{"id":71055,"date":"2022-06-28T16:34:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-28T20:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=71055"},"modified":"2022-07-11T14:12:57","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11T18:12:57","slug":"how-the-devil-works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-the-devil-works\/","title":{"rendered":"How the Devil Works Against You: Napoleon Hill’s View"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How does the devil operate? How does he seek to manipulate you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Napoleon Hill, author of Outwitting the Devil<\/em>, the devil is a threat to you now, not after you die. In the book, Hill argues that you can outmaneuver the devil if you go to work against him in the right way. First, you must understand how he operates. Hill asserts that the devil seeks to rob you of success and fulfillment by manipulating your desires and fears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue reading to learn more about this view of how the devil works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How the Devil Works<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The three main characteristics<\/strong> of the devil as Hill describes him are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. He doesn\u2019t have a physical form but exists as negative energy and negative thoughts<\/strong>.<\/li>
  2. He\u2019s an essential part of the universe<\/strong>, and can\u2019t be truly defeated; while God represents all that is positive in nature, the devil represents all that is negative, and just as day can\u2019t exist without night, life can\u2019t exist without both God and the devil<\/strong> locked in a constant struggle. <\/li>
  3. He does not torture people in Hell after death, but instead attempts to gain control of them throughout their lives<\/strong>, and, if he succeeds, absorbs them into himself after death.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Hill argues that the primary way the devil works is not after death, but in the course of your life, and so you must commit to resisting him each and every day. While the devil cannot be permanently defeated, he can be avoided by someone who is strong of character and who commits to practicing Hill\u2019s principles for success<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Different Visions of the Devil<\/strong>

    The devil, or Satan, has been imagined in radically different ways<\/a> throughout history. At various points in Christian theology, he has been described as the snake in the Garden of Eden, a fallen angel, and a red creature with goat hooves, horns, a tail, and a pitchfork. His role has also changed, from an instrument of God used to punish and accuse sinful humans<\/a>, to the personification of all evil and God\u2019s opposite. 

    In his description, Hill seems to subscribe to the theory that Satan is both the source of all evil and a     part of God\u2019s plan<\/a>. He describes the devil as a needed part of the universe and dismisses the idea that his role is to be a \u201cpunisher\u201d in Hell, focusing instead on his ability to \u201ctest\u201d people by entering their minds and tempting them to indulge their desires. According to Hill, you should not fear Satan, but recognize his attempts to manipulate you and resist them\u2014this will bring you closer to godliness, and, therefore, to success. This aligns with a more contemporary view of the devil that emphasizes his usefulness as a vehicle for personal growth<\/a> over his punitive instincts. <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Hill claims that the devil has two ways of manipulating people <\/strong>away from professional success and personal fulfillment: through their desires <\/strong>and through their fears<\/strong>. We\u2019ll explore each of these in the following sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Desires<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Hill argues that the devil can manipulate people\u2019s desires to turn them towards bad habits, which position their bodies and immobilize their minds, keeping their focus on short-term gratification<\/a> rather than long-term goals. These habits include things like smoking, excessive drinking, gambling, or excessive spending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The ten desires Hill names are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n