James matthew allen biography

Loosely based on the biblical proverb, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he," the small work eventually became read around the world and brought Allen posthumous fame as one of the pioneering figures of modern inspirational thought. Early life and education: James Allen was born in Leicester, England, in 1864.

In 1902, Allen began to publish his own spiritual magazine, The Light of Reason, later retitled The Epoch.

In 1903, Allen published his third and most famous book As a Man Thinketh. It is a short book exploring the power of thought and how it can create success and happiness. He was the youngest of four children, and his father was a shoemaker.

He is also the author of several other books, including The Path of Prosperity, The Mastery of Destiny, and From Poverty to Power. In 1903, the Allen family retired to the town of Ilfracombe where Allen would spend the rest of his life. In 1879, following a downturn in the textile trade of central England, Allen's father traveled alone to America to find work and establish a new home for the family.

Within two days of arriving his father was pronounced dead at New York City Hospital, believed to be a case of robbery and murder. It has been a source of inspiration to motivational and self-help authors.

Famous Quotes:

• Let there be nothing within thee that is not very beautiful and very gentle, and there will be nothing without thee that is not beautiful and softened by the spell of thy presence.
• You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration.
• In all human affairs there are efforts, and there are results, and the strength of effort is the measure of the results.
• He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.
• If you real desire is to be good, there is no need to wait for the money before you do it; you can do it now, this very moment, and just where you are.
• Work joyfully and peacefully, knowing that right thoughts and right efforts will inevitably bring about right results.
• Mind is the Master--power that molds and makes, and Man is Mind, and ever more he takes the Tool of Thought, and shaping what he wills, brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills--He thinks in secret and it comes to pass; Environment is but his looking-glass.
• Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound.
• Whether you be man or woman you will never do anything in this world without courage.

  At age fifteen, with the family now facing economic disaster, Allen was forced to leave school and find work.

  For much of the 1890s, Allen worked as a private secretary and stationer in several British manufacturing firms. Continuing to publish the Epoch, Allen produced more than one book per year until his death in 1912. Sow a habit and you reap a character.

  It has been a source of inspiration to motivational and self-help authors.

  Born in Leicester, England, into a working class family, Allen was the eldest of two brothers. His mother could neither read nor write while his father, William, was a factory knitter.