B. C. Forbes Describes Andrew Carnegie in One Sentence

"If I were to attempt to describe Andrew Carnegie in one comprehensive sentence I would say:

• That he treated his workmen with consideration and inspired talent by his generous, adroit system of sharing profits with those who contributed to the attainment of successful results;
• As a youth, he worked prodigiously and displayed extraordinary alertness in seizing opportunities;​​
• That in temperament he was strong-willed to the point of arrogance, and distinctly vainglorious, though, at the same time​;
• By his example of prodigal giving, mostly for worthy purposes, he has done much to take the curse from inordinate riches and to force other millionaires to spend large parts of their fortunes for the benefit of humanity, thus, by his own deeds and by his example, furthering incalculably the brotherhood of man;

B.C. Forbes hit the Carnegie personality-nails on their heads in this sentence.

• That through intense study and very extensive travel he became a man of no mean culture;
• That he early manifested extraordinary skill in financiering and pulled off more clever deals than any man of his day;​​
• That he glorified his parents and treated his mother with the most beautiful reverence;​
• And finally, he had simple habits and democratic ways."

B. C. Forbes, Men Who Are Making America​

[This sentence was reordered and bulletized without changing the substance or meaning of the sentence.]

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Yes, it was a rather long, comprehensive sentence, wasn't it? Then again, from what I have read, Mr. Forbes hit the Andrew Carnegie personality-nails on their heads. Too many fail to convey the complexity of the man—even in whole books about him. They are failed attempts.

​This, though, is a nice piece of prose about a complex, yet great individual.

​​Peter E. Greulich

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