Description: (British Author and Government Reformer)
Samuel Smiles, a well-known British author and government reformer, is most recognized for his influential work, "Self-Help" (1859). He emphasized personal responsibility and thrift, contending that poverty was often a result of careless habits rather than only economic factors. Despite his involvement in Chartism, Smiles believed in the importance of individual attitudes in fostering advancement, rather than relying solely on new laws. Through his writings, he criticized materialism and laissez-faire government policies, influencing mid-Victorian liberalism significantly and leaving a lasting impact on British political thought.