Preach the Role of Thought / 39 12. Preach the Role of Thought Great men are they who see that thought is stronger than any material force, that thoughts rule the world. --Ralph Waldo Emerson Business and life coach JacQuaeline told us this story last week about a mechanic in a school district complaining of punching a time clock and doing the same thing on his job over and over for the last 20 years. "I'm burned out and need a change!" the mechanic declared.