Page 170 - Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich Full Book | Success Learned

dulges its sex nature in moderation, and with purpose which harmonizes with the
laws of nature. Every other animal responds to the call of sex only in "season."
Man's inclination is to declare "open season."

Every intelligent person knows that stimulation in excess, through alcoholic
drink and narcotics, is a form of intemperance which destroys the vital organs of
the body, including the brain. Not every person knows, however, that over indul-
gence in sex expression may become a habit as destructive and as detrimental to
creative effort as narcotics or liquor.

172

NAPOLEON HILL THINK AND GROW RICH

A sex-mad man is not essentially different than a dope-mad man! Both have lost
control over their faculties of reason and will-power. Sexual overindulgence may
not only destroy reason and will-power, but it may also lead to either temporary,
or permanent insanity. Many cases of hypochondria (imaginary illness) grow out
of habits developed in ignorance of the true function of sex.

From these brief references to the subject, it may be readily seen that ignorance
on the subject of sex transmutation, forces stupendous penalties upon the igno-
rant on the one hand, and withholds from them equally stupendous benefits, on
the other.

Widespread ignorance on the subject of sex is due to the fact that the subject has
been surrounded with mystery and beclouded by dark silence. The conspiracy of
mystery and silence has had the same effect upon the minds of young people that
the psychology of prohibition had. The result has been increased curiosity, and
desire to acquire more knowledge on this "verboten" subject; and to the shame of
all lawmakers, and most physicians-by training best qualified to educate youth on
that subject -information has not been easily available.

Seldom does an individual enter upon highly creative effort in any field of en-
deavor before the age of forty. The average man reaches the period of his great-
est capacity to create between forty and sixty. These statements are based upon
analysis of thousands of men and women who have been carefully observed. They
should be encouraging to those who fail to arrive before the age of forty, and
to those who become frightened at the approach of "old age," around the forty-
year mark. The years between forty and fifty are, as a rule, the most fruitful. Man
should approach this age, not with fear and trembling, but with hope and eager
anticipation.

If you want evidence that most men do not begin to do their best work before the
age of forty, study the records of the most successful men known to the American
people, and you will find it.