--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What a different story men would have to…" description: "\"What a different story men would have to tell if only they would adopt a DEFINITE PURPOSE, and stand by that purpose until it had time to become an all..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/napoleon-hill-201_consuming_what-a-different-story-men-would-have-to_141333.jpg" --- # What a different story men would have to tell if only they… ![“What a different story men would have to tell if only they would adopt a DEFINITE PURPOSE, and stand by that purpose until it had time to become an all-consuming obsession!” quote by Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/napoleon-hill-201_consuming_what-a-different-story-men-would-have-to_141333.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/napoleon-hill-201_consuming_what-a-different-story-men-would-have-to_141333.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/napoleon-hill-201_consuming_what-a-different-story-men-would-have-to_141333.jpg) > “What a different story men would have to tell if only they would adopt a DEFINITE PURPOSE, and stand by that purpose until it had time to become an all-consuming obsession!” [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. Men would achieve more if they adopted a clear purpose and pursued it obsessively until it became all‑consuming. **In simple terms:** A definite purpose drives relentless dedication and success. Key Takeaway Define a purpose and commit fully. Themes purpose determination obsession Mood ambitious focused Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - business ventures - creative projects Key Concepts goal setting career planning personal development Questions to Reflect On - What purpose fuels you? - How can you balance focus with well‑being? A Different Perspective Obsessive focus can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Obsession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsession/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Forget all you know - I said to myself. This is the one you belong with. I don't know how I knew that. Maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarryn-fisher/forget-all-you-know-i-said-to-myself-this-is-the-one-you-belong-with/) [Tarryn Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarryn-fisher/) > [Desire is the factor that determines what your definite purpose in life shall be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/desire-is-the-factor-that-determines-what-your-definite-purpose-in/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my Definite Purpose in life, therefore, I demand of myself persistent, continuous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/i-know-that-i-have-the-ability-to-achieve-the-object-of-my-definite/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“1.   A definite purpose backed by burning desire for its fulfillment.       2.   A”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/1-a-definite-purpose-backed-by-burning-desire-for-its-fulfillment-2-a-2/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“1. A DEFINITE PURPOSE BACKED BY BURNING DESIRE FOR ITS FULFILLMENT. 2. A DEFINITE PLAN, EXPRESSED IN CONTINUOUS ACTION. 3. A MIND CLOSED TIGHTLY…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/1-a-definite-purpose-backed-by-burning-desire-for-its-fulfillment-2-a/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Every well built house started in the form of a definite purpose plus a definite plan in the nature of a set of blueprints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/every-well-built-house-started-in-the-form-of-a-definite-purpose-plus/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [IDEAS CAN BE TRANSMUTED INTO CASH THROUGH THE POWER OF DEFINITE PURPOSE, PLUS DEFINITE PLANS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/ideas-can-be-transmuted-into-cash-through-the-power-of-definite/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The most practical of all methods for controlling the mind is the habit of keeping it busy with a definite purpose, backed by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-most-practical-of-all-methods-for-controlling-the-mind-is-the/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [“First: I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my definite purpose, therefore I demand of myself persistent, aggressive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/first-i-know-that-i-have-the-ability-to-achieve-the-object-of-my/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Each day should be devoted to miracles. The purpose of time is to enable you to learn how to use time constructively. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-wapnick/each-day-should-be-devoted-to-miracles-the-purpose-of-time-is-to/) [Kenneth Wapnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-wapnick/) > [“Life without purpose, is time without meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiley-callaway/life-without-purpose-is-time-without-meaning/) Kiley Callaway > [I always thought the purpose of time was to move forward, not backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-moran/i-always-thought-the-purpose-of-time-was-to-move-forward-not-backward/) [Michelle Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-moran/) > [The Purpose of Time is to Prevent Everything from Happening at Once](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/x-j-kennedy/the-purpose-of-time-is-to-prevent-everything-from-happening-at-once/) [X. J. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/x-j-kennedy/) > [“You need to pursue purpose and time to be productive”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-need-to-pursue-purpose-and-time-to-be-productive/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“perhaps our purpose is, for the time being, to be human, to live on this earth and in this human community, to receive something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-hornbacher/perhaps-our-purpose-is-for-the-time-being-to-be-human-to-live-on-this/) [Marya Hornbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-hornbacher/) ## 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 Consuming quotes > [A garden has a curious innocent way of consuming cash while all the time you are under the illusion that you are spending nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-meynell/a-garden-has-a-curious-innocent-way-of-consuming-cash-while-all-the/) [Esther Meynell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-meynell/) > [Royalty has always been an unconscious but all-consuming goal of the European immigrant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vine-deloria-jr/royalty-has-always-been-an-unconscious-but-all-consuming-goal-of-the/) [Vine Deloria Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vine-deloria-jr/) > [I'm in production year round. I work long hours. I have a dog and a wife. There's not a lot of available time for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/i-m-in-production-year-round-i-work-long-hours-i-have-a-dog-and-a/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [If we were truly in the studio making a record, it would have been more time consuming, and certainly I would have been more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-dayne/if-we-were-truly-in-the-studio-making-a-record-it-would-have-been/) [Taylor Dayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-dayne/) > [The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is a very effective way to raise awareness and consumption of two vital food groups that are sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dean-crapo/the-fresh-fruit-and-vegetable-program-is-a-very-effective-way-to/) Michael Dean Crapo > [As I write, Johnny Rotten's first moments in "Anarchy in the U.K." - a rolling earthquake of a laugh, a buried shout, then hoary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greil-marcus/as-i-write-johnny-rotten-s-first-moments-in-anarchy-in-the-u-k-a/) [Greil Marcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greil-marcus/) > [Love to throw yourself on the earth and kiss it. Kiss the earth and love it with an unceasing, consuming love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/love-to-throw-yourself-on-the-earth-and-kiss-it-kiss-the-earth-and/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Development of character consists solely in moving toward self-sufficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/development-of-character-consists-solely-in-moving-toward-self/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [ There are about 50 or 60 recommendations \[in "Win"\] for how to communicate, not just the words themselves. All of them had to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-luntz/there-are-about-50-or-60-recommendations-in-win-for-how-to/) [Frank Luntz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-luntz/) > [Shooting stuff on horseback is more complicated and time consuming than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-addy/shooting-stuff-on-horseback-is-more-complicated-and-time-consuming/) [Mark Addy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-addy/) > [A lot of my time is spent watching films and reading scripts. And it can be all-consuming. And it's obviously something I'm fortunate that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/a-lot-of-my-time-is-spent-watching-films-and-reading-scripts-and-it/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [Writing is a creatively rewarding occupation but for me very time consuming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/writing-is-a-creatively-rewarding-occupation-but-for-me-very-time/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [Using clouds is a radical way of consuming IT. There are emotional barriers to giving up some level of control over the servers that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/werner-vogels/using-clouds-is-a-radical-way-of-consuming-it-there-are-emotional/) [Werner Vogels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/werner-vogels/) > [There is the extreme of hopelessness and the inevitability of doom, a deep despair that comes from the sense that our industrial, consuming society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/there-is-the-extreme-of-hopelessness-and-the-inevitability-of-doom-a/) [Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/) > [“At a certain point, an eating disorder ceases to be "about" any one thing. It stops being about your family, or your culture. Very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-hornbacher/at-a-certain-point-an-eating-disorder-ceases-to-be-about-any-one/) [Marya Hornbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-hornbacher/) Browse all 481 Consuming quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What a different story men would have to tell if only they would adopt a DEFINITE PURPOSE, and stand by that purpose until it had time to become an all-consuming obsession!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Napoleon Hill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/what-a-different-story-men-would-have-to-tell-if-only-they-would/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Consuming" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/what-a-different-story-men-would-have-to-tell-if-only-they-would/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/napoleon-hill-201_consuming_what-a-different-story-men-would-have-to_141333.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/napoleon-hill-201_consuming_what-a-different-story-men-would-have-to_141333.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/napoleon-hill-201_consuming_what-a-different-story-men-would-have-to_141333.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What a different story men would have to tell if only they would adopt a DEFINITE PURPOSE, and stand by that…” — Napoleon Hill", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Napoleon Hill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What a different story men would...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/what-a-different-story-men-would-have-to-tell-if-only-they-would/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/what-a-different-story-men-would-have-to-tell-if-only-they-would/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```