Marguerite Young
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About the Norman Vincent Peale
Norman Vincent Pealewas an American Protestant clergyman, and an author best known for popularizing the concept of positive thinking, especially through his best-selling book The Power of Positive Thinking (1952). He served as the pastor of Marble Collegiate Church, New York, from 1932, leading this Reformed Church in America congregation for more than a half century until his retirement in 1984. Alongside his pulpit ministry, he had an extensive career of writing and editing, and radio and television presentations. Despite arguing at times against involvement of clergy in politics, he nevertheless had some controversial affiliations with politically active organizations in the late 1930s, and engaged with national political candidates and their campaigns, having influence on some, including a personal friendship with President Richard Nixon.
Peale led a group opposing the election of John F. Kennedy for president, saying, “Faced with the election of a Catholic, our culture is at stake.” Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr responded that Peale was motivated by “blind prejudice,” and facing intense public criticism, Peale retracted his statement. He also opposed Adlai Stevenson’s candidacy for president because he was divorced, which led Stevenson to famously quip, “I find Saint Paul appealing and Saint Peale appalling.”
Following the publication of Peale’s 1952 best seller, his ideas became the focus of criticism from several psychiatric professionals, church theologians and leaders. Peale was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, on March 26, 1984, by President Ronald Reagan. He died at age 95, following a stroke, on December 24, 1993, in Pawling, New York. He was survived by Ruth Stafford, his wife of 63 years, who had influenced him with regard to the publication of The Power in 1952, and with whom he had founded Guideposts in 1945; Ruth died on February 6, 2008, at the age of 101.
Frequently Asked Questions
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- 1.
Promises are like crying babies in a theater, they should be carried out at once.
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- 2.
The Gateway to Christianity is not through an intricate labyrinth of dogma, but by a simple belief in the person of Christ.
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- 3.
Part of the happiness of life consists not in fighting battles, but in avoiding them. A masterly retreat is in itself a victory.
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- 4.
Getting people to like you is merely the other side of liking them.
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- 5.
The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have.
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- 6.
The life of inner peace, being harmonious and without stress, is the easiest type of existence.
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- 7.
There is a real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.
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- 8.
If you paint in your mind a picture of bright and happy expectations, you put yourself into a condition conducive to your goal.
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- 9.
Be interesting, be enthusiastic… and don’t talk too much.
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- 10.
It’s always too early to quit.
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- 11.
Imagination is the true magic carpet.
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- 12.
Change yourself and your work will seem different.
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- 13.
Don’t take tomorrow to bed with you.
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- 14.
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.
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- 15.
The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.
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- 16.
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.
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- 17.
Four things for success: work and pray, think and believe.
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- 18.
Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven’t half the strength you think they have.
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- 19.
You will soon break the bow if you keep it always stretched.
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- 20.
We struggle with the complexities and avoid the simplicities.
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- 21.
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.
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- 22.
When every physical and mental resources is focused, one’s power to solve a problem multiplies tremendously.
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- 23.
Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution. If you don’t have any problems, you don’t get any seeds.
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- 24.
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.
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- 25.
Change your thoughts and you change your world.
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- 26.
Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that.
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- 27.
Understanding can overcome any situation, however mysterious or insurmountable it may appear to be.
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- 28.
We tend to get what we expect.
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- 29.
Repetition of the same thought or physical action develops into a habit which, repeated frequently enough, becomes an automatic reflex.
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- 30.
Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
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- 31.
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.
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- 32.
When you pray for anyone you tend to modify your personal attitude toward him.
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- 33.
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.
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- 34.
Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.
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- 35.
If you put off everything till you’re sure of it, you’ll never get anything done.
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- 36.
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.
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- 37.
If you have zest and enthusiasm you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind.
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- 38.
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.
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