decision the course of action then under contemplation usurps the attention, and

conflicting ideas are dropped out of consideration.

 

The head of a large publishing house remarked only recently that ninety per cent

of the people who bought books by subscription never read them. They buy because

the salesman presents his wares so skillfully that every consideration but the

attractiveness of the book drops out of the mind, and that thought prompts

action. _Every_ idea that enters the mind will result in action unless a

contradictory thought arises to prohibit it. Think of singing the musical scale

and it will result in your singing it unless the counter-thought of its futility

or absurdity inhibits your action. If you bandage and "doctor" a horse's foot,

he will go lame. You cannot think of swallowing, without the muscles used in

that process being affected. You cannot think of saying "hello," without a

slight movement of the muscles of speech. To warn children that they should not

put beans up their noses is the surest method of getting them to do it. Every

thought called up in the mind of your audience will work either for or against

you. Thoughts are not dead matter; they radiate dynamic energy--the thoughts all

tend to pass into action. "Thought is another name for fate." Dominate your

hearers' thoughts, allay all contradictory ideas, and you will sway them as you

wish.

 

Volitions as well as feelings and thoughts tend to follow the line of least

resistance. That is what makes habit. Suggest to a man that it is impossible to

change his mind and in most cases it becomes more difficult to do so--the

exception is the man who naturally jumps to the contrary. Counter suggestion is