“Andrew Carnegie worked his way up by hard work and self-education.”
And by being the biggest prick to those that he could profit from while being nice to those he needed something from. He was known as one of the meanest men of his time.
Absolutely. Some people believe that Carnegie built those magnificent libraries just because he wanted to help the little people. Others believe that he did it mainly to buy himself a good reputation. I am among the latter group.
Don't get me wrong. I have used and appreciated Carnegie libraries. But Henry Clay Frick had Carnegie's number. A well-known story:
Near the end of his life, Carnegie sent Frick a letter by messenger. The letter asked for a meeting (the two men had once been partners, but now were feuding). Frick’s reply: “You can tell Carnegie I’ll meet him. Tell him I’ll see him in Hell, where we both are going.”