Norman Vincent Peale Quotes & Sayings

The greatest measure of a human being isn't how he handles himself when things are going well, but how he handles himself when things are going badly, when defeat comes. — Norman Vincent Peale

Deep within the individual is a vast reservoir of untapped power awaiting to be used. no person can have the use of all this potential until he learns to know his or her own self. the trouble with many people is that they got through life thinking and writing themselves off as ordinary commonplace persons. having no proper belief in themselves they live aimless and erratic lives largely because they never realize what their lives really can be or what they can become — Norman Vincent Peale

Keep your mental and spiritual contact points cleaned so that God can operate through your mind. — Norman Vincent Peale

When a person applies enthusiasm to his job, the job will itself become alive with exciting new possibilities. — Norman Vincent Peale

If you've been full of error and defeat, be done with it. Say, "By God's grace, I'm done with it," and take charge of yourself like never before." — Norman Vincent Peale

You must never conclude, even though everything goes wrong, that you cannot succeed. Even at the worst there is a way out, a hidden secret that can turn failure into success and despair into happiness. No situation is so dark that there is not a ray of light — Norman Vincent Peale

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

Can you help me?" "Well," I said, "perhaps I can help you help yourself. — Norman Vincent Peale

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

Stop resisting your problems so furiously in your mind. Stop struggling to solve them. If you do that, a great sense of peace followed by a great sense of power will come to you. — Norman Vincent Peale

One of the greatest of all principles is that men can do what they think they can do. — Norman Vincent Peale

Frequently remind yourself that God is with you, that He will never fail you, that you can count upon him. Say these words, "God is with me, helping me." — Norman Vincent Peale

No man is happy who does not think himself so. — Norman Vincent Peale

A vital part of the happiness formula is self-discipline. Whoever conquers himself knows deep happiness that fills the heart with joy. — Norman Vincent Peale

God in His answers to prayer often says "Yes." Sometimes He says "Wait." Often He says "No." In any case, His will is done, and true faith is to believe that what happened has happened for the best. If one does not take that attitude, he is setting his personal desire against the wisdom of God. Oftentimes we confuse with faith merely that which we desire. — Norman Vincent Peale

Try to see the joyful side of life. One must see the pain of life with clear eyes, and help all he can; but there is also lots of joy, and on should see that, too. — Norman Vincent Peale

Dare to be what you ought to be, dare to be what you dream to be, dare to be the finest you can be. The more you dare, the surer you will be of gaining just what you dare! — Norman Vincent Peale

Just as we may learn from our successes (how to do it) so also can we learn from our mistakes (how not to do it). It just isn't in the cards that anybody should get by forever without making mistakes and perhaps sometimes making costly ones. — Norman Vincent Peale

Any occupation, any job has excitement in it if you have some excitement in you. — Norman Vincent Peale

You must feed your mind even as you feed your body, and to make your mind healthy, you must feed it nourishing, wholesome thoughts. — Norman Vincent Peale

Constantly reemphasize to yourself the great fact that God built potential strength into your nature. By affirming it and practicing it, this basic strength will toughen up as muscles do. — Norman Vincent Peale

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

Have absolutely no sense of guilt about being happy and successful if you operate honestly and with a sense of social responsibility. — Norman Vincent Peale

No one can ever overcome anything until his thoughts are creative and positive. — Norman Vincent Peale

Our happiness depends on the habit of mind we cultivate. — Norman Vincent Peale

The word "no" denotes a shutting of the door. It means failure, defeat, delay. But spell in backwards and take new hope, for backwards it spells "on." — Norman Vincent Peale

If you visualize a failure, you tend to create the conditions that produce failure. Visualize-believe-and thank God in advance. — Norman Vincent Peale

Before you go to sleep, run over your personal world mentally and thank God for everyone and everything. — Norman Vincent Peale

The antidote to frustration is a calm faith, not in your own cleverness, or in hard toil, but in God's guidance. — Norman Vincent Peale

I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. ISAIAH 43:25 NOVEMBER 16 Rest in the Lord, wait patiently, have faith in Providence and God's love. In this way, you actually get your life under new management. What happens when a business repeatedly fails to show a profit? Usually it gets new management, doesn't it? A human life that hasn't been going well likewise calls for new management. Does everything go wrong for you? Why? Poor management. Are you nervous and tense and tired? Why? Poor management. Are you resentful and grumpy and bitter, full of hate and miserable as a result? Why? Poor management. You are making life hard for yourself because you don't think right, you don't act right, you don't plan right. Get your life under new management. Do it by opening your mind and heart to Jesus Christ. Take Him into your thinking and living. — Norman Vincent Peale

Stress the thought of plenty. Thoughts of plenty help create plenty. — Norman Vincent Peale

When you affirm big, believe big and pray big, big things happen. — Norman Vincent Peale

Faith is the one power against which fear cannot stand. Day by day, as you fill your mind with faith, there will ultimately be no more room left for fear. This is the one great fact that no one should forget. Master faith and you will automatically master fear. — Norman Vincent Peale

God never made anyone else exactly like you, and he never will again. Thank him for yourself and then for all the rest of his glorious handiwork. — Norman Vincent Peale

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. MATTHEW 18:20 OCTOBER 14 Prayer can change your life. I strongly recommend that you learn the art or science of prayer and put it to work in your life. Now this may seem to you to be just one more religious idea, without much life or sparkle to it. But that is where you would be wrong. It is the way to life itself. When I say this of prayer I do not speak of the mere mumbling of words. I do not mean formal affirmations either, although formal prayers sometimes help and some formal prayers are touched with the glory of God. What I mean is a deep, fundamental, powerful relationship of the individual to God, whereby his whole mind and heart become changed and he receives power from God within himself. I have seen such prayer change the lives of many. God's peace deeply imbedded in your mind can often have a more tranquilizing and healing effect upon nerves and tension than medicine. God's peace is itself medicinal. — Norman Vincent Peale

He was a cynic and like most cynics, totally selfish and self-indulgent. — Norman Vincent Peale

If you think in positive terms, you will achieve positive results. — Norman Vincent Peale

the church, but in memory I go and stand — Norman Vincent Peale

Don't take tomorrow to bed with you. — Norman Vincent Peale

Keep thinking, keep interested, keep praying, keep dreaming. Be mentally sensitive at all times so that the magic word that motivates you may one day speak to your deep inner self. — Norman Vincent Peale

Every day remind yourself of your own ability, of your good mind and affirm that you can make something really good out of your life. — Norman Vincent Peale

Think excitement, talk excitement, act out excitement, and you are bound to become an excited person. — Norman Vincent Peale

Great issues develop from small beginnings. — Norman Vincent Peale

The secret of the law of abundance is this: In order to receive and appreciate the good things of life, you must first give. — Norman Vincent Peale

We tend to get what we expect. — Norman Vincent Peale

People fail to understand that unless they are themselves willing to give, they will never receive. — Norman Vincent Peale

Personally, I believe that prayer is a sending out of vibrations from one person to another and to God. All of the universe is in vibration. There are vibrations in the molecules of a table. The air is filled with vibrations. The reaction between human beings is also in vibration. When you send out a prayer for another person, you employ the force inherent in a spiritual universe. You transport from yourself to the other person a sense of love, helpfulness, support - a sympathetic, powerful understanding - and in this process you awaken vibrations in the universe through which — Norman Vincent Peale

One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is actually with you and helping you. This is one of the simplest teachings in religion, namely, that Almighty God will be your companion, will stand by you, help you, and see you through. No other idea is so powerful in developing self-confidence as this simple belief when practiced. To practice it simply affirm God is with me; God is helping me; God is guiding me. — Norman Vincent Peale

You must conceive it in your heart and mind before you can receive it. If you believe then all things are possible. — Norman Vincent Peale

God answers prayer in three ways: yes, no, and wait awhile. — Norman Vincent Peale

If you want a quality, act as if you already have it. If you want to be courageous, act as if you were - and as you act and persevere in acting, so you tend to become. — Norman Vincent Peale

Plan your work - work your plan. Lack of system produces that 'I'm swamped' feeling. — Norman Vincent Peale

The as if principle works. Act as if you were not afraid and you will become courageous, as if you could and you'll find you can. Act as if you like a person and you'll find a friendship. — Norman Vincent Peale

In adversity keep motivated, for often the best comes from difficulty. — Norman Vincent Peale

Often we have no choice about doing things, but we can always choose how to do them. — Norman Vincent Peale

Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy. — Norman Vincent Peale

If you want things to be different, perhaps the answer is to become different yourself. — Norman Vincent Peale

The first step is to fill your life with positive faith that will help you through anything. The second step is to start where you are. — Norman Vincent Peale

If in our thoughts we constantly fix attention upon sinister expectations of dire events that might happen, the result will be constantly to feel insecure. — Norman Vincent Peale

Cherish your family connections. They are one of God's greatest ways of demonstrating his love and fellowship. — Norman Vincent Peale

Expect the best and get it. — Norman Vincent Peale

How you think about a problem is more important than the problem itself. So always think positively. — Norman Vincent Peale

Make a true estimate of your own ability, then raise it ten per cent. — Norman Vincent Peale

A primary method for gaining a mind of full peace is to practice emptying the mind. — Norman Vincent Peale

Only the believers pick up the prizes in life. — Norman Vincent Peale

Expect great things, and great things will come. — Norman Vincent Peale

Talk peaceful to be peaceful. — Norman Vincent Peale

Think health, eat sparingly, exercise regularly, walk a lot, and think positively about yourself. — Norman Vincent Peale

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. JOHN 1:16 JUNE 14 Health and prosperity can be yours. I realize that you may regard this as a very extravagant assertion - a big order, so to speak; but please remember that I do not make this assertion on my own authority. I have this on the authority of the wisest Book ever written. The Bible isn't as fearful of promising big things as some of the more timid, halfhearted preachers of the gospel. The Bible makes superlative promises, because its promises are inspired by a loving and omnipotent God. But the Bible is also very subtle. And it points out that the blessings of health and prosperity are not easily given or easily received. Parenthetically, I want to say that by prosperity, the Bible does not mean merely material affluence; it means to enter abundantly into the blessings of God's grace. And it tells us that health and prosperity come to us when our soul is in harmony with — Norman Vincent Peale

Families, like individuals, are unique. — Norman Vincent Peale

I found eternal peace in a Shinto shrine ... I've been to Shinto shrines and God is everywhere ... Christ is one of the ways! God is everywhere. — Norman Vincent Peale

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

I expect the best and with God's help will attain the best. — Norman Vincent Peale

What you can image, you will be, in the long run. — Norman Vincent Peale

My suggestion was that every night, upon going to bed, he place a chair beside his bed and tell himself that Jesus was sitting in that chair all night, watching over him and lifting the burden of worry from his shoulders. — Norman Vincent Peale

It's almost as if there were an invisible reservoir of abundance in the universe that can be tapped if you will just obey certain spiritual laws. — Norman Vincent Peale

The great secret of getting what you want from life is to know whay you want and believe you can have it. Always do something for others, then ask God to help you get at it. — Norman Vincent Peale

When you wholeheartedly adopt a 'with all your heart' attitude and go all out with the positive principle,
you can do incredible things. — Norman Vincent Peale

Trouble is here. It is for a purpose. Use it for the purpose for which it was intended - to help you grow. Thank God for your troubles. — Norman Vincent Peale

Humans will never be hampered as smooth bag. They just dragged and dropped upon his head and empty heart — Norman Vincent Peale

Nothing of great value in this life comes easily. The things of highest value sometimes come hard. The gold that has the greatest value lies deepest in the earth, as do the diamonds. — Norman Vincent Peale

People who have the courage to be individuals can usually think things through on their own and make sound decisions. They don't say, "What will people think?" They say, "What's the best way to handle this?" The amazing fact is that God created each one of us as a separate, unique person amid billions of other separate, unique individuals. So the best way to achieve real fulfillment is to be yourself. — Norman Vincent Peale

If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. — Norman Vincent Peale

I had heard that verse many times but in a flash of insight realized that one of the keys I had missed was that hadn't trained my mind to believe, to think positively, to have faith in either God or myself. — Norman Vincent Peale

The one person who most blocks you from a full, happy, and successful life is you. They are therefore wise who make themselves an asset. We can be our own worst enemies or best friends. We can be a source of trouble or a cure for trouble. So if you feel empty, as many do, start by getting free from yourself as a first stop to vibrant living. — Norman Vincent Peale

The only people who don't have problems are in a cemetery. — Norman Vincent Peale

Optimism, when applied to your life, develops strength and peace within you. — Norman Vincent Peale

Never let any mistake cause you to stop believing in yourself. Learn from it and go on. — Norman Vincent Peale

When you discover the wonder of giving, you will wonder how you could have lived so long in any other way. — Norman Vincent Peale

One way to become enthusiastic is to look for the plus sign. To make progress in any difficult situation, you have to start with what's right about it and build on that — Norman Vincent Peale

revealing the inner state of his personality, and — Norman Vincent Peale

If I wanted to become a tramp, I would seek information and advice from the most successful tramp I could find. If I wanted to become a failure, I would seek advice from people who have never succeeded. If I wanted to succeed in all things, I would look around me for those who are succeeding, and do as they have done. — Norman Vincent Peale

Let the skeptics have their doubts. I prefer to believe that ideas do have wings! — Norman Vincent Peale

The hammer shatters glass but forges steel. — Norman Vincent Peale

Never use the word "impossible" seriously again. Toss it into the verbal wastebucket. — Norman Vincent Peale

Hold an image of the life you want, and that image will become fact. — Norman Vincent Peale

The purpose of writing inspirational notes is simply to build others up because there are too many people in the demolition business. — Norman Vincent Peale

Mind can conceive and believe, and your heart desire, you can achieve. — Norman Vincent Peale

Forget yourself! Think courage. — Norman Vincent Peale

Believe you can, and you can. Belief is one of the most powerful of all problem dissolvers. When you believe that a difficulty can be overcome, you are more than halfway to victory over it already. — Norman Vincent Peale