Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude

Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude (1960) is a self-help book written by W. Clement Stone and Napoleon Hill.

Quotes

This book is dedicated to Andrew Carnegie whose motto was "Anything in life worth having is worth working for!" and to THE MOST IMPORTANT LIVING PERSON.
- Dedication Page

You are what you think. But what do you think?

Develop an obsession — a Magnificent Obsession — to help others.

There is very little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference! The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.

"Don't ever let me hear you say that it is God's Will that we are poor. We are poor — not because of God."
- Quoting the mother of Samuel B. Fuller, in Ch. 1 : Meet the Most Important Living Person. This statement is sometimes misattributed to Stone.

"If you know what you want you are more apt to recognize it when you see it."
- Quoting Samuel B. Fuller, in Ch. 1; this statement is sometimes misattributed to Stone.

Every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.
- A maxim of Napoleon Hill, in Ch. 1

Unless your goal is against the laws of God or society, you can achieve it. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by trying. Success is attained and maintained by those who keep trying with PMA.
- PMA was an abbreviation of Postive Mental Attitude used throughout the book, Ch. 1

What you try for is up to you.
- Ch. 1

Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement.
- Ch. 2 : You Can Change Your World.

You are what you think. But what do you think? How orderly are your thought processes? How straight is your thinking?
- Ch. 3 : Clear the Cobwebs from Your Thinking

I feel healthy! I feel happy! I feel terrific!
- A daily mantra Stone recommended for positive self-suggestion, in Ch. 14 : How to Find Satisfaction in Your Job

Develop an obsession — a Magnificent Obsession — to help others.
Share yourself without expecting a reward, payment, or commendation. And above all else — keep your good turn a secret.
And, if you do this, you will set in motion the powers of a universal law. For, try as you will to avoid payment for your good deed — blessings and rewards will be showered upon you.
- Ch. 15 : Your Magnificent Obsession

No matter who you are you can have a Magnificent Obsession. Every living person can help others by sharing a part of himself. You don't have to be rich or powerful to develop a Magnificent Obsession. Regardless of who you are, or what you have been, you can create inside yourself a burning desire to be helpful to others.
- Ch. 15 : Your Magnificent Obsession

Your most preciously valued possessions and your greatest powers are often necessarily invisible and intangible. No one can take them. You and you alone can share them. The more you share, the more you will have.
- Ch. 15

Share that which is good and desirable and withhold that which is bad and undesirable.
- Ch. 15

Be a part of a great cause!
- Ch. 15

A Magnificent Obsession will conquer despite the obstacles that stand in its way!
- Ch. 15

You live longer with a Magnificent Obsession!
- Ch. 15

The price of ignorance is sin, sickness and death.
- Ch. 17 : You Can Enjoy Good Health and Live Longer

There is very little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference! The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.
- Ch. 18 : Can You Attract Happiness?

One of the surest ways to find happiness for yourself is to devote your energies toward making someone else happy. Happiness is an elusive, transitory thing. And if you set out for it, you willl find it evasive. But if you try to bring happiness to someone else, then it comes to you.
- Ch. 18