SEARCH NO MORE

by Richard Quek


Ali Hafed was a farmer from Africa, who was happy and
contented. One day a priest came to visit him and told
him about the glory of diamonds and the power that goes
along with having them. The priest said, “If you have a
diamond the size of your thumb, you could have your own
city. If you had a diamond the size of your fist, you
could own the whole country.” After the priest left,
the farmer could not sleep that night. He became
unhappy and discontented with what he had, and the
whole night he thought to himself how rich and powerful
he would become if he could possess some diamonds.

The next morning, he sold off his farm, left his family
with his neighbor, and set off to search for diamonds.
He traveled all over Africa, but could not find any. He
looked all over Europe and couldn’t find any. Finally,
he became emotionally, physically and financially broke
and decided to take his own life by throwing himself
into the river.

Back home, the person who had bought his farm was
watering the camels at a stream that ran through the
farm. He suddenly saw a curious flash of light from the
white sands of the shallow stream. Reaching into the
water, he pulled out a rough stone that sparkled like
the colors of the rainbow. Finding the stone
interesting, he took it back to his house and placed it
as a decoration piece in his living room. One day the
priest came to visit, and saw the sparkling stone. He
exclaimed, “Here is a diamond! Is Hafed back?” The man
replied, “No, no, Hafed has not returned, and that is
not a diamond. It is only a stone I found right here in
the garden.” When the priest heard this, he declared,
“I know a diamond when I see one.”

Together they rushed out to the garden stream and began
searching. To their amazement, there came up other more
beautiful and valuable stones than the first. Thus, was
discovered the largest diamond mine in the world.


SUCCESS PRINCIPLES

The above story, Acres of Diamonds was lectured by
Russell H. Conwell more than 6,000 times during his
lifetime. With the funds from the above lectures he
founded Temple University. We are forever looking for
opportunities elsewhere rather than within us. “Acres
of Diamonds” taught us that the riches and
opportunities that we are searching are within us. As
the saying goes, “the grass on the other side always
appears to be greener.” Diamonds in its rough form do
not look like diamonds. The raw diamonds need to be
skillfully worked on and polished before they are of
value. Likewise most of us are like the raw diamonds,
and need to be worked on and polished before we realize
our full potential.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE

"Society is like a crowd in carnival costumes with
everyone fearful that others will see through his
disguise."