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How To Get What You Want - 5. FORCE THAT MOVES MOUNTAINS - Orison Swett Marden (1917)
Published 2 years, 4 months ago
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How To Get What You Want - 5. FORCE THAT MOVES MOUNTAINS - Orison Swett Marden (1917) - HQ Full Book.
A Powerful Tribute to the Unstoppable Force of Will
In “Force That Moves Mountains,” the fifth installment of Orison Swett Marden’s How to Get What You Want, the acclaimed author delves deep into the indomitable power of the human will. Written in the aftermath of the 19th century’s sweeping industrial revolution and on the cusp of the modern era, this 1917 essay stands as a timeless tribute to persistence, purpose, and the untapped potential of human character. Marden, a pioneer of the self-help movement and founder of Success magazine, believed deeply in the transformative power of the mind. Drawing inspiration from both spiritual and philosophical traditions, he argues that the human will—rightly focused and passionately applied—can overcome any obstacle, no matter how daunting. Mountains, in this context, become metaphors for the trials, doubts, and barriers that life presents. The force that moves them is not physical strength, but unwavering determination.
The Power Within: Will as Creative Energy
At the heart of this essay is a bold assertion: our inner force, when combined with conviction, can shape reality. Marden writes with the certainty of someone who has seen lives transformed by belief and effort. He rejects the notion of fate as something externally imposed. Instead, he posits that what we often accept as destiny is merely a reflection of our inner choices. The man who achieves, he insists, is not necessarily the one with the most talent or resources, but the one with the strongest will. This theme aligns closely with the broader New Thought movement, which saw great popularity in the early 20th century. It emphasized mental discipline, visualization, and spiritual optimism. Yet, unlike some of his contemporaries who drifted into mysticism, Marden grounded his message in practical action. Willpower, for him, wasn’t a vague notion—it was a tool for daily life, forged through habit, discipline, and belief.
Will in Action: Real Examples of Triumph
Throughout Force That Moves Mountains, Marden offers a parade of historical and contemporary figures who exemplified this unstoppable force of will. He points to inventors, leaders, entrepreneurs, and reformers who carved new paths by sheer persistence. Whether it's Abraham Lincoln rising from obscurity or Thomas Edison refusing to accept failure, Marden reminds readers that these icons began with ordinary tools—often nothing more than grit, clarity of purpose, and the refusal to give up. In showcasing these stories, Marden isn’t merely offering motivational anecdotes. He is constructing a larger argument: the will is the common denominator behind all enduring success. Intelligence, background, and luck might play roles, but they pale in comparison to the enduring, resilient application of inner force. Even in a time of global upheaval—World War I was ongoing when this was published—Marden’s optimism burns brightly. For him, the human spirit is stronger than circumstance.
Character as Will Embodied
Marden also closely ties will to character. He argues that individuals who achieve great things often possess a strong moral compass, a clarity of values, and a steady emotional core. Will, in this sense, is not just about exertion—it is about integrity, consistency, and the courage to stay true to one’s vision even when it's unpopular or inconvenient. This connection between character and will sets Marden apart from later self-help thinkers who focus more exclusively on external strategies. For Marden, the mountain-moving force is born not only from ambition, but from inner alignment. When desire, belief, and values are unified, a person becomes truly unstoppable.
The Will and the Law of Growth
One of the most compelling aspects of this essay is Marden’s belief in the developability
A Powerful Tribute to the Unstoppable Force of Will
In “Force That Moves Mountains,” the fifth installment of Orison Swett Marden’s How to Get What You Want, the acclaimed author delves deep into the indomitable power of the human will. Written in the aftermath of the 19th century’s sweeping industrial revolution and on the cusp of the modern era, this 1917 essay stands as a timeless tribute to persistence, purpose, and the untapped potential of human character. Marden, a pioneer of the self-help movement and founder of Success magazine, believed deeply in the transformative power of the mind. Drawing inspiration from both spiritual and philosophical traditions, he argues that the human will—rightly focused and passionately applied—can overcome any obstacle, no matter how daunting. Mountains, in this context, become metaphors for the trials, doubts, and barriers that life presents. The force that moves them is not physical strength, but unwavering determination.
The Power Within: Will as Creative Energy
At the heart of this essay is a bold assertion: our inner force, when combined with conviction, can shape reality. Marden writes with the certainty of someone who has seen lives transformed by belief and effort. He rejects the notion of fate as something externally imposed. Instead, he posits that what we often accept as destiny is merely a reflection of our inner choices. The man who achieves, he insists, is not necessarily the one with the most talent or resources, but the one with the strongest will. This theme aligns closely with the broader New Thought movement, which saw great popularity in the early 20th century. It emphasized mental discipline, visualization, and spiritual optimism. Yet, unlike some of his contemporaries who drifted into mysticism, Marden grounded his message in practical action. Willpower, for him, wasn’t a vague notion—it was a tool for daily life, forged through habit, discipline, and belief.
Will in Action: Real Examples of Triumph
Throughout Force That Moves Mountains, Marden offers a parade of historical and contemporary figures who exemplified this unstoppable force of will. He points to inventors, leaders, entrepreneurs, and reformers who carved new paths by sheer persistence. Whether it's Abraham Lincoln rising from obscurity or Thomas Edison refusing to accept failure, Marden reminds readers that these icons began with ordinary tools—often nothing more than grit, clarity of purpose, and the refusal to give up. In showcasing these stories, Marden isn’t merely offering motivational anecdotes. He is constructing a larger argument: the will is the common denominator behind all enduring success. Intelligence, background, and luck might play roles, but they pale in comparison to the enduring, resilient application of inner force. Even in a time of global upheaval—World War I was ongoing when this was published—Marden’s optimism burns brightly. For him, the human spirit is stronger than circumstance.
Character as Will Embodied
Marden also closely ties will to character. He argues that individuals who achieve great things often possess a strong moral compass, a clarity of values, and a steady emotional core. Will, in this sense, is not just about exertion—it is about integrity, consistency, and the courage to stay true to one’s vision even when it's unpopular or inconvenient. This connection between character and will sets Marden apart from later self-help thinkers who focus more exclusively on external strategies. For Marden, the mountain-moving force is born not only from ambition, but from inner alignment. When desire, belief, and values are unified, a person becomes truly unstoppable.
The Will and the Law of Growth
One of the most compelling aspects of this essay is Marden’s belief in the developability