Page 147 - Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich Full Book | Success Learned

greatest drama of recent times? Did he pay too high a price for the affections of
the woman of his choice?

Surely no one but he can give the correct answer. The rest of us can only conjec-
ture. This much we know, the king came into the world without his own consent.

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NAPOLEON HILL THINK AND GROW RICH

He was born to great riches, without requesting them. He was persistently sought
in marriage; politicians and statesmen throughout Europe tossed dowagers and
princesses at his feet. Because he was the first born of his parents, he inherited
a crown, which he did not seek, and perhaps did not desire. For more than forty
years he was not a free agent, could not live his life in his own way, had but lit-
tle privacy, and finally assumed duties inflicted upon him when he ascended the
throne.

Some will say, "With all these blessings, King Edward should have found peace of
mind, contentment, and j oy of living. " The truth is that back of all the privileges of
a crown, all the money, the fame, and the power inherited by King Edward, there
was an emptiness which could be filled only by love.

His greatest DESIRE was for love. Long before he met Wallis Simpson, he doubt-
less felt this great universal emotion tugging at the strings of his heart, beating
upon the door of his soul, and crying out for expression. And when he met a kin-
dred spirit, crying out for this same Holy privilege of expression, he recognized
it, and without fear or apology, opened his heart and bade it enter. All the scan-
dal-mongers in the world cannot destroy the beauty of this international drama,
through which two people found love, and had the courage to face open criticism,
renounce ALL ELSE to give it holy expression.

King Edward's DECISION to give up the crown of the world's most powerful em-
pire, for the privilege of going the remainder of the way through life with the
woman of his choice, was a decision that required courage. The decision also had
a price, but who has the right to say the price was too great? Surely not He who
said, "He among you who is without sin, let him cast the first stone."

As a suggestion to any evil-minded person who chooses to find fault with the Duke
of Windsor, because his DESIRE was for LOVE, and for openly declaring his love
for Wallis Simpson, and giving up his throne for her, let it be remembered that
the OPEN DECLARATION was not essential. He could have followed the custom
of clandestine liaison which has prevailed in Europe for centuries, without giving
up either his throne, or the woman of his choice, and there would have been NO
COMPLAINT FROM EITHER CHURCH OR LAITY. But this unusual man was
built of sterner stuff. His love was clean. It was deep and sincere. It represented