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
When you become detached mentally from yourself and concentrate on helping other people with their difficulties, you will be able to cope with your own more effectively. Somehow, the act of self-giving is a personal power-releasing factor.
—Norman Vincent Peale
You are not what you think you are, but what you think, you are.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Think excitement, talk excitement, act out excitement, and you are bound to become an excited person. Life will take on a new zest, deeper interest and greater meaning. You can think, talk and act yourself into dullness or into monotony or into unhappiness. By the same process you can build up inspiration, excitement and surging depth of joy.
—Norman Vincent Peale
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.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Success, Vision
The really happy people are those who have broken the chains of procrastination, those who find satisfaction in doing the job at hand. They’re full of eagerness, zest, productivity. You can be, too.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Getting people to like you is merely the other side of liking them.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: People, Praise, Positive Attitudes, Love, Optimism, Health
The first step is to fill your life with a positive faith that will help you through anything. The second is to begin where you are.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Faith
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
Watch your manner of speech if you wish to develop a peaceful state of mind. Start each day by affirming peaceful, contented and happy attitudes and your days will tend to be pleasant and successful.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Serenity, Self Confidence
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
Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see the possibilities—always see them, for they’re always there.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Perception, Attitude, Potential, Possibilities, Vision
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
Christmas is the season of joy, of holiday greetings exchanged, of gift-giving, and of families united.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Christmas
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
How you think about a problem is more important than the problem itself – so always think positively.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Problems
When you affirm big, believe big, and pray big, big things happen.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Beliefs
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
Cushion the painful effects of hard blows by keeping the enthusiasm going strong, even if doing so requires struggle.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Adversity
When every physical and mental resources is focused, one’s power to solve a problem multiplies tremendously.
—Norman Vincent Peale
If you have zest and enthusiasm you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Enthusiasm
Imagination is the true magic carpet.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Imagination
Plan your work for today and every day, then work your plan.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Planning
Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Action
One of the greatest moments in anybody’s developing experience is when he no longer tries to hide from himself but determines to get acquainted with himself as he really is.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Experience
All successful people have a goal. No one can get anywhere unless he knows where he wants to go and what he wants to be or do.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Goal
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
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: Strength, Self Confidence
There is a basic law that like attracts like. Negative thinking definitely attracts negative results. Conversely, if a person habitually thinks optimistically and hopefully, his positive thinking sets in motion creative forces—and success instead of eluding him flows toward him.
—Norman Vincent Peale
You can have peace of mind, improved health and an ever-increasing flow of energy. Life can be full of joy and satisfaction.
—Norman Vincent Peale
Topics: Living, Life, Satisfaction
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
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Dan Millman American Children’s Books Writer
Marie Chapian American Christian Writer
Laura Schlessinger American Broadcaster
Isaac Bashevis Singer Polish-born American Children’s Books Writer
Carl Sandburg American Poet, Historian
Reinhold Niebuhr American Theologian
Jamie Lee Curtis American Film Actress
Nikki Giovanni American Poet, Writer
Elizabeth Prentiss American Children’s Books Writer
Glenn Beck American Mormon Children’s Books Writer