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Long after he had established himself as one of America’s leading
businessmen, as well as history’s greatest steelmaker, Andrew Carnegie
reflected that “We all live in the richest and freest country in the
world, where no man is limited except by his own mental attitude and his
own desires.”
At the time—a decade or so before the First World War—Carnegie’s
attitude was nearly universal. In America, anyone could carve out a
better life for himself if he worked hard. Today, Carnegie’s attitude is
considered almost quaint.
Opportunity? Why, opportunity is a rare thing, and those Americans
not lucky enough to be born with it should be given it at other people’s
expense. Whether it’s an education, a job, a house, or a grant,
opportunity is seen as something that others have to provide
you
with. If you don’t succeed, it’s not because you failed to capitalize
on plentiful opportunities. It’s because you just weren’t one of the
fortunate few.
