As a Man Thinketh

Character Guide

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James Allen (The Author)

The writer and narrator of this short philosophical essay, who lays out his central thesis in the Foreword: that mind is 'the master-weaver' of both character and circumstance.

Man (the archetypal thinker) (The Master-Gardener of the Soul)

Not a single character but the generic human figure Allen uses throughout to illustrate his ideas — described early on as a being who 'is literally what he thinks,' shaping his own character through the seeds of thought he cultivates.

Glossary

Aphorism

A short, memorable statement of a general truth — the book opens by invoking the aphorism 'As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.'

Husbandry

The careful management and cultivation of resources (originally farming); Allen uses it to describe how a person 'garners in' the fruits of their own thoughts.

Equipoise

A state of balance or equilibrium; Allen warns that 'loss of equipoise would mean total destruction' in a justly ordered universe.

Importunity

Persistent, urgent asking or effort; used to describe the patience required to uncover the laws of thought within oneself.

Indigence

A state of poverty or need; paired with 'indulgence' as one of the two extremes of wretchedness Allen describes.

Equanimity

Mental calmness and composure, especially under stress; presented as a trait that increases a person's success and influence.

The Law

Allen's capitalized term for the impersonal, absolute principle of cause and effect governing thought, character, and circumstance, akin to karma.

Vision and Ideal

Capitalized concepts referring to the cherished inner picture of one's highest aspiration, which Allen says a person will inevitably grow toward realizing.

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