The Science of Getting Rich

What if getting rich wasn’t just luck, hard work, or privilege—but a science that anyone could master? In The Science of Getting Rich, Wallace D. Wattles proposes that accumulating wealth is not a mysterious privilege reserved for the few—it’s a definite, repeatable process governed by universal laws. Like mathematics or physics, this 'science' depends on understanding and aligning with immutable principles of thought, action, and creation. Behind it all, Wattles argues, lies one ultimate truth: there exists a thinking substance—a formless universal intelligence—that responds to human thought. When you learn to think and act in alignment with it, riches flow naturally.

The Core Argument: Thinking Substance Creates Reality

Wattles begins with a radical but simple claim: everything in the universe originates from an infinite, intelligent, formless substance. This substance—call it God, Spirit, or Energy—takes shape according to thought. When you think about a desired form with faith and purpose, you transmit that idea to this substance, and it begins taking shape in the physical world through natural channels of commerce, trade, and human interaction. In other words, thought is the starting point of creation. You don’t receive wealth by competing with others, hoarding money, or exploiting people—you receive it by thinking in a Certain Way.

To Wattles, this Certain Way means combining mental focus, unwavering faith, gratitude, and efficient action. In his words, success comes from “doing things in a Certain Way.” It’s not about luck or chance, but about scientific alignment with natural law. Doubt, fear, and competitive striving, on the other hand, block your creative channels and keep you bound to scarcity.

Why Being Rich Matters—Spiritually and Practically

Despite its title, Wattles’ work isn’t just about money—it’s about life in its fullest sense. He argues that getting rich is a moral duty, because true wealth allows you to express life completely through body, mind, and soul. Poverty limits the capacity to develop one’s potential. To live as a complete human being, you must have the means to nourish your body, cultivate your intellect, and beautify your soul. Hence, the right to be rich is a natural right—an expression of the universe’s inherent drive toward increase and growth.

Wattles is emphatic that there’s nothing spiritual about glorifying poverty. To live fully is to grow, and to grow you must have access to the tools, materials, and opportunities that wealth provides. His book challenges the moral stigma surrounding money by reframing it as a spiritual instrument—the manifestation of divine abundance, not greed.

The Laws of the Science: Faith, Gratitude, and Action

The Science of Getting Rich rests on a pattern of mental and physical practices that build a creative relationship with the universe. The first law is faith—holding an unwavering belief that the formless substance is responsive and abundant. The second is gratitude—the emotional glue that aligns your heart with creative intelligence. Gratitude prevents you from falling into thoughts of lack, resentment, or competition. Finally, there is efficient action—the daily work of doing everything you can, now, with excellence and purpose. These three—faith, gratitude, and efficient action—form the trinity of creative living.

According to Wattles, people often fail because they separate faith from action or action from purpose. Modern metaphysicians might recognize his thinking as a precursor to the 'Law of Attraction,' though Wattles insists that it’s not wishful thinking but disciplined practice. You must hold your mental image continuously, act as if it’s already real, and perform every task efficiently—no matter how small or menial. This steady combination of mental creation and physical execution generates results with “mathematical certainty.”

From Competition to Creation

Wattles identifies competition as the chief obstacle to progress. Competing for limited resources assumes scarcity; creating expands abundance. The competitive mind says, “If they win, I lose.” The creative mind says, “There’s enough for everyone.” When you think and act from the creative plane, your success uplifts others; when you operate from competition, it breeds fear and loss. The Science of Getting Rich, therefore, is about shifting your consciousness from struggle to creation—from being reactive to being generative. (Note: this anticipates ideas popularized later by thinkers like Napoleon Hill and contemporary abundance teachers such as Joe Dispenza.)

Why These Ideas Matter Today

More than a century after its 1910 publication, Wattles’s message resonates because it bridges material and spiritual life. In an age obsessed with productivity, his simple declaration—that every human has the right to be rich and that wealth grows through creativity, not competition—offers a liberating philosophy. By reframing wealth as the expansion of life rather than accumulation, Wattles gives a moral and spiritual framework for abundance that still influences modern self-development, from Think and Grow Rich to The Secret.

“Whatever may be said in praise of poverty, the fact remains that it is not possible to live a really complete or successful life unless one is rich.”

Ultimately, Wattles’ book is not a promise of overnight affluence—it’s a disciplined philosophy of growth. When you think in a certain way, act in a certain way, and relate gratefully to the universe, you engage in the creative process of life itself. Riches then become not just a personal achievement but an act of alignment with the limitless intelligence of creation.

Wattles opens by asserting something bold for his time: being rich is not merely permissible—it’s your right. Every person has an inalienable right to live the fullest life possible, and because modern society requires money to access the means of that life, you have a right to acquire wealth. Poverty, in his view, prevents people from fully expressing their physical, intellectual, and spiritual potential.

Wealth as Life’s Expansion

For Wattles, life’s fundamental impulse is growth. Every living thing seeks fuller expression—seeds become trees; ideas become inventions; people aspire to more. Therefore, wealth is not greed, it’s growth. When you pursue riches, you’re responding to the same creative impulse that drives the universe forward. True wealth enhances every dimension of existence: it nourishes the body through comfort and freedom from toil, it sharpens the mind through education and experience, and it uplifts the soul through generosity and beauty.

He cautions, however, against confusing the pursuit of riches with selfish hoarding. You get rich to live fully and to help others live fully, not to possess for possession’s sake. “To be content with less,” he writes, “is sinful,” because it betrays the creative potential within you.

Why Poverty Is Not Noble

Wattles dismantles the long-standing belief that poverty is spiritual. You cannot express love fully when you have nothing to give, nor can you exercise charity when you’re struggling to survive. He argues that the supposed “virtue” of poverty is misplaced piety; God—or the universe—expresses itself more completely through a person who has access to everything that supports health, learning, and love.

(This idea parallels later prosperity philosophy, such as Catherine Ponder’s claim that poverty is unnecessary because divine abundance is the natural order of existence.)

Wealth, Service, and Duty

Perhaps counterintuitively, Wattles turns the desire for wealth into a moral obligation. To neglect the study of how to get rich is to neglect your potential. The person who masters the Science of Getting Rich does not merely benefit personally; they benefit humanity by demonstrating what’s possible. When you create wealth by creative thinking—not competition—you make the world richer too.

“You can render God and humanity no greater service than to make the most of yourself.”

Wattles’ insistence that money and morality can coexist remains one of his most powerful contributions. In a culture still divided between spiritual purity and material ambition, he forges a bridge: true wealth expands life, love, and service. The pursuit of riches, when directed toward creative ends, becomes not greed but gratitude in action.

At the heart of Wattles’s method is what he calls 'thinking in a Certain Way'—the disciplined mental act of seeing, believing, and living from the reality you want before it appears. You cannot transmit to the universe a vague desire; you must create a definite mental image of your goal and hold it unwaveringly. Impression upon the Formless Substance happens through clarity, purpose, and faith, not daydreaming.

The Power of Definite Vision

Wattles compares the mind to a transmitter. Just as a telegraph must send a clear, distinct message—not random letters—to reach its destination, your thoughts must outline a clear image to be received by the Formless. The vagueness of most people’s desires (“I want to be comfortable” or “I’d like more money”) prevents manifestation. Instead, you must know precisely what you want down to details—your home, your business, the work you love—and continuously visualize it with emotional conviction.

Faith and Purpose Unite Thought

A vivid image without faith is fantasy. A goal without purpose is halfhearted wishing. Wattles insists that you must believe what you see is real and act accordingly. This is reminiscent of the biblical instruction, “Whatsoever ye ask for when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” You begin living from your success mentally long before it materializes physically—a principle later echoed by success teacher Neville Goddard’s idea of 'living in the end.' Gratitude, in turn, energizes this faith, sealing your connection with the creative substance.

Action and Alignment

Thinking in a Certain Way is not passive reverie; it’s a generator of movement. You hold a clear picture, feel gratitude for it as if realized, and then act as though it’s inevitable. Wattles warns against repetitious begging of the universe; once you’ve impressed your vision, live confidently as if your success is unfolding. This combination of centered thought, gratitude, and purposeful action keeps your energies aligned with the creative flow. “Pray without ceasing,” he writes—not by words, but by sustained faith-infused thought.

For Wattles, your circumstances will always mirror your habitual mental images. To change outer conditions, you must first master inner vision. In modern cognitive-behavioral terms, he’s describing a process of reconditioning the subconscious by repetition of empowered thought. Creation begins in consciousness; persistence brings it to form.

Wattles devotes two chapters to clarifying one of the most misunderstood powers in personal development: the will. To many, willpower means controlling other people or forcing outcomes, but Wattles insists the only rightful use of the will is mastery over yourself. The moment you try to impose your mental force on others, you shift from creation to competition, from freedom to coercion.

Directing the Will Inward

Your will should never attempt to manipulate circumstances or minds; those are governed by the creative intelligence itself. Instead, use willpower to keep your thoughts fixed on the right course—to hold your mind unwaveringly upon your vision, especially when appearances contradict it. This is the discipline that separates a creator from a drifter. Just as a lighthouse beam stays steady through storms, your will keeps the light of faith from flickering.

To paraphrase Wattles: your role is not to compel God or 'Formless Substance' to act—it is already eager to express your desires. Your sole duty is to align your mental state with belief, purpose, and gratitude. Every moment spent in doubt or fear, he warns, starts a current “away from you.” Thought of lack puts the brakes on the creative flow.

Guarding Thought and Attention

Because belief shapes reality, Wattles urges you to use your will to determine the subjects of your attention. What you think about, you create. Studying poverty creates more poverty; focusing on disease magnifies disease. He goes so far as to say that social reform and charity, when rooted in pity, perpetuate the very conditions they aim to cure. Instead of fighting misery, demonstrate abundance. The best way to help the poor, he writes provocatively, “is to get rich yourself, and prove it can be done.”

Faith-Focused Action

Later, in 'Further Use of the Will,' he explains that you must guard against distractions—fearful news, pessimistic philosophies, even metaphysical confusion. The right use of will is steady optimism. You must see the world “as Becoming,” not decaying. To think of increase, not calamity. To focus on riches rather than poverty. This is a practice of selective perception: seeing through appearances to the truth that life and abundance are expanding. Your will, when properly trained, becomes the rudder steering your mind toward the creative current of the universe.

Thinking alone does not create wealth; thought must be followed by precise, effective action. In 'Acting in the Certain Way,' Wattles merges metaphysics with pragmatism. You cannot simply sit and imagine riches while waiting for money to fall from the sky. The universe works through people, materials, and commerce. Your thought sets things in motion, but your actions prepare you to receive.

Action Completes Creation

When you visualize success, 'Formless Substance' begins arranging the world’s resources toward your vision—but you must meet it halfway. Your role is to put yourself in alignment with the arriving opportunity. Suppose your mental picture includes owning a business; your current job is the channel through which that business will emerge. Act with full commitment where you are, while holding the faith of where you’re heading. By making the most of your present circumstances, you magnetize your next level.

Act Now, Not Later

Wattles insists there is no other time but the present. “You can act only where you are,” he writes. Dreaming about a perfect future opportunity causes divided attention and weak results. Act now, in the environment before you, putting your full mind and energy into every task. This doesn’t mean reckless haste—it means efficient, focused work. Every day is either a success or failure depending on whether you did all you could do, in the best way you could do it. Action multiplies with momentum; efficient acts compound success.

The Ethics of Exchange

Ethical reciprocity is essential. You must never gain at another’s expense, but give every person more in use value than you take from them in cash value. If you sell a product, make sure its benefit exceeds its cost. If you employ others, let your enterprise create growth for them. By making every interaction an exchange of increase, you align with the universe’s fundamental law of advancement. Each efficient act becomes an act of co-creation, unlocking further channels of wealth.

Wattles defines 'efficient action' as doing all you can, where you are, every day—but doing it with unwavering purpose, faith, and excellence. You become larger than your present place by overfilling it. This is how you evolve upward in life and business. Each efficient act sends a signal to the universe: 'I’m ready for more.'

Quality Over Quantity

It’s not how many things you do, but how well you do them. Overworking to compensate for fear of failure dissipates energy. Efficiency means channeling all power into each task while maintaining mental vision. Wattles urges you not to act for action’s sake, but to act from faith. Every small act, performed in harmony with your larger vision, becomes a successful act. Over time, success in each moment accumulates into material wealth.

Holding the Vision While You Work

A key to efficient action is to keep your mental picture alive even while engaged in routine labor. Your thought keeps the creative current flowing through your acts. When your mind drifts into worry or tedium, your energy weakens. When it stays anchored in faith and gratitude, every motion becomes magnetic. Wattles compares this process to cumulative momentum—each successful act builds upon the previous, creating exponential progress.

“Do, every day, all that you can do that day, and do each act in an efficient manner.”

Modern productivity philosophies—from Cal Newport’s 'Deep Work' to James Clear’s 'Atomic Habits'—echo this idea. Consistent, focused, high-quality action beats scattered busyness. Wattles’s contribution is to frame this principle spiritually: each efficient act connects you more deeply with the creative life of the universe.

A defining feature of Wattles’s system is the shift from the competitive mind to the creative mind. The competitive mind sees life as a scramble for limited goods—if one person wins, another must lose. The creative mind operates from abundance: it knows that wealth expands as it is created. This attitude transforms not only business ethics but personal well-being.

Why Competition Limits Growth

Competition keeps you chained to old paradigms of scarcity. It says resources must be fought over, not generated. According to Wattles, every time you think in competitive terms, you descend from the creative plane. You lose contact with the universal mind. Fear replaces faith, hoarding replaces giving, and progress stalls. He even critiques modern reformers who study poverty instead of studying riches: by fixating on lack, they reinforce it.

Creation Expands Life

In contrast, creation enlarges life for all. A person who gets rich by creation 'opens the way for thousands to follow,' while one who gets rich by competition 'throws down the ladder by which they rose.' In today’s terms, creative entrepreneurs make industries, technologies, and opportunities that multiply prosperity. Competition hoards. Creation multiplies.

Increase as a Moral Compass

The creative mindset revolves around the principle of increase. Every person you interact with should feel better for having done business with you. Whether selling goods, offering a service, or simply conversing, leave others with an impression of advancement. This attracts loyalty and opportunities naturally, because everyone seeks more life. To work and live in ways that radiate increase is, in Wattles’s view, the highest moral good.

Gratitude is more than good manners—it’s the spiritual circuitry that keeps you connected to the Source of abundance. Wattles claims the universe responds most swiftly to a grateful mind. Gratitude aligns your inner state with the creative flow; ingratitude severs that connection.

The Law of Gratitude

Every act of genuine thankfulness sets up a reciprocal flow. As you give thanks, the universe gives back in kind. This is what Wattles calls the “law of reaction”—your mental and emotional output returns multiplied. Gratitude keeps your thoughts fixed on abundance, preventing regression into resentment, fear, or the belief in limitation. The grateful person lives close to God; the ungrateful one breaks the current of creative power.

Gratitude Builds Faith

The more you thank the universe for blessings still unseen, the stronger your faith becomes. Gratitude shifts your vibration from waiting to receiving. It’s the invisible bridge between imagination and manifestation. As Wattles writes, “The grateful mind continually expects good things, and expectation becomes faith.” In this sense, gratitude is active mental creation—it perpetuates belief in the unseen reality and accelerates its physical appearance.

A Universal Attitude

Wattles even extends gratitude to the forces many people resent—the powerful, the politicians, the wealthy elites—because, he says, they unknowingly build the channels through which everyone’s wealth will flow. Such a perspective prevents bitterness and keeps the individual’s mind anchored in optimism and creation. The person who sees good in all things moves perpetually toward good.

In his later chapters, Wattles issues practical warnings. The Science of Getting Rich only works if practiced consistently, with mental purity. It’s not a trick for quick wealth but a lifelong discipline in thought and faith. He cautions against pessimism, overanalyzing, and contradictory influences. If you fill your mind with conflicting philosophies, your creative power diffuses.

Guarding Faith and Speech

You must never speak of failure, shortage, or hard times; to do so affirms scarcity. Faith must shape speech. Every word of complaint is a denial of creative law. Likewise, delay is often a blessing—what looks like setback may conceal a greater success. “When you make a failure,” he reminds, “it is because you have not asked for enough.” Hold faith; the universe may be avoiding a lesser outcome to deliver a better one.

Continuous Growth

Finally, Wattles emphasizes that this is an endless journey. You can never reach a point of completion; life’s nature is expansion. The best way to uplift others is to demonstrate what’s possible through your own advancement. Programs, governments, or economic systems cannot make people rich—only the creative thought of individuals can. As more people adopt this method, society itself evolves toward abundance.

“No possible combination of circumstances can defeat a man or woman who is proceeding to get rich along strictly scientific lines.”

The Science of Getting Rich ends not with mystical abstraction but with practical urgency: start now. Read daily, act faithfully, stay grateful, refuse doubt. You are dealing with exact law, not wishful thinking. If you think and act in the Certain Way, rich you must become—because creation itself works through you.