you must begin where you are and what you are, in Philadelphia, now. He that can give to his city any blessing, he who can be a good citizen while he lives here, he that can make better homes, he that can be a blessing whether he works in the shop or sits behind the counter or keeps house, whatever be his life, he who would be great anywhere must first be great in his own Philadelphia.”

Note: Conwell travelled from town to town delivering the same lecture. This version comes from a delivery in Philadelphia so simply substitute the name of YOUR hometown where applicable for greatest effect.

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