--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a man attains a high station in life…" description: "\"If a man attains a high station in life, it is because he has acquired or was blessed with native ability as a salesman. Schooling, college degrees, in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/napoleon-hill-201_ability_if-a-man-attains-a-high-station-in-life_1203417.jpg" --- # If a man attains a high station in life, it is because he… ![“If a man attains a high station in life, it is because he has acquired or was blessed with native ability as a salesman. Schooling, college degrees, intellect, brilliancy, are of no avail to the man who lacks the ability to attract the cooperative efforts of others, thus to create opportunities…” quote by Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/napoleon-hill-201_ability_if-a-man-attains-a-high-station-in-life_1203417.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/napoleon-hill-201_ability_if-a-man-attains-a-high-station-in-life_1203417.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/napoleon-hill-201_ability_if-a-man-attains-a-high-station-in-life_1203417.jpg) > “If a man attains a high station in life, it is because he has acquired or was blessed with native ability as a salesman. Schooling, college degrees, intellect, brilliancy, are of no avail to the man who lacks the ability to attract the cooperative efforts of others, thus to create opportunities for himself.” [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success relies more on innate persuasive talent than formal education; influencing others creates opportunity. **In simple terms:** Persuasion beats credentials. Key Takeaway Cultivate influence skills. Themes leadership influence success education Mood motivational critical Type self‑help business When to use this quote - sales - team building - networking - career advancement Key Concepts psychology social dynamics entrepreneurship Questions to Reflect On - Do you rely on influence or credentials? - How can you develop genuine persuasive ability? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on charisma can overlook ethical persuasion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessed/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College degree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-degree/) [Cooperatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooperatives/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Intellect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellect/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Salesman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salesman/) [Schooling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schooling/) ## Related quotes > [No individual has sufficient experience, education, native ability and knowledge to ensure the accumulation of a great fortune, without the cooperation of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/no-individual-has-sufficient-experience-education-native-ability-and-2/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Native ability without education is like a tree without fruit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristippus/native-ability-without-education-is-like-a-tree-without-fruit/) [Aristippus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristippus/) > [You can take a team of absolute all-stars in terms of their native abilities, but if they are not working together, they are much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-butterfield/you-can-take-a-team-of-absolute-all-stars-in-terms-of-their-native/) [Stewart Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-butterfield/) > [It takes more than a college degree to make one a person of education. Any person who is educated is one who has learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/it-takes-more-than-a-college-degree-to-make-one-a-person-of-education/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [My parents told me that education was the path to success - and they showed me, taking me to Head Start while they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-juneau/my-parents-told-me-that-education-was-the-path-to-success-and-they/) [Denise Juneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-juneau/) > [Our promise to our children should be this: if you do well in school, we will pay for you to obtain a college degree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ann-minner/our-promise-to-our-children-should-be-this-if-you-do-well-in-school/) [Ruth Ann Minner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ann-minner/) > [People who graduate are more resilient financially, and they weather economic downturns better than people who don't graduate. And, throughout their lives, people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/people-who-graduate-are-more-resilient-financially-and-they-weather/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [For me specifically, it was important to graduate. In my family, I was one of the first graduates. My mom did not have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-acton/for-me-specifically-it-was-important-to-graduate-in-my-family-i-was/) [Brian Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-acton/) > [The obsessive focus on a college degree has served neither taxpayers nor students well. Only 35 percent of students starting a four-year degree program…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-tabarrok/the-obsessive-focus-on-a-college-degree-has-served-neither-taxpayers/) [Alex Tabarrok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-tabarrok/) > [I've been waiting more than 30 years to say this: 'Dad, I always told you I'd come back and get my degree.' I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-ve-been-waiting-more-than-30-years-to-say-this-dad-i-always-told/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [“Having a college degree does not make you educated. Always learning new things is what makes you educated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/having-a-college-degree-does-not-make-you-educated-always-learning/) [Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/) > [We should all feel confident in our intelligence. By the way, intelligence to me isn't just being book-smart or having a college degree; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabatha-coffey/we-should-all-feel-confident-in-our-intelligence-by-the-way/) [Tabatha Coffey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabatha-coffey/) > [A man who cannot think is not an educated man however many college degrees he may have acquired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/a-man-who-cannot-think-is-not-an-educated-man-however-many-college/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [Cities are broke, there are no jobs, people without a high school diploma and sometimes even with a college degree can't get jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cities-are-broke-there-are-no-jobs-people-without-a-high-school/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At AT&T, I learned an awful lot about people, and how important it is to have the right people in the right jobs. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-whitacre-jr/at-at-t-i-learned-an-awful-lot-about-people-and-how-important-it-is/) [Edward Whitacre, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-whitacre-jr/) ## More by Napoleon Hill > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The mind requires regular use to remain strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-mind-requires-regular-use-to-remain-strong/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The vast majority of people are born, grow up, struggle and go through life in misery and failure, not realizing that it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-vast-majority-of-people-are-born-grow-up-struggle-and-go-through/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [No accurate thinker will judge another person by that which the other person's enemies say about him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/no-accurate-thinker-will-judge-another-person-by-that-which-the-other/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“To all these I wish to convey the thought that all achievement, no matter what may be its nature, or its purpose, must begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/to-all-these-i-wish-to-convey-the-thought-that-all-achievement-no/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“Tell the world what you intend to do, but first show it.” This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/tell-the-world-what-you-intend-to-do-but-first-show-it-this/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Handicaps can be converted into stepping stones on which one may climb toward some worthy goal, unless they are accepted as obstacles, and used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/handicaps-can-be-converted-into-stepping-stones-on-which-one-may/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [You become what you think about](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/you-become-what-you-think-about/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Every man's own character is written so all who will may read it, in the expression of his eyes, the tone of his voice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/every-man-s-own-character-is-written-so-all-who-will-may-read-it-in/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Life is a mirror of your consistent thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/life-is-a-mirror-of-your-consistent-thoughts/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Success requires no explanations. Failure permits no alibis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/success-requires-no-explanations-failure-permits-no-alibis/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The habit of taking the line of least resistance makes all rivers and some men crooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-habit-of-taking-the-line-of-least-resistance-makes-all-rivers-and/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“There are no limitations to the mind except those that we acknowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/there-are-no-limitations-to-the-mind-except-those-that-we-acknowledge/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) [Explore all 928 Napoleon Hill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a man attains a high station in life, it is because he has acquired or was blessed with native ability as a salesman. 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