WITH THEIR OWN ILL-CONCEIVED NOTIONS AND PRIDE.
THEY BECOME UNFITTED FOR THEIR USUAL OCCUPATIONS.
VERY OFTEN THE SUBSTANCE OF THOSE DEPENDING ON THEM.
As numerous and as pitiful as are the various victims constantly thrown up by the waves of passion and folly on the sterile shore of "human indifference," none are more so than they who have nothing better than the promptings of a more-than-ordinary share of vanity and conceit to aspire to the honors and rewards of successful inventors. Foolishly do they imagine it a short and easy cut to opulence and ease. Enthused with their delusion, they become unfitted for their usual occupations, and are encouraged to persevere in their fallacies by the slick, cunning sharks whose inevitable prey they become through it. These not only take their very last dollar, but very often the substance of those depending upon them; until at last, poor, ruined, deluded fools, they wake up to the realization of the grand truth, "THAT ONE GETS NOTHING FOR NOTHING," not even experience. But it is none the less unfortunately true, that those very victims themselves are responsible for the existence of the means and conditions for their undoing. If perchance in the outset of their ruinous career, they encounter one who would give them competent and honest advice, if it be at variance with their own ill-conceived notions and pride, he will receive insults for his pains, and be deprived of the opportunity of rendering any services to the profession of which his ability and integrity makes him a creditable and honorable member.
[ CHAPTER 10
Advice to Inventors on Inventions]
What and how to invent, is very often asked and variously answered. On the nature of the answer to the honest inquirer often depends whether he is to be discouraged in a good undertaking, or sent on a fool's errand, or directed rightly to the avenue of success.
The various answers to what and how to invent may be divided into three different kinds. The stupid, the misleading, and the intelligent. The remark is often made by certain people, "Oh, there used to be lots of chances to make fortunes out of inventions YEARS AGO, but not NOW." This is as stupid as it is untrue.