HE CAN WHO THINKS HE CAN: The Power of Belief in Achieving Success - Orison Swett Marden (1908) - HQ Full Book. 

"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right." ― Henry Ford

Chapter 7: Responsibility Develops Power

In Chapter 7 of He Can Who Thinks He Can, titled “Responsibility Develops Power,” Orison Swett Marden explores one of the foundational truths of personal growth: the more responsibility a person assumes, the more capable and powerful they become. This chapter serves as a profound reminder that power—true, enduring inner power—is not something inherited or stumbled upon. Rather, it is developed deliberately through the disciplined acceptance of responsibility. Marden begins by asserting that the average person avoids responsibility, often fearing the burden it brings. But this fear, he insists, is precisely what keeps people from growing into their full potential. Many individuals remain stagnant not because they lack talent or intelligence, but because they shy away from the tasks that would stretch and develop them. Just as a muscle strengthens only when used, character and capability only deepen through challenge and effort. According to Marden, responsibility is not merely a duty—it is an opportunity. Every time we accept a greater obligation, every time we step forward to face a difficulty or fulfill a duty, we enlarge our capacity to do more. “Nothing so strengthens the mind and enlarges the mental horizon,” Marden writes, “as assuming responsibility.” He equates life to a great training ground, where each trial and duty is a stepping-stone to mastery. Throughout the chapter, Marden presents responsibility as a refining fire. It tempers weakness, sharpens the intellect, and develops confidence. A person who consistently takes responsibility learns to rely on their inner resources. They discover hidden reserves of strength and ingenuity that lie dormant until awakened by necessity.  

The Power of Growth Through Duty
Marden draws a clear contrast between those who dodge responsibility and those who embrace it. The one who shirks duties may experience momentary comfort, but they sacrifice long-term growth. Their capabilities remain underdeveloped, and their self-respect often diminishes. On the other hand, the one who takes charge—even of tasks that seem beyond their current ability—discovers their real potential and earns the confidence of others. In this chapter, the emphasis is not on reckless ambition or the blind pursuit of burden, but on the maturity and courage it takes to accept meaningful obligations. Marden makes it clear that greatness is almost always the result of compounded, often unnoticed acts of responsibility. Great men and women, he argues, are not made in a moment of glory, but in the countless hours of diligent, responsible effort behind the scenes. He gives examples—whether implied or explicit—of leaders, entrepreneurs, and pioneers who achieved success because they dared to take ownership of their circumstances. Marden points out that history is rich with stories of individuals who rose from obscurity to prominence not because they were exceptionally gifted, but because they said “yes” when others said “no.” They accepted the tough assignments, shouldered burdens, and bore the consequences of their decisions.  

Responsibility as a Builder of Character
Character development is another core theme in this chapter. For Marden, character and responsibility are inseparable. A person’s willingness to be accountable—to be answerable for their actions and decisions—forms the backbone of integrity. When one takes responsibility, they stop blaming others, cease making excuses, and begin to live with intentionality. He warns against the danger of passivity and victimhood, attitudes that erode one’s inner power. To Marden, those who constantly complain about circumstances, blame others for their misfortunes, or depend on luck or fate, are fundamentally disempowered. They have given away the keys to their own destiny. Responsibility, by contrast, reclaims personal sovereignty. It says, “My life is mine to shape.” Furthermore, he highlights that those who assume responsibility naturally inspire trust and command respect. In every field—business, government, the arts, and family life—it is the responsible individual who rises to leadership. The world instinctively places its confidence in those who prove capable of carrying weight, solving problems, and standing firm under pressure.  

The Role of Early Habits and Environment
Marden also reflects on how the habit of assuming responsibility should begin early in life. Children who are trained to take responsibility grow into confident, capable adults. Parents and educators, he urges, should not overprotect or shield the young from all difficulties. Instead, they should encourage independence, decision-making, and accountability. He criticizes overindulgence and the modern trend of making life too easy for young people. In doing so, Marden argues, society breeds weakness rather than strength. When youth are taught that they are entitled to comfort without effort, or that someone else will always fix their problems, they are deprived of the very trials that build resilience and self-reliance. This philosophy reflects Marden’s deep belief in the formative power of struggle and effort. To him, obstacles are not stumbling blocks—they are stepping-stones. Every time a person is forced to take ownership of a situation, they develop mental discipline and moral stamina.  

Responsibility as a Source of Joy
Despite the weight the word "responsibility" might carry, Marden insists it is not a joyless burden. On the contrary, those who take on responsibility often discover deeper satisfaction and meaning in life. Responsibility gives purpose. It connects the individual to a cause greater than themselves. And it instills a sense of worth that no amount of leisure or comfort can provide. Marden affirms that the greatest happiness does not come from evading work or seeking ease, but from making a meaningful contribution. The responsible person finds fulfillment in usefulness. Their days are purposeful, their struggles noble. They may face fatigue, but not futility. He reminds the reader that life itself entrusts each of us with responsibilities—some chosen, others assigned by fate. The question is not whether we can avoid responsibility, but whether we will rise to meet it. How we answer that question determines the trajectory of our lives.  

Conclusion: The Gateway to Power
In summation, Chapter 7 of He Can Who Thinks He Can is a powerful treatise on the transformative nature of responsibility. Marden masterfully connects personal growth, success, and self-mastery to the habit of embracing, rather than fleeing from, life's demands. The acceptance of responsibility, he argues, is not just a moral duty—it is the very key to unlocking one’s power. This chapter challenges the reader to reframe how they view pressure and obligation. Instead of regarding responsibility as a burden, Marden encourages us to see it as a gift—an invitation to grow, lead, and live with purpose. Those who accept that invitation are the ones who rise, who thrive, and who ultimately prove that he can who thinks he can.   

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