Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) was an American clergyman, author, and public speaker. He is considered the father of positive thinking and is one of the most read inspirational writers of all time. His best-known self-help book, The Power of Positive Thinking (1952,) contended that the only thing required for success is a positive attitude.
Born in central Ohio to a Methodist family, Peale received divinity training from Boston University and was ordained by the United Methodist Church in 1922. Starting in 1932, for over 50 years, Peale was the pastor of New York City’s Marble Collegiate Reformed Church, where he preached “applied Christianity” and the power of affirmative prayer. In his sermons, lectures, and published works, he persuaded church adherents to think positively. His other notable books include The Art of Living (1937) and The Art of Loving (1948.)
Peale remained popular throughout his life and reached millions of followers through his lectures and writings. He played a principal role in the American religious revival of the 1950s.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Norman Vincent Peale
People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Self Confidence, Strength
In every difficult situation is potential value. Believe this, then begin looking for it.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Difficulties, Challenges, Difficulty
The cyclone derives its powers from a calm center. So does a person.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Self-Control
No nation became great by becoming rich. Neither does a man find enduring satisfaction in life by owning something—only by becoming something.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Satisfaction
There is only one group of people who don’t have problems and they’re all dead. Problems are a sign of life. So the more problems you have, the more alive you are.
—Norman Vincent Peale
There is no sound basis upon which it may be assumed that all poor men are godly and all rich men are evil, no more than it could be assumed that all rich men are good and all poor men are bad.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Wealth
What the mind can conceive and believe, and the heart desire, you can achieve.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Life’s blows cannot break a person whose spirit is warmed at the fire of enthusiasm.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Enthusiasm
When you affirm big, believe big, and pray big, big things happen.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Beliefs
The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Perspective, Energy, Serenity
Getting people to like you is merely the other side of liking them.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Love, Positive Attitudes, Praise, Optimism, People, Health
Change yourself and your work will seem different.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Change, One liners
Resentment or grudges do no harm to the person against whom you hold these feelings but every day and every night of your life, they are eating at you.
—Norman Vincent Peale
There is a real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Achieving, Enthusiasm, Accomplishment
Part of the happiness of life consists not in fighting battles, but in avoiding them. A masterly retreat is in itself a victory.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Happiness, Acceptance, Victory, Adversity
Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution. If you don’t have any problems, you don’t get any seeds.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Problems, Adversity
Practice hope. As hopefulness becomes a habit, you can achieve a permanently happy spirit.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Hope
Never talk defeat. Use words like hope, belief, faith, victory.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Hope, Defeat
When (Ty) Cobb got on first base he had an apparently nervous habit of kicking the bag.. . By kicking the bag hard enough Cobb could move it a full two inches closer to second base. He figured that this improved his chances for a steal or for reaching second base safely on a hit.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: One Step at a Time
Always remember, there is more strength in you than you ever realized or even imagined. Certainly nothing can keep you down if you are determined to get on top of things and stay there.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Strength
Silence fertilizes the deep place where personality grows. A life with a peaceful center can weather all storms.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Peace, Silence
The mind, properly controlled, can do just about everything. You can think your way through adversity, you can think your way through problems. It is a superpowerful instrument which so few use to maximum. And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Thinking
When a problem comes along, study it until you are completely knowledgeable. Then find that weak spot, break the problem apart, and the rest will be easy.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Problems
Lots of people limit their possibilities by giving up easily. Never tell yourself this is too much for me. It’s no use. I can’t go on. If you do you’re licked, and by your own thinking too. Keep believing and keep on keeping on.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Persistence, Perseverance
Don’t duck the most difficult problems. That just ensures that the hardest part will be left when you are most tired. Get the big one done—it’s downhill from then on.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Action
There is nothing in life so difficult that it cannot be overcome. This faith can move mountains. It can change people. It can change the world. You can survive all the great storms in your life.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Believe you are defeated, believe it long enough, and it is likely to become a fact.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Defeat
Live your life and forget your age.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Aging, Age
Fear is never a reason for quitting; it is only an excuse.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Mind, Fear
Anybody can do just about anything with himself that he really wants to and makes up his mind to do. We are all capable of greater things than we realize.
—Norman Vincent Peale
If you put off everything till you’re sure of it, you’ll never get anything done.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Procrastination
Once we roared like lions for liberty; now we bleat like sheep for security! The solution for America’s problem is not in terms of big government, but it is in big men over whom nobody stands in control but God.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Liberty
Joy increases as you give it, and diminishes as you try to keep it for yourself. In giving it, you will accumulate a deposit of joy greater than you ever believed possible.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Drop the idea that you are Atlas carrying the world on your shoulders. The world would go on even without you. Don’t take yourself so seriously.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Identity
Promises are like crying babies in a theater, they should be carried out at once.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Promises
Our happiness depends on the habit of mind we cultivate. So practice happy thinking every day. Cultivate the merry heart, develop the happiness habit, and life will become a continual feast.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Happiness
Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy…. Formulate and stamp indelibly on your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding. Hold this picture tenaciously. Never permit it to fade. Your mind will seek to develop the picture … Do not build obstacles in your imagination … Do not be awestruck by other people and try to copy them. Nobody can be you as efficiently as you can.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Happiness, Imagination, Belief, Happy, Helpfulness, Self Confidence, Confidence, Mind, Success, Power, Believe
Plan your work for today and every day, then work your plan.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Planning
Life is not all fun and easy going. Far from it; there are many rough times. But, sadly, we too often let the hard times dull our enthusiasm. And that is dangerous, if not fatal, to our lives.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Enthusiasm
Cushion the painful effects of hard blows by keeping the enthusiasm going strong, even if doing so requires struggle.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Adversity
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