Men take on the nature and the habits and the power of thought of those with whom they associate in a spirit of sympathy and harmony.
Napoleon HillRead
We see men who have accumulated great fortunes, but we often recognize only their triumph, overlooking the temporary defeats which they had to surmount before arriving.
Interpretation
Success often masks the struggles that precede it, highlighting the importance of perseverance.
This quote by Napoleon Hill emphasizes that while we admire those who have achieved great wealth and success, we often fail to acknowledge the challenges and setbacks they faced along the way. It serves as a reminder that behind every triumph is a journey filled with temporary defeats which can teach valuable lessons and build resilience.
In practice
In a motivational speech to highlight the importance of resilience in one's career.
Men take on the nature and the habits and the power of thought of those with whom they associate in a spirit of sympathy and harmony.
Nature yields her most profound secrets to the person who is determined to uncover them.
Man, alone, has the power to transform his thoughts into physical reality; man, alone, can dream and make his dreams come true.
One of the most common causes of failure is the habit of quitting when one is overtaken by temporary defeat.
Let nobody bribe you away from being yourself.
Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to cut all sources of retreat. Only by doing so can one be sure of maintaining that state of mind known as a burning desire to win - essential to success.
First comes the sweat. Then comes the beauty if you're very lucky and have said your prayers.
Of course, I want to be number one. But being happy and healthy is the most important thing.
The secret of success is to make your mind work for you - not against you. This means constantly being positive, constantly setting up challenges you can meet - either today, next week, or next month etc.
That's a pretty big advantage to this journey that I've been able to have, is that I was able to start at such a young age because my father built a setup and I was able to build a technique from 3 years up to now. Without the backyard, I'm not whatever I am today. I knew that none of my classmates were pole vaulting.
If you want to be successful, it's just this simple. Know what you are doing. Love what you are doing. And believe in what you are doing.
A champion is suppose to hate to lose, and it wasn't like I was ever crazy about the idea. But I learned to deal with losing without having my spirit or confidence broken, which would help immensely over time, not just in the big picture but even in specific matches when I found myself in a jam. Fear of losing is a terrible thing.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.