30 pages 1 hour read

Og Mandino

The Greatest Salesman in the World

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1968

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Symbols & Motifs

The 10 Scrolls

The 10 scrolls of The Greatest Salesman in the World are presented to prospective salesmen in succession (from Pathros to Hafid to Paul), as a tool and symbol of both The Nature of Success and The Art and Principles of Sales. Each of the scrolls teaches a lesson and provides affirmations to repeat. The scrolls are kept in a chest in Hafid’s locked tower, as per his promise to his adoptive father, Pathros. A divine light illuminates the chest, symbolizing the sacred nature of the scrolls. In his old age, Hafid picks up the scrolls and “a quiet calmness settle[s] over his face, brushing away the lines of age” (11). The sight takes him back to when Pathros gifted him the scrolls after witnessing a bright star. Like their succession, the scrolls are described as being filtered by time like wine until only the most essential elements remained. The scrolls’ principles encourage living with love and celebrating oneself as a unique person. The reader is encouraged to read the scrolls until they embody their principles.