"The battle is all over except the "shouting" when one knows what is wanted and has made up his mind to get it, whatever the price may be"
About this Quote
Hill treats victory as a mental event that precedes the outer result. The idiom all over but the shouting suggests the outcome is already settled; what remains is the noise of recognition. By insisting that clarity of desire and an uncompromising decision tilt the battle, he highlights a core pillar of his philosophy: definiteness of purpose. In the self-help tradition shaped during the turbulence of the early 20th century and the Great Depression, he argued that wavering, not scarcity, defeats most people. Once the mind is set, the world begins to reorganize around that decision.
Psychologically, decisiveness collapses a thousand petty debates. When you know exactly what you want, you stop leaking energy into alternatives and excuses. Costs become prices rather than deterrents, and planning gains teeth because trade-offs are accepted upfront. Such commitment attracts resources in practical ways: others sense seriousness and offer help, you persist longer, and you notice opportunities that were previously filtered out. The internal battle against hesitation, fear, and distraction is the hardest part; resolve quiets those enemies.
There is, however, a moral and strategic edge to the phrase whatever the price may be. If taken as license for ruthlessness, it corrodes character and relationships. Hill’s better reading is disciplined sacrifice, not ethical compromise: time, comfort, and ego are the currencies to spend. Wise commitment includes the humility to adjust methods without diluting the aim. A founder who is fixed on solving a customer problem can pivot products while keeping the purpose intact; an athlete can modify training while staying devoted to the win.
The line is a call to convert desire into a decision strong enough to endure costs. Do that, and the remaining work becomes a matter of execution and stamina. The shouting comes later, from others. The victory begins now, in the quiet moment when the mind closes the door on doubt.
Psychologically, decisiveness collapses a thousand petty debates. When you know exactly what you want, you stop leaking energy into alternatives and excuses. Costs become prices rather than deterrents, and planning gains teeth because trade-offs are accepted upfront. Such commitment attracts resources in practical ways: others sense seriousness and offer help, you persist longer, and you notice opportunities that were previously filtered out. The internal battle against hesitation, fear, and distraction is the hardest part; resolve quiets those enemies.
There is, however, a moral and strategic edge to the phrase whatever the price may be. If taken as license for ruthlessness, it corrodes character and relationships. Hill’s better reading is disciplined sacrifice, not ethical compromise: time, comfort, and ego are the currencies to spend. Wise commitment includes the humility to adjust methods without diluting the aim. A founder who is fixed on solving a customer problem can pivot products while keeping the purpose intact; an athlete can modify training while staying devoted to the win.
The line is a call to convert desire into a decision strong enough to endure costs. Do that, and the remaining work becomes a matter of execution and stamina. The shouting comes later, from others. The victory begins now, in the quiet moment when the mind closes the door on doubt.
Quote Details
| Topic | Perseverance |
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