You've got to ask! Asking is, in my opinion, the world's most

In the wisdom of Percy Ross, a man who rose from poverty to become a giver of fortune and hope, we hear this powerful truth: “You’ve got to ask! Asking is, in my opinion, the world’s most powerful — and neglected — secret to success and happiness.” Though his words are simple, their meaning pierces to the very heart of human limitation. For the world does not deny us as often as we deny ourselves. The gates of opportunity often stand unlocked, yet few dare to reach for the handle. Asking — that humble act of faith — is both a declaration of courage and a confession of need, the bridge between desire and destiny.

Percy Ross himself knew the power of this secret. Born to hardship, he began with nothing but a restless spirit and a willingness to learn. He once said that every great change in his life began with an ask — for advice, for a chance, for forgiveness, for help. Later, having found abundance, he spent his years giving it away to those who asked sincerely. Through his philanthropy, he proved that asking is not a sign of weakness, but of wisdom. For the one who asks admits both humility and hope — humility to acknowledge that they cannot walk alone, and hope to believe that others may answer with generosity.

In the ancient days, there was a saying among the wise: “He who asks a question may be a fool for a moment; he who never asks remains a fool forever.” To ask is to open oneself to the flow of the world — to knowledge, to compassion, to possibility. It was by asking that Socrates uncovered truth, by asking that seekers found enlightenment, by asking that inventors transformed the world. The path of wisdom begins not with knowing, but with the courage to say, “Teach me.” The proud man, who refuses to ask, starves in silence; but the humble, who dares to seek, is fed by the answers of life itself.

Let us recall the story of Helen Keller, blind and deaf, trapped in darkness from infancy. Had she not been willing to ask — to reach, to struggle, to question — she might have remained forever imprisoned within silence. But through her relentless asking, through the patient guidance of her teacher Anne Sullivan, the barriers of isolation were shattered. From that hunger to know, to connect, she became one of the great voices of the human spirit. Her life became proof that asking is not begging — it is an act of faith, a declaration that one believes there is something worth reaching for.

There is a divine principle hidden within Ross’s words: the universe itself responds to the seeker. “Ask, and you shall receive,” said the ancients — not as a promise of ease, but as a law of creation. To ask is to align the heart with intention, to awaken the forces that move unseen. When one asks clearly — whether it be of others, of life, or of God — the request becomes a magnet drawing opportunity closer. But when one fears to ask, when pride or doubt seals the lips, blessings drift by unnoticed, and potential withers in silence.

Yet, Ross reminds us that this secret is neglected. Too many live as though the world owes them nothing, and so they never dare to request its bounty. They toil, they wish, they envy — but they do not ask. Why? Because fear whispers, “You will be rejected.” But rejection, my child, is but a small wound compared to the death of a dream unspoken. The one who never asks has already accepted defeat, while the one who dares opens the door to possibility. Even a closed door, once knocked upon, teaches courage. Even a “no” brings the seeker one step closer to the “yes” that changes everything.

Therefore, remember this teaching: asking is the voice of destiny. It is the cry of the soul reaching for growth, the bridge between potential and fulfillment. Ask for knowledge from those wiser than you. Ask for help when your burden grows heavy. Ask for forgiveness when your heart falters. And ask, above all, of yourself — that you become bold enough to pursue what you truly desire. For in every act of asking lies the seed of transformation.

So, my child, walk through life with open hands and fearless speech. Do not wait for blessings to fall; ask for them, seek them, shape them. For the heavens themselves favor those who speak their longing aloud. As Percy Ross taught through his words and his deeds, the world gives to those who dare to ask — and in that asking, they find not only success, but the quiet, enduring happiness of a heart unafraid to reach for more.