Comments on: Manvotional: Self-Made Men by Frederick Douglass

By: Conor

Conor — Thu, 16 May 2013 09:32:50 +0000

“You don’t get lucky, you create lucky.”
- Rob Sharma

“Chance favors the prepared.”
- Louis Pasteur

By: Jon

Jon — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:34:34 +0000

Probability and luck are completely different. If it is probable for an individual to be successful at x, then success at x cannot be obtained through luck or chance but only through work and the application of the proper methods.

By: Rogue One

Rogue One — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 18:36:57 +0000

Douglass was and is such an inspiration. Probability is a simple minded way of excusing luck. Fractal theory being the most obvious, yet negating as irrelevant the sheer “chaos” of reality. Were it not true there enver would have been a Fredrick Douglass, as an example.

By: 14 Famous Man Caves | The Art of Manliness

14 Famous Man Caves | The Art of Manliness — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 12:54:09 +0000

[...] hours a day reading and writing in his manly study. At his sturdy wooden desk he penned many of his inspiring speeches and his famous autobiography, The Life and Times of Frederick [...]

By: Green Lantern

Green Lantern — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:52:16 +0000

Probability and Luck are opposing concepts. Probability is a calculated outcome, taking into account the forces and pressures of a present situation. Luck is the supposition that given the pressures and forces in effect, a highly probable outcome is baseless. Action based on probability is a realistic approach to becoming a “Made Man.” Inaction based on the supposition that Luck is all you need/have/want, is ludicrous. Thank you Frederick for hope that probability can prevail. Thank you Ellison for keeping it real.

By: Tuplad

Tuplad — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:17:50 +0000

Awesome!

By: Brucifer

Brucifer — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:22:25 +0000

I’d like to make this piece REQUIRED READING for every young black male in America. So-called “Black Culture” would be a whole lot better (as would all of America) if young black males (all young males, actually) would follow the lead of Frederick Douglass instead of like, Snoop Dog.

By: Bjorn

Bjorn — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:58:40 +0000

A lot of people like to think that most millionaires are rich because they had things handed to them on a silver platter, or because they were born with a silver spoon in their mouth. The reality is that most millionaires are self made, and had to work hard to get where they are. The book “The Millionaire Next Door” says that fully 80% of millionaires are first generation affluent.

By: BM

BM — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:39:45 +0000

Our culture has a unique double standard that adores and admires self made and driven individuals and on the other hand denigrates and despises those men for “Chasing Money” and “Not Spending Time With family”. What a lot of people fail to realize that no one innovates or build up successful business from scratch by working 40 Hrs/Week.

By: Jeff Hodgson

Jeff Hodgson — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:26:40 +0000

The problem is cultural.