No Explanations, No Alibis
“Success requires no explanations. Failure permits no alibis.”
This is another jewel of a quote taken from Napoleon Hill’s classic empowerment and wealth creation text, Think and Grow Rich. You can download the free, updated, modernized version at my site—its updated title is Mindset Mastery. Before we get into the meat of this quote, let’s take a quick look at it again:
“Success requires no explanations. Failure permits no alibis.”
I find this quote quite striking and meaningful. What is that meaning?
Success Requires No Explanations
Let’s talk about this first half first. What does it mean that success requires no explanations?
To me it means that success speaks for itself. To me it does not mean that you are not accountable to integrity, ethics, and just being in general a good person, but it does mean that you can disregard all the nay-sayers and negative, cynical people. You can stop worrying about them and what they think and pursue your own dreams and goals. As you begin to enjoy success and achieve those goals, and that success grows to even greater wealth, you will have all the “explanation” you need—in accomplishment and deeds, without wasting any of your precious resources of time and energy.
Failure Permits No Alibis
So then, what does this mean? That failure permits no alibis?
Alibi is just another word for excuse. To me it means that there are no excuses for failure. Failure is a harsh and unforgiving character, and will not care why you think you failed. It will just continue to be. However, you can find the reasons and turn that failure into success by learning and changing and not letting temporary defeat be the end of you. That choice is yours, too.
This is another example of the wisdom Napoleon Hill left to us. Consider it, weigh it, learn from it, and decide what these words mean to you—and what meaning they will have in your life and success.
Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
Aussie Internet Marketer © 2004 – 2009
Tags: accomplishment, Mindset, Mindset Mastery, Napoleon Hill, Napoleon Hill quote, Success