Man is always the master, even in his weaker and most abandoned state; but in his weakness and degradation he is the foolish master who misgoverns his “household.” When he begins to reflect upon his condition, and to search diligently for the law upon which his being is established, he then becomes the wise master, directing his energies with intelligence, and fashioning his thoughts to fruitful issues. Such is the conscious master, and man can only thus become by discovering within himself the laws of thought; which discovery is totally a matter of application, self analysis, and experience.
Only by much searching and mining, are gold and diamonds obtained, and man can find every truth connected with his being, if he will dig deep into the mine of his soul; and that he is the maker of his character, the molder of his life, and the builder of his destiny, he may unerringly prove, if he will watch, control, and alter his thoughts, tracing their effects upon himself, upon others, and upon his life and circumstances, linking cause and effect by patient practice and investigation, and utilizing his every experience, even to the most trivial, everyday occurrence, as a means of obtaining that knowledge of himself which is understanding, wisdom, power. In this direction, as in no other, is the law absolute that “He that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened”; for only by patience, practice, and ceaseless importunity can a man enter the door of the temple of knowledge.
谚语说：“一个用心思考的人，才是真正的自我。”它不但阐述了一个人生存的全部意义，也涵盖了他一生中触及的所有条件和环境。换言之，一个人因思想而生存，他的性格就是他全部思维的总和。
如同植物从种子里萌发一样，植物的存在离不开种子；人也是相同的道理，内心潜在的思想种子促使人产生每一个行为，行为依赖思想而存在。这一点不仅适用于那些主观行为，同时也能解释那些“下意识的”和“无意识的”行为。
思想孕育了行为的花朵，并结出了欢乐和痛苦的果实；由此可知，一个人通过自己的培育，才能收获甜蜜与苦涩的果实。
“头脑中的思想造就了我们，并促使我们去劳动和建设。假如一个人心怀邪念，那么痛苦就会随之而来，如同老牛身后不离不弃的车轮一般……如果一个人心地纯洁高尚，那么快乐也必将如影随形地追随着他。”
人类的成长是依照规律，而不是技巧。同现实世界一样，在无形的思维领域里，因与果也是绝对的、毫无偏差的。恩赐或机遇并不能赋予高贵、圣洁的品格，而必须经历不断的正确思考、持久不懈的期待神圣思想的自然过程；长期怀有卑劣思想的人，经历类似的过程后，就会形成低贱、残忍的性格。
人是由自己创造或毁灭的。在思想的军械库里，他制造了毁灭自我的武器，也塑造了另一种工具。这种工具可以为他带来天堂般的家园，那里满是欢乐、力量与和平。凭借正确的选择和诚实的思考，人就会向着神圣的完美境界前进；可胡乱的选择和错误的思考，会使人沦落到禽兽不如。在两者之间，充实着不同层次的品格，而人既是创造者又是主宰者。
在与那些重新照亮这个时代的灵魂相关的一切美好事实中，比其他一切更令人兴奋、更能使人充满期待与信心的就是——人是思想的主人，是性格的塑造者，同时造就了形势、环境和命运。
人拥有力量、智慧和爱，能够自我主宰思想，并拥有掌控各种境遇的权利，其自身还可以转变和重塑，因此他能够成为自己所意愿的任何形象。
人是永恒的主宰者，就算在最虚弱、最孤独的时候也不例外；可这个时候，他会成为一个愚蠢的主人，不能合理地管理“家业”。 然而，当他开始反省自己的处境，并坚持搜寻他赖以生存的法则时，他就会成为一个聪明的主宰者，用智慧来支配自己的精力，使自己的思想变得更加活跃、向上。这么做才是聪明的主人，并且只有在找到自身思想的法则后，人才能成为这样的主人；这种发现正是通过实践、自我分析和经验的累积而得到的。
唯有通过大量的探寻和挖掘，才能得到金子和钻石。假如一个人向自己灵魂之矿的深处挖掘，那么他就能了解到与自己的存在息息相关的所有真理。他会知道自己是性格的创造者，生命的缔造者，也是自己命运的建造者。如果他想去观察、控制、转变自己的思想，追寻自己的思想对自己、对他人以及对自己的生活和环境的影响，并耐心地实践和研究，把因与果结合起来，为了获得理解、智慧和权力等学问，运用自己的每一次经历——即使是最不足称道的、日常小事，这样他就能得到证实。只有在这个方向的指引下前进，而非其他，才能获得绝对的真理——“敢于探寻的人才会有所发现，勇于叩响真理大门的人才能进入”。因为唯有通过耐心、实践和不懈的追求，一个人才能走进真理圣殿的大门。
1. As the plant springs_________, and could not be without the seed, so_________act of a man springs from the hidden seeds of thought, and_________not have appeared without them. This applies equally to _________acts called “spontaneous” and “unpremeditated”_________to those, which are deliberately executed.
2. As a being of _________ , intelligence, and love, and the lord of his _________thoughts, man holds the key to every situation, and contains_________himself that transforming and regenerative agency by which he _________make himself what he wills.
1. 换言之，一个人因思想而生存，他的性格就是他全部思维的总和。
2. 人类的成长是依照规律，而不是技巧。
3. 唯有通过大量的探寻和挖掘，才能得到金子和钻石。
