Outwit the devil: why Napoleon Hill and his wife had to pass away before this could be published
Outwit the devil It has impacted my life tremendously, and I have not finished with the book at the time of writing this sentence.
The fact is, Napoleon Hill has the devil cornered and is able to interrogate the devil, getting honest answers from the devil, because Napoleon is a “not tramp.”
Let me explain. Napoleon is a man who has learned to think for himself. It is Napoleon’s clear decision and his control over his own mind that renders the Devil powerless to drive Napoleon into the Devil’s trance. Those who are not using their minds are called “tramps.”
The devil is not a disguised character with a tongue and split horns. The devil is also not a personified figure by Napoleon’s definition. The Devil explains that he is represented in the middle of everything. The devil is the negative charge on the atom that holds the positive charge attracted and the atom together. The devil has no more power than the ‘omnipotence’ or opposition of the devil. And each person has the same abilities to choose one over the other. However, the devil has many tricks and tools to use and you can be one of them.
In this book, Napoleon distinguishes between what he calls a “tramp” and a “non-tramp.” This seems especially important to me. Here is the distinction between the “tramp” and the “non-tramp” when Napoleon pressures the Devil for an answer:
The first thing you will notice about a homeless man is his total lack of an important purpose in life. You will stand out for your lack of self-confidence. You will never accomplish anything that requires thought and effort … You will be short-tempered and lack control over your emotions … You will eat too much and exercise too little …
The first sign of a non-vagabond is this: he is always committed to doing something definite, through some well-organized plan that is definite. You have one major goal in life that you are always working towards, and many lesser goals, all of which lead toward your core blueprint. The main distinguishing characteristic of the non-vagrant is this: he has a mind of his own and uses it for all purposes.
With which do you currently identify, the vagabond or the non-vagabond? According to the devil in this book, the devil “owns” 98% of the planet’s population. You get them mostly with fear and propaganda, and you have many cohorts here on Earth.
Napoleon wrote this in 1938. Why wasn’t it published until 2011?
The devil works in mysterious ways, or at least he worked in mysterious ways. According to Sharon Lechter, who annotates Napoleon’s manuscript, Napoleon’s wife did not want this published. There are some words presented in this book that only those who really think for themselves can handle. It seems that Napoleon’s wife was also a bit entangled in the Devil’s web.
What does this book say?
It points out that religious and educational leaders work for the devil. The devil claims that he has them intertwined to help him instill fear and a hypnotic rhythm into youthful minds. I would say that this is as true today as it was in 1978.
Napoleon writes that the devil told him that cigarettes are a tool that the devil uses to instill habits in people that can then be harnessed to adopt other “adrift” habits. These include, but are not limited to, indecision, little or no willpower, and changing decisions when they are made.
The devil has the tools of money, sex, drugs, and alcohol, and more at his disposal to derail most people when they venture to think for themselves. And he is proud of this fact.
Napoleon had the courage to write this book. However, it was derailed a bit by the operation of the Devil, otherwise it would have been published decades ago.
What is the main point of the book? Well, without revealing the story, the point boils down to this:
“Wake up and give”. This comes straight from the devil. He admits that those who think for themselves and serve others will always have what they need and want. It cannot be denied, and the devil is powerless against anyone who thinks for himself.
The devil might say, “Fortunately for me, very few people think for themselves, ever.”
Are you ready to take control of your life and your mind?