"Hustlers of the world, there is one mark you cannot beat: the mark inside"

William S. Burroughs’s observation, “Hustlers of the world, there is one mark you cannot beat: the mark inside,” unveils a profound commentary on human nature and self-deception. The “hustlers of the world” are those who maneuver, manipulate, or ply their cunning to get ahead, assuming that everyone, every “mark”, is susceptible to trickery. The quote addresses not only literal hustlers but anyone who seeks advantage by exploiting others’ weaknesses, suggesting a universal human pursuit of external victories.

However, Burroughs sharply redirects attention inward. No matter how skilled someone becomes at outsmarting or deceiving others, the most formidable “mark”, the ultimate dupe or target, is oneself. This “mark inside” is the internal mechanism of self-delusion, the lies one tells oneself, the rationalizations used to justify questionable actions. Self-deception can be subtle, insidious, and perpetual. Even someone who prides themselves on clear-eyed realism can still fall prey to comforting illusions, ego-driven justifications, or unacknowledged fears.

The vulnerability to internal deception reflects a fundamental human truth: mastery over the world is incomplete without self-awareness. The mind’s capacity to justify, obscure, or deny one’s motivations and failings is arguably greater than any con a hustler could perpetrate externally. External adversaries are recognizable and can be fought, but internal illusions arise from the same mind that seeks to expose them, making them paradoxically more difficult to overcome.

Burroughs’s words suggest that genuine liberation or sophistication lies in confronting the internal mark, recognizing, questioning, and ultimately disarming the mechanisms of self-deceit. It is a call for vigilance and humility, an acknowledgment that the greatest con is the one we perform on ourselves, and true wisdom begins when we stop underestimating the power of our own self-deception.