The central idea of ACRES OF DIAMONDS is that we don't need to look elsewhere for opportunity, achievement, or fortune-the resources to achieve all good things are present in our own community. A man wanted to find diamonds so badly that he sold his property and went off in futile search for them; the new owner of his home discovered that a rich diamond mine was located right there on the property. Conwell elaborates on this theme through examples of success, genius, service, or other virtues involving ordinary Americans: "dig in your own back-yard!" The message of this book is that anyone could get rich if we try hard enough and play by the ethical rules: "ninety-eight out of one hundred of the rich men of America are honest. That is why they are rich. That is why they are trusted with money. That is why they carry on great enterprises." Conwell's capacity to establish Temple University and his other civic projects largely derived from the income that he earned from this speech.
