Napoleon Hill

Discover the life, philosophy, and enduring influence of Napoleon Hill (1883–1970), the American author of Think and Grow Rich. Explore his biography, major works, success principles, famous quotes, and lessons that still inspire today.

Introduction

Oliver Napoleon Hill (October 26, 1883 – November 8, 1970) was an American author, lecturer, and early pioneer in the self-help and personal development movement. Think and Grow Rich (1937), remains one of the best-selling personal success books ever written.

Hill’s writings emphasized the power of desire, positive thinking, definiteness of purpose, and the "secret" or spiritual dimension of personal achievement.

This article journeys through Hill’s life, work, influence, and key quotes, aiming for a deep, nuanced understanding beyond legend.

Early Life and Family

Napoleon Hill was born October 26, 1883 in a one-room cabin near Pound, Virginia, in Wise County.

His mother died when he was about nine years old; two years later his father remarried.

As a youth, Hill was precocious and restless. By age 13, he was already writing for small local newspapers, becoming a "mountain reporter."

His early environment was one of humble means, limited resources, and a rugged frontier setting. These conditions, his losses, and his ambition played significant roles in shaping his worldview about desire, self-reliance, and mental determination.

Youth, Education, and Early Ventures

Hill's formal education was limited. After high school, he briefly attempted business training and worked in various capacities.

Young Hill’s ambitions led him into entrepreneurial and speculative ventures, many of which failed. He tried lumber businesses, correspondence schools, publishing ventures, and other schemes—even facing legal accusations of fraud.

Hill often claimed that a pivotal moment came in 1908 when he was assigned to interview industrialist Andrew Carnegie, who then challenged him to study the laws of success by analyzing the lives of wealthy people.

Hill’s early struggles, failures, and ambitions served as both cautionary tales and foundational experiences for his later writings: he believed that setbacks could be instructive and that mental attitude was central to success.

Career and Achievements

The Law of Success & Early Works

In 1928, Hill published The Law of Success, a multi-volume course of principles he had been developing over years.

However, the Great Depression hit many of his ventures hard, and he faced severe financial setbacks.

Think and Grow Rich and Later Influence

Hill’s signature success came with Think and Grow Rich, released in 1937.

In Think and Grow Rich, Hill discusses the concept of the “secret” to success (often vague), the importance of desire, faith, persistence, autosuggestion, and the mastermind principle.

Over his career, Hill published many other works, such as Outwitting the Devil (written in 1938 but published posthumously), The Master-Key to Riches, How to Sell Your Way Through Life, Grow Rich!: With Peace of Mind, Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude (co-authored with W. Clement Stone), and more.

Hill was also active as a lecturer, promoter of success courses, and founder of the Napoleon Hill Foundation, which continues to preserve and promote his legacy.

Controversies and Criticism

Despite his fame, Hill’s claims have drawn skepticism. Critics question the authenticity of some of his alleged interviews with great industrialists (e.g., Andrew Carnegie).

His life also included legal troubles, business failures, and shifting narratives about his past.

Nevertheless, many see Hill’s writings as symbolic and motivational — as more of a philosophy or framework than strict historical fact. His influence lies less in literal biography and more in the ideas he popularized.

Historical Milestones & Context

• 1883: Birth in Pound, Virginia.

• Early 1900s: Hill begins writing, working in various ventures, experimenting with business.

• 1908: Purported challenge from Andrew Carnegie to study success principles.

• 1928: Publication of The Law of Success.

• 1937: Think and Grow Rich released.

• 1938+: Writes Outwitting the Devil (though published later).

• 1950s–1960s: Continues speaking, writing, promoting courses, and expanding influence.

• November 8, 1970: Death at age 87 in Greenville, South Carolina.

In cultural context, Hill is often seen as a bridge between the New Thought movement of the late 19th/early 20th centuries and modern motivational/self-help movements. His timing—amid growing consumerism, the Great Depression, and the American dream ethos—made his messages resonate with many seeking success and financial security.

Legacy and Influence

Napoleon Hill’s legacy is complex and multifaceted:

1. Shaping the Self-Help Genre
   He’s widely regarded as one of the fathers of modern personal development literature. Many later authors and motivational speakers cite him as foundational.

2. Sustained Popularity of Key Works
   Think and Grow Rich continues to sell, be reprinted, and be quoted by business leaders, coaches, and readers around the world decades after his death.

3. Institutional Legacy
   The Napoleon Hill Foundation and related organizations maintain archives, promote his teachings, offer certifications or courses, and keep his name in circulation in the personal growth space.

4. Inspirational Reach
   His ideas—about desire, belief, persistence, mastermind alliances—continue to inspire entrepreneurs, leaders, and everyday people seeking growth in many areas beyond just finance (e.g. mindset, habits, purpose).

5. Critique and Skepticism
   The debates about his life, claims, and the line between inspiration and exaggeration are part of his legacy. His polarizing status invites reflection: how much weight should be given to narrative versus verifiable fact? Some see him as visionary; others as self-promoter.

In sum, Hill’s influence persists not because his life was spotless, but because his ideas tapped into deep human longings for purpose, success, meaning, and self-improvement.

Personality, Character, and Strengths

From the accounts and biographical reconstructions, several traits emerge:

• Visionary & Ambitious: He imagined schemes, courses, and principles that he believed could transform lives.

• Resilient: Despite many failures, financial crises, and controversy, he continued to write, speak, and promote his philosophy.

• Persuasive Communicator: His writing style, use of stories, and compelling language helped popularize his ideas.

• Self-Reflective & Introspective: He often speaks about mental habits, fear, and how inner states shape outward reality.

• Controversial & Flashy: Some of his claims, ventures, and promotional style suggest a flair for dramatizing success or exaggerating credentials.

• Persistent: He reiterated his key principles throughout his life, revised them, repackaged them, and continued to teach them.

His complexity — a mix of strengths, contradictions, and ambitious claims — is part of what continues to intrigue readers.

Famous Quotes of Napoleon Hill

Here is a selection of his well-known and often-cited quotes. (These are drawn from his published works and popular compilations.)

“The starting point of all achievement is DESIRE. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat.” “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” “When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal.” “You are the master of your destiny. You can influence, direct and control your own environment. You can make your life what you want it to be.” “Do not wait: the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand, and work whatever tools you may have at your command and better tools will be found as you go along.” “A goal is a dream with a deadline.” “Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.” “Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness.” “Fears are nothing more than a state of mind.” “The man who does more than he is paid for will soon be paid for more than he does.”

These quotes reflect recurring themes in Hill’s philosophy: the centrality of desire and purpose, the importance of resilience, mental attitude over circumstance, and disciplined action.

Lessons from Napoleon Hill

From his writings and life story, here are lessons you might draw:

1. Clarity of Purpose & Desire
   Hill insisted that vague wants yield vague results. A burning, specific goal (a “definite major purpose”) is foundational.

2. Mindset Precedes Outcome
   His teachings emphasize that internal beliefs, thoughts, and mental patterns often determine external results.

3. Persistence amid Failure
   Hill’s own history of failed ventures underscores that setbacks are not final—rather, they can be data for new plans.

4. Mastermind & Surrounding Yourself Wisely
   He popularized the idea of aligning with like-minded individuals who elevate your thinking and accountability.

5. Take Action—Don’t Wait for Perfection
   One of his repeated admonitions is to act now with what you have; conditions rarely become perfect first.

6. Balance in Success
   Some of his later works (e.g. Grow Rich!: With Peace of Mind) reflect his belief that success should include inner peace, not just material gain.

7. Skepticism & Discernment
   Given the controversies around his claims, one should balance aspiration with critical thinking: not all grand stories are verifiable.

8. Legacy Through Ideas, Not Just Biography
   Even if parts of his personal story are contested, his ideas endure because they address universal longings.

Conclusion

Napoleon Hill remains a towering name in the realm of personal development and success literature. His life was marked by ambition, trial, controversy, reinvention, and enduring influence. Through Think and Grow Rich and his many other writings, Hill offered a framework of thought that challenged people to believe in themselves, to define clarity of purpose, and to act with persistence.

While critics continue to debate the factual accuracy of his claims, what survives most powerfully is the resonance of the ideas. His quotes, principles, and provocations still stir minds and motivate change across generations.