Quotes
The Law of Success
6 memorable lines from The Law of Success by Napoleon Hill, each with the idea behind it.
“Success is not a destination — it is a journey, and the journey requires a specific set of principles.”
Hill's foundational claim: success is not reserved for those with superior intelligence or education — it is available to anyone willing to develop specific habits.
“A burning desire is the starting point of all achievement.”
Hill's first principle: vague wishes produce nothing. Specific, obsessive desire — the kind that wakes you up at 3am — is the engine of achievement.
“The person who can do what has been imagined is always the one who first said 'I will try.'”
Hill on the primacy of will over skill: most significant accomplishments begin with someone who had no special advantage except willingness.
“Organized planning is the bridge between desire and achievement.”
Hill's corrective to pure willpower: desire without planning is just wishing. Planning without desire is just activity. Both are required.
“Persistence is the most reliable correlate of success in any field.”
Hill's most empirically supported claim: the most common differentiator between success and failure is not talent but the refusal to quit.
“The 'master mind' principle: two or more minds working on a problem accelerate achievement beyond what any single mind can achieve.”
Hill's networking insight: your network is an intelligence multiplier. Who you regularly spend time with shapes what you believe is possible.