67 Memorable Norman Vincent Peale Quotes to Inspire Success

If there is a man who founded the personal development industry, it would be a close tie between Napoleon Hill and Norman Vincent Peale. Norman wrote numerous inspirational books, made many speeches and he is quoted often today, long after his passing.

In a world long before motivational YouTube channels existed, he helped individuals to reframe their mindset for success. They were able to see success as a by-product of both their positive thinking and their daily actions.

Somehow, his message spread globally providing a fresh perspective, but that too brought on a fresh wave of critics. His famous book, The Power of Positive Thinking, likely sold more copies than most other self-help books at the time given the attention it received, both good and bad.

His valus of optimism, service and encouragement helped North Americans through the Post-WW2 rebuilding of the country. A man who is well regarded and whose lessons and quotes continue to impact people around the world today.

1. The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have.

Norman Vincent Peale

2. Practice hope. As hopefulness becomes a habit, you can achieve a permanently happy spirit.

Norman Vincent Peale

3. Never talk defeat. Use words like hope, belief, faith, victory.

Norman Vincent Peale

4. Change your thoughts and you change your world.

Norman Vincent Peale

5. 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

6. When every physical and mental resources is focused, one’s power to solve a problem multiplies tremendously.

Norman Vincent Peale

7. Problems are to the mind what exercise is to the muscles, they toughen and make strong.

Norman Vincent Peale

8. Repetition of the same thought or physical action develops into a habit which, repeated frequently enough, becomes an automatic reflex.

Norman Vincent Peale

9. In every difficult situation is potential value. Believe this, then begin looking for it.

Norman Vincent Peale

10. Imagination is the true magic carpet.

Norman Vincent Peale

11. The mind, ever the willing servant, will respond to boldness, for boldness, in effect, is a command to deliver mental resources.

Norman Vincent Peale

12. Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities – always see them, for they’re always there.

Norman Vincent Peale

13. When you expect the best you release a magnetic force in your mind which by a law of attraction tends to bring the best to you.

Norman Vincent Peale

14. Understanding can overcome any situation, however mysterious or insurmountable it may appear to be.

Norman Vincent Peale

15. 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

16. 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

17. I’ve got great faith in the essential fairness and decency — you may say goodness — of the human being.

Norman Vincent Peale

18. Live your life and forget your age.

Norman Vincent Peale

19. 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

20. 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

21. What is hope? Hope is wishing for a thing to come true; faith is believing that it will come true.

Norman Vincent Peale

22. The how thinker gets problems solved effectively because he wastes no time with futile ifs but goes right to work on the creative how.

Norman Vincent Peale

23. There is real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.

Norman Vincent Peale

24. The life of inner peace, being harmonious and without stress, is the easiest type of existence.

Norman Vincent Peale

25. The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.

Norman Vincent Peale

26. 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

27. Do your best and leave the results to God.

Norman Vincent Peale

28. 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

29. Getting people to like you is merely the other side of liking them.

Norman Vincent Peale

30. Always remember that problems contain values that have improvement potential.

Norman Vincent Peale

31. We tend to get what we expect.

Norman Vincent Peale

32. Any fact facing us is not as important as our attitude toward it, for that determines our success or failure. The way you think about a fact may defeat you before you ever do anything about it. You are overcome by the fact because you think you are.

Norman Vincent Peale

33. You will soon break the bow if you keep it always stretched.

Norman Vincent Peale

34. There is a real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.

Norman Vincent Peale

35. It’s always too early to quit.

Norman Vincent Peale

36. By success, of course, I do not mean that you may become rich, famous, or powerful for that does not, of necessity, represent achievement. Indeed, not infrequently, such individuals represent pathetic failure as persons.

Norman Vincent Peale

37. Enthusiasm releases the drive to carry you over obstacles and adds significance to all you do.

Norman Vincent Peale

38. Let nothing trouble you and let nothing worry you.

Norman Vincent Peale

39. 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

40. Putting faith into action, big things happen.

Norman Vincent Peale

41. Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that.

Norman Vincent Peale

42. We’ve all heard that we have to learn from our mistakes, but I think it’s more important to learn from successes. If you learn only from your mistakes, you are inclined to learn only errors.

Norman Vincent Peale

43. When you pray for anyone you tend to modify your personal attitude toward him.

Norman Vincent Peale

44. 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

45. Be interesting, be enthusiastic… and don’t talk too much.

Norman Vincent Peale

46. Don’t take tomorrow to bed with you.

Norman Vincent Peale

47. Change yourself and your work will seem different.

Norman Vincent Peale

48. 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

49. 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

50. Four things for success: work and pray, think and believe.

Norman Vincent Peale

51. If you paint in your mind a picture of bright and happy expectations, you put yourself into a condition conducive to your goal.

Norman Vincent Peale

52. If you put off everything till you’re sure of it, you’ll never get anything done.

Norman Vincent Peale

53. 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 up obstacles in your imagination.

Norman Vincent Peale

54. We struggle with the complexities and avoid the simplicities.

Norman Vincent Peale

55. If you have zest and enthusiasm you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind.

Norman Vincent Peale

56. The person who sends out positive thoughts activates the world around him positively and draws back to himself positive results.

Norman Vincent Peale

57. It is of practical value to learn to like yourself. Since you must spend so much time with yourself you might as well get some satisfaction out of the relationship.

Norman Vincent Peale

58. The way to happiness; keep your heart free from hate, your mind free from worry, live simply, expect little, give much, scatter sunshine, forget self, and think of others.

Norman Vincent Peale

59. Faith is the most powerful of all forces operating in humanity and when you have it in depth nothing can get you down.

Norman Vincent Peale

60. Old unhealthy thoughts can block off inspiration and motivation. Dropping them releases a string flow of power through the mind.

Norman Vincent Peale

61. 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

62. 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

63. It must also be taken into consideration that people are people regardless of who they are or what their backgrounds may be. There are certain deep universal appeals to human interest and to these human nature always responds.

Norman Vincent Peale

64. The cyclone derives its power from a calm center. So does a person.

Norman Vincent Peale

65. Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven’t half the strength you think they have.

Norman Vincent Peale

66. Have great hopes and dare to go all out for them. Have great dreams and dare to live them. Have tremendous expectations and believe in them.

Norman Vincent Peale

67. It’s always too soon to quit!

Norman Vincent Peale