6/23/24, 11:02 PM The 38 Letters from J.D.

Rockefeller to his son - Kobo Web Reader

Letter 10 · 116 / 218

LETTER 10
BEING LOYAL TO ONESELF IS
OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
WHILE ONE MAY DECEIVE
AN ENEMY, DECEIVING
ONESELF IS NEVER AN
OPTION.

November 29, 1899

Dear John:

The 38 Letters from J.D. Rockefeller to his son · 118 / 449

https://readingservices.kobo.com/ReadNow/913969e1-66f4-4293-a5f2-d806cfccf11c?utm_content=cover 1/1
6/23/24, 11:03 PM The 38 Letters from J.D. Rockefeller to his son - Kobo Web Reader

Being loyal to oneself is of utmost importance. While one may deceive an enemy, deceiving oneself is never an option. · 117 - 118 / 218

Are you in a better mood? If not, I think, you need and ugliness of people, but my life course makes
to know something. me firmly believe that interests seem to be
invincible, and It can bring people, races, and
You need to know that in this world, the vast
countries who could have lived peacefully with one
majority of people are not immune to a special
another together, and make people deceive each
force that can easily peel off the cloak that wraps
other. In those scams, traps of defamation,
our humanity, and expose us completely to the sun
slander, and vilification, as well as cruel and
and just delineates us on the pure and dirty plates,
merciless bloody battles and robber-style plunder,
so that all our defenses become pale and weak. No
you will find the shadows that are chasing
matter how clever we are, it is the test of our
interests. In this sense, it is more accurate to say
humanity: interest versus benefits.
that we are slaves of interest rather than masters
In other words, interest is the shadow that of our own souls.
illuminates human nature. In front of it, all the
I can assert that in this world, apart from God,
essences related to morality and ethics
there is no one who does not pursue profit. From
will be revealed and unobstructed. Maybe you the moment you step into interpersonal
think my words are a little absolute, but this is relationships, a protracted life game for profit
what my experience tells me. begins. In this game, everyone is your enemy,
including yourself. You need to fight against your
I am not a human historian. I don't know what weaknesses and against all the evils that build
explanation they will give to explain the nobility
The 38 Letters from J.D. Rockefeller to his son · 119 - 120 / 449

https://readingservices.kobo.com/ReadNow/913969e1-66f4-4293-a5f2-d806cfccf11c?utm_content=cover 1/1
6/23/24, 11:03 PM The 38 Letters from J.D. Rockefeller to his son - Kobo Web Reader

Being loyal to oneself is of utmost importance. While one may deceive an enemy, deceiving oneself is never an option. · 119 - 120 / 218

happiness on your pain. Therefore, when I saw and many oil refiners had fallen into bankruptcy.
through all this, I always adhered to a principle: I Also, Cleveland is far away from the oil field,
can deceive the enemy, but I never deceive myself. which means that compared with those refineries
Fighting back at the enemy who is shooting me in the oil field, we had to pay a premium for the
will never disturb my conscience. long-distance transportation which put ourselves
in an unfair position. I am determined to change
Son, please don't get me wrong, I don't intend, to
it. I want to acquire a large-scale refinery that is
paint our world with an oppressive and suffocating
struggling on the death line, forming a joint force
grey; in fact, I long for friendship, sincerity,
and a unified action, so that everyone's wallet will
kindness and all the beautiful emotions that can
bulge.
nourish my soul, and I believe in them. It must
exist. However, it is a pity that in the market of I told those refinery owners who were on the verge
chasing fame and fortune, it is difficult for me to of bankruptcy that "we are at a disadvantage in
get this land of satisfaction, and I often encounter Cleveland and what we must do to protect
betrayal and deception. To this day, I can still ourselves together. I think my plan is very good,
clearly remember the experiences of being please think about it. If you are interested, we will
deceived several times, which is unforgettable. be happy to discuss with you." Because of my kind
wishes and strategic considerations, I bought
The most painful deceit I experienced occurred in
many worthless factories. They are just like old
Cleveland. At that time, the oil refining industry
was almost unprofitable due to overproduction,

The 38 Letters from J.D. Rockefeller to his son · 121 - 122 / 449

https://readingservices.kobo.com/ReadNow/913969e1-66f4-4293-a5f2-d806cfccf11c?utm_content=cover 1/1
6/23/24, 11:03 PM The 38 Letters from J.D. Rockefeller to his son - Kobo Web Reader

Being loyal to oneself is of utmost importance. While one may deceive an enemy, deceiving oneself is never an option. · 121 - 122 / 218

rubbish, only worth throwing into the scrap iron many times without restraining. For the sake of
pile. God, I do not want to count their sins. But I can
tell you, I was shocked when I knew that I had
But some people are so evil, selfish, and
been deceived by them. I do not understand why
ungrateful. After they got my money, they became
people who pray with me and swear religiously
enemies, unscrupulously tore up their agreement
will want to abandon their pride, indulgence and
with me, made a comeback, bought equipment
greed, how can they be so despicable!
with money earned with my help, returned to their
old business, and publicly blackmailed me, asking After all kinds of deceptions and lies, I told myself
me to buy their factory. These people have asked helplessly: You can only believe in yourself, and
me to be honest and buy their paralyzed factory. I only in this way, you will not be deceived. I know
did it. However, the results were distressing. At this kind of slightly hostile mentality is not good,
that moment, my mood was terrible, and I even but there are too many deceptions in this world,
blamed myself for being honest and kind, and guarding ourselves is an indispensable
otherwise I would not be embarrassed and survival skill.
helpless.
Dealing with bastards will make you smart. Those
What is the most unacceptable is that in profit- evil "teachers" taught me a lot. If anyone wants to
making games, today's friends will become deceive me now, I guess it will be more difficult
tomorrow's enemies. This situation often happens, than crossing the Grand Canyon, because those
and my two church members have deceived me demons helped me establish a set of rules for

The 38 Letters from J.D. Rockefeller to his son · 123 - 124 / 449

https://readingservices.kobo.com/ReadNow/913969e1-66f4-4293-a5f2-d806cfccf11c?utm_content=cover 1/1
6/23/24, 11:03 PM The 38 Letters from J.D. Rockefeller to his son - Kobo Web Reader

Being loyal to oneself is of utmost importance. While one may deceive an enemy, deceiving oneself is never an option. · 123 - 124 / 218

dealing with people, I think this set of rules will The important thing is knowing how to protect
help you: yourself and prepare for war anytime, anywhere.

I only show my feelings when the situation is only Son, what destiny gives us is not the wine of
beneficial to myself; I can let my opponent teach disappointment, but the cup of opportunity, cheer
me, but I will never teach my opponent, no matter up! What happened on Wall Street is nothing
how much I know about it; think twice about special, it is just that you believe in others too
everything, no matter how others may urge, do not much. However, you need to know that a good
act without making a full consideration; I have my horse will not fall twice in the same place.
own truth, only responsible for myself; be careful
Love,
of those who ask me to treat them sincerely, they
want to reap benefits from me. Your Father

I know that deception is only a strategy in a profit-

making game and cannot solve the problem. But I
also know that games for profit are played day and
night, so I must be vigilant from morning to night
and understand: in this game, everyone is the
enemy, because everyone takes care of their own
interests first, whether or not it is good for others.

The 38 Letters from J.D. Rockefeller to his son · 125 - 126 / 449

https://readingservices.kobo.com/ReadNow/913969e1-66f4-4293-a5f2-d806cfccf11c?utm_content=cover 1/1