Wallace D. Wattles

Wallace D. Wattles – Author of The Science of Getting Rich and Pioneer of Practical New Thought Philosophy.
Wallace D. Wattles was a leading New Thought writer and self-help pioneer whose teachings on creative thought, prosperity, and purposeful living shaped modern success philosophy. Best known for The Science of Getting Rich, his work continues to influence personal development and mindset-based success strategies worldwide.

Introduction: Wallace D. Wattles and the Practical Spirit of New Thought

Wallace Delois Wattles (1860–1911) stands as one of the most influential yet understated figures in the history of the New Thought movement. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Wattles was not primarily concerned with metaphysical abstraction or religious speculation. Instead, he focused on the practical application of mental and spiritual laws to everyday life—particularly in the realms of prosperity, health, purposeful work, and personal achievement.

Best remembered for The Science of Getting Rich (1910), Wattles articulated a systematic philosophy asserting that wealth, success, and fulfillment are not the products of chance or competition, but the natural outcomes of right thinking aligned with universal law. His work laid the intellectual groundwork for much of modern self-help literature, influencing later figures such as Napoleon Hill, Rhonda Byrne, and countless success-oriented authors and entrepreneurs.

Wattles’ teachings reflect a unique synthesis of New Thought metaphysics, ethical socialism, and pragmatic instruction, positioning him as a bridge between spiritual idealism and actionable self-development.

Early Life and Intellectual Formation

Wallace D. Wattles was born in 1860 in the United States, during a period of rapid industrial growth, social upheaval, and expanding interest in alternative philosophies. Though detailed records of his early years are scarce, it is known that Wattles experienced financial hardship, illness, and personal struggle—conditions that profoundly shaped his worldview and his later insistence on practical spiritual laws.

During his formative years, Wattles immersed himself in the study of philosophy, metaphysics, science, and religion. He was particularly influenced by the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson, George Hegel, and early New Thought thinkers who emphasized the creative power of the mind.

These intellectual foundations led Wattles to a central conviction:
The universe operates according to orderly principles, and human beings can consciously cooperate with those principles to improve their lives.

Wallace D. Wattles and the New Thought Movement

Wattles emerged as a prominent voice within the American New Thought movement at the turn of the 20th century—a movement rooted in the belief that thought is causative, and that mental alignment with truth produces tangible results in health, wealth, and character.

What distinguished Wattles from many New Thought authors was his discipline-oriented approach. He rejected vague affirmations or mystical passivity and instead emphasized clear intention, disciplined thinking, gratitude, and purposeful action.

For Wattles, New Thought was not merely a philosophy—it was a method.

He asserted that:

• Thought precedes form
• Substance is responsive to consciousness
• Action must follow vision
• Wealth is a byproduct of service and value creation

This practical orientation made his work especially appealing to readers seeking measurable change, not merely spiritual insight.

The Science of Getting Rich: A Landmark in Self-Help Literature

Published in 1910, The Science of Getting Rich is Wattles’ most influential and enduring work. Contrary to its title, the book is not solely about financial wealth. Instead, it presents a comprehensive philosophy of success, arguing that prosperity is a necessary condition for full self-expression.

Wattles proposed that there exists a “Certain Way” of thinking and acting that inevitably leads to wealth, regardless of external conditions. This idea challenged dominant narratives of competition, scarcity, and luck.

Key principles of the book include:

• Creative thinking versus competitive thinking
• Gratitude as a creative force
• Acting in the present moment
• The moral legitimacy of wealth
• Alignment between purpose, thought, and action

Unlike many prosperity teachings, Wattles emphasized ethical responsibility, asserting that true wealth must benefit others and contribute to collective progress.

The Philosophy of Creative Substance

Central to Wattles’ worldview is the concept of Formless Substance—a universal, intelligent source from which all material forms arise. According to Wattles, this substance responds directly to clear mental images held with faith and gratitude.

This idea aligns with broader New Thought metaphysics but is articulated by Wattles with exceptional clarity and directness. He insisted that individuals must move beyond wishing or hoping and instead cultivate faith-based expectancy, followed by decisive action.

Importantly, Wattles rejected the idea that success requires domination over others. He argued that creative thought operates outside competition and that abundance increases when individuals contribute value.

Health, Purpose, and the Science of Being Well

In The Science of Being Well (1911), Wattles extended his principles to physical health. He argued that illness often results from mental discord, fear, and false belief, and that harmony of thought restores bodily balance.

However, Wattles did not advocate rejecting medical science. Instead, he emphasized mental alignment as a complementary force, reinforcing vitality and resilience.

Similarly, in The Science of Being Great, Wattles explored leadership, character, and personal growth, emphasizing that greatness emerges from faithful execution of one’s present role, rather than ambition for status.

Across all his works, Wattles stressed purposeful living, asserting that fulfillment arises when individuals express their innate capacities in service to life.

Social Ethics and Spiritual Socialism

A lesser-known aspect of Wattles’ philosophy is his engagement with ethical socialism. He believed that individual prosperity and social justice were not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, he argued that true prosperity uplifts society as a whole.

Wattles criticized systems that rewarded exploitation or limited access to opportunity, maintaining that creative abundance operates most effectively within cooperative social structures.

This ethical dimension distinguishes Wattles from later prosperity teachers who focused narrowly on individual gain.

Influence on Modern Self-Help and Success Philosophy

Although Wattles died in 1911, his influence expanded dramatically throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. His ideas directly shaped:

• Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich
• The Law of Attraction movement
• Contemporary success coaching and mindset training
• The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

Today, Wattles is widely recognized as a foundational architect of modern self-help philosophy, particularly in the domains of wealth consciousness and intentional living.

Ten Famous Quotations by Wallace D. Wattles

1. “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.”
2. “You must get rich by the creative method, not by the competitive one.”
3. “Think what you want to think; say what you want to say; do what you want to do.”
4. “Gratitude will lead your mind out along the ways by which things come.”
5. “There is a thinking stuff from which all things are made.”
6. “The function of man is to live, not to exist.”
7. “Faith is the ability to act as though the thing desired were already yours.”
8. “You do not need to see where you are going, only know that you are going.”
9. “By thought, the thing you want is brought to you.”
10. “Do not wait for an opportunity; make one.”

Five Major Books by Wallace D. Wattles

1. The Science of Getting Rich (1910)
2. The Science of Being Well (1911)
3. The Science of Being Great (1911)
4. How to Get What You Want (posthumous)
5. The Science of Being Efficient (posthumous essays)

Enduring Relevance of Wallace D. Wattles

Wallace D. Wattles remains a timeless voice in the self-help canon because his philosophy addresses both inner transformation and outer results. His insistence on ethical prosperity, disciplined thinking, and purposeful action continues to resonate in a world seeking sustainable success.

By framing abundance as a natural outcome of alignment rather than struggle, Wattles offered a vision of life rooted in confidence, creativity, and contribution—a vision that continues to shape modern approaches to personal development and conscious living.