“The contrast between the palace of the millionaire and the cottage of the laborer with us to-day measures the change which has come with civilization.”

In the first paragraph of the essay, Carnegie uses the images of a palace and a cottage to set up the foundation of his arguments around how the affluent members of society should manage their wealth. The contrasting images of the two homes emphasizes the millionaire’s potential for opulence and the laborer’s necessary adherence to modesty; with these images, Carnegie communicates the significant differences that exist between the poor and rich in America.

“It is a waste of time to criticise the inevitable.”

This quote characterizes Carnegie as a practical man who is primarily concerned with the aspects of life he can actually impact. Carnegie’s reputation as one of the most successful industrialists and businessmen in American history is consistent with this kind of pragmatism.

“The laborer has now more comforts than the landlord had a few generations ago.”

While putting forth his support of capitalism in its current form, Carnegie does not decry the fact that there is still a divide between the poor and the rich. The divide matters less to Carnegie because the poor of his day are able to access and enjoy things and experiences that might have been considered too luxurious even for the most wealthy in times past.