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Skull
08-13-2021, 10:26 PM
Never read Napoleon Hill and was surprised at this work. His understanding of the dual tendencies of human nature is excellent. Very uplifting, yet practical! Kept unpublished since 1938, finally came forth in 2012.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13584599-outwitting-the-devil

Skull
08-14-2021, 01:01 PM
The Devil likes drifters - here are some of their traits:

Q Go ahead and describe a typical drifter. Give your description
point by point so I can recognize a drifter when I see him.

A The first thing you will notice about a drifter is his total
lack of a major purpose in life.
He will be conspicuous by his lack of self-confidence.
He will never accomplish anything requiring thought and effort.
He spends all he earns and more too, if he can get credit.
He will be sick or ailing from some real or imaginary cause,
and calling to high heaven if he suffers the least physical pain.
He will have little or no imagination.
He will lack enthusiasm and initiative to begin anything he
is not forced to undertake, and he will plainly express his
weakness by taking the line of least resistance whenever he can do so.
He will be ill-tempered and lacking in control over his emotions.
His personality will be without magnetism and it will not attract other people.
He will have opinions on everything but accurate knowledge of nothing.
He may be jack of all trades but good at none.
He will neglect to cooperate with those around him, even
those on whom he must depend for food and shelter.
He will make the same mistake over and over again, never profiting by failure.
He will be narrow-minded and intolerant on all subjects,
ready to crucify those who may disagree with him.
He will expect everything of others but be willing to give little
or nothing in return....

Skull
08-14-2021, 01:07 PM
But the Devil can do nothing with non-drifters who have characters like:

Q You have given me a graphic description of the drifter.
Please now describe the non-drifter so that I may recognize him on sight.

A The first sign of a non-drifter is this: He is always engaged
in doing something definite, through some well-organized
plan which is definite. He has a major goal in life toward which
he is always working, and many minor goals, all of which lead
toward his central scheme.
The tone of his voice, the quickness of his step, the sparkle in
his eyes, the quickness of his decisions clearly mark him as a
person who knows exactly what he wants and is determined
to get it, no matter how long it may take or what price he must pay.
If you ask him questions, he gives you direct answers and
never falls back on evasions or resorts to subterfuge.
He extends many favors to others, but accepts favors sparingly or not at all.
He will be found up front whether he is playing a game or fighting a war.
If he does not know the answers he will say so frankly.
He has a good memory; never offers an alibi for his shortcomings.
He never blames others for his mistakes no matter if they deserve the blame....

Skull
08-17-2021, 05:39 PM
There are two editions out there and this complete edition is far superior to the one cited in my first post. It contains an entire chapter that the other one does not.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55019336-outwitting-the-devil?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=dIGnLSwfif&rank=2

An entertaining read, yet Hill may have been a true "drifter" for most of his life & a personal skunk to his several wives & kids. The Devil-mind was much closer to Hill than his own mind.