77+ Best Quotes From How to Win Friends and Influence People
In our everyday lives, we find ourselves struggling to connect with people, whether it is requesting some favors or simply wanting to build relationships. Whatever the case, if we understand ourselves and human nature, it will not be as difficult as we expect.
It is not always easy to understand what people want, but with some effort, we can understand their nature and find some common ground to connect. It takes some practice and patience. But in the book ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ by Dale Carnegie, it is well described how to connect with people and build impressive connections.
It is one of the most popular self-help books written by him, and since 1936, over 30 million copies of the book have been sold worldwide.
In this blog post, we’ll share some of the main ideas from the book in the form of quotations.
The Best Quotes From How to Win Friends and Influence People
“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” – Dale Carnegie
“I don’t blame you for feeling as you do. If I were you, I would undoubtedly feel just as you do.” – Dale Carnegie
“Criticism is pointless because it puts a person on the defensive and usually makes them strive to justify themselves.” – Dale Carnegie
“When we have nothing to lose and only positive outcomes to gain, why wouldn’t we offer genuine appreciation more often?” – Dale Carnegie
“When dealing with people, we’re dealing not with creatures of logic but with creatures of emotion, who are motivated by pride and ego.” – Dale Carnegie
“Give people what they want, not what you want.” – Dale Carnegie
“Arouse in the other person an eager desire. He who can do this has the whole world with him.” – Dale Carnegie
“Every successful person loves the game. The chance to prove his worth, to excel, to win.” – Dale Carnegie
“Success in dealing with people depends on a sympathetic grasp of the other person’s viewpoint.” – Dale Carnegie
“Pay less attention to what men say. Just watch what they do.” – Dale Carnegie
“Ask questions instead of giving orders.” – Dale Carnegie
“Ask yourself: What is the worst that can happen? Then prepare to accept it. Then proceed to improve on the worst.” – Dale Carnegie
“It’s impossible to win an argument. If we lose the argument, we lose; if we win the argument, we have made the other person feel inferior, hurt his pride, and made him resent us. In other words, we still lose.” – Dale Carnegie
“There is only one way under high heaven to get the best of an argument, and that is to avoid it.” – Dale Carnegie
“If you are going to prove anything, don’t let anybody know it. Do it so subtly, so adroitly, that no one will feel you are doing it.” – Dale Carnegie
“If we are so contemptibly selfish that we can’t radiate a little happiness and pass on a bit of honest appreciation without trying to get something out of the other person in return—if our souls are no bigger than sour crab apples—we shall meet with the failure we so richly deserve.” Dale Carnegie
“The one all-important law of human conduct is to always make the other person feel important.” – Dale Carnegie
“Any fool can try to defend his or her mistakes—and most fools do—but it raises one above the herd and gives one a feeling of nobility and exultation to admit one’s mistakes.” – Dale Carnegie
“When a person feels negatively about us, we can’t convince him of our way of thinking with all the logic in the world. We can’t force someone to agree with us, but we can lead them in that direction if we are gentle and friendly with them.” – Dale Carnegie
“There is a reason why the other man thinks and acts as he does. Figure out that reason, and you have the key to his actions, perhaps to his personality.” – Dale Carnegie
“Three-fourths of the people you will ever meet are hungry and thirsting for sympathy. Give it to them, and they will love you.” – Dale Carnegie
“Beginning with praise is like the dentist who begins his work with Novocain. The patient still gets a drilling, but the Novocain kills the pain.” – Dale Carnegie
“Admitting one’s own mistakes, even when one hasn’t corrected them, can help convince somebody to change his behavior.” – Dale Carnegie
“People are more likely to accept an order if they have had a part in the decision that caused the order to be issued.” – Dale Carnegie
“Happiness doesn’t depend on any external conditions; it is governed by our mental attitude.” – Dale Carnegie
“One reason why birds and horses are not unhappy is because they are not trying to impress other birds and horses.” – Dale Carnegie
“To be interesting, be interested.” – Dale Carnegie
“All men have fears, but the brave put down their fears and go forward.” – Dale Carnegie
“The average person is more interested in his or her own name than in all the other names on earth put together.” – Dale Carnegie
“The information we are imparting or the request we are making takes on a special importance when we approach the situation in the name of the individual. From the waitress to the senior executive, the name will work magic as we deal with others.” – Dale Carnegie
“If you want to know how to make people shun you, laugh at you behind your back, and even despise you, here is the recipe: Never listen to anyone for long. Talk incessantly about yourself. If you have an idea while the other person is talking, don’t wait for him or her to finish; bust right in and interrupt in the middle of a sentence.” – Dale Carnegie
“Talking in terms of the other person’s interests benefits both parties.” – Dale Carnegie
“Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.” – Dale Carnegie
“Talk to someone about themselves, and they’ll listen for hours.” – Dale Carnegie
“You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it within himself.” – Dale Carnegie
“Criticism is dangerous because it wounds a person’s pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses resentment.” – Dale Carnegie
“Actions speak louder than words. A smile says, ‘I like you. I am glad to see you.'” – Dale Carnegie
“Of course, you are interested in what you want. But no one else is. The rest of us are just like you: we are interested in what we want.” – Dale Carnegie
“The world is full of people who are grabbing and self-seeking. So the rare individual who unselfishly tries to serve others has an enormous advantage. He has little competition.” – Dale Carnegie
“Even when it’s tough to find things to praise, try hard to find something.” – Dale Carnegie
“If you want to improve a person in a certain aspect, act as though that particular trait were already one of his or her outstanding characteristics.” – Dale Carnegie
“Be liberal with your encouragement; make the thing seem easy to do; let the other person know that you have faith in his ability to do it, that he has an undeveloped flair for it; and he will practice until the dawn comes in the window in order to excel.” – Dale Carnegie
“Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him.” – Dale Carnegie
“Criticisms are like homing pigeons. They always return home.” – Dale Carnegie
“Only knowledge that is used sticks in your mind.” – Dale Carnegie
“If you want to gather honey, don’t kick over the beehive.” – Dale Carnegie
More quotes that capture the essence of How to Win Friends and Influence People
“You can conquer almost any fear if you will only make up your mind to do so. Remember, fear doesn’t exist anywhere except in the mind.” – Dale Carnegie
“Be wiser than other people if you can, but do not tell them so.” – Dale Carnegie
“The successful man will profit from his mistakes and try again in a different way.” – Dale Carnegie
“The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” – William James
“The royal road to a person’s heart is to talk about the things he or she treasures most.” – Theodore Roosevelt
“A drop of honey catches more flies than a gallon of gall.” – Abraham Lincoln
“If you want enemies, excel your friends; but if you want friends, let your friends excel you.” – La Rochefoucauld
“The way to get things done is to stimulate competition. I do not mean in a sordid, money-getting way, but in the desire to excel.” – Charles Schwab
“I have no right to say or do anything that diminishes a man in his own eyes. What matters is not what I think of him, but what he thinks of himself. Hurting a man in his dignity is a crime.” – Antoine De Saint-Exupery
“Praise is like sunlight to the warm human spirit; we cannot flower and grow without it. And yet, while most of us are only too ready to apply to others the cold wind of criticism, we are somehow reluctant to give our fellows the warm praise of sunshine.” – Jess Lair
“The quality of your life is in direct proportion to the quality of your relationships.” – Tony Robbins
“Genuine and true love is so rare that when you encounter it in any form, it’s a wonderful thing to be utterly cherished in whatever form it takes.” – Gwendoline Christie
“Relationships, like cars, should undergo regular services to make sure they are still roadworthy.” – Zygmunt Bauman
“The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.” – Ernest Hemingway
“Relationships are the foundation of life. They define your experiences, your goals, and your commitments.” – Unknown
“The purpose of a relationship is not to have another who might complete you but to have another with whom you might share your completeness.” – Neale Donald Walsch
“It takes two to manage the relationship, but it takes one to begin the change.” – Sheranda Ann Kumquat
“The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances; if there is any reaction, both are transformed.” – Carl Jung
“Your task is not to seek love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” – Rumi
“Great relationships aren’t built in a day; great relationships are built daily.” – Unknown
“The best way to mend a broken heart is time and girlfriends.” – Gwyneth Paltrow
“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'” – C.S. Lewis
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“The best mirror is an old friend.” – George Herbert
The Best Quotes from Dale Carnegie
“Act enthusiastic, and you will be enthusiastic.”
“Fear not those who argue, but those who dodge.”
“It isn’t what you have, who you are, where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.”
“Tell the audience what you’re going to say; say it; then tell them what you’ve said.”
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” – Dale Carnegie
“If you can’t sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there and worrying. It’s the worry that gets you, not the loss of sleep.” – Dale Carnegie
“People rarely succeed unless they have fun doing what they are doing.” – Dale Carnegie
“Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes furthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.” – Dale Carnegie
“Today is life—the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto.” – Dale Carnegie
“Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.” – Dale Carnegie
“Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” – Dale Carnegie
“Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves.” – Dale Carnegie
“Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.” – Dale Carnegie
“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” – Dale Carnegie
How to Win Friends and Influence People: A Brief Summary
- Instead of criticizing, focus on the positive aspects and offer constructive solutions to improve relationships.
- Take a moment to express your genuine appreciation for others, recognizing the positive impact it has on building strong and meaningful connections.
- Connect with others by understanding their desires and motivations, creating mutual understanding and shared benefits.
- Cultivate authentic connections by showing a sincere interest in others, making them feel valued and heard.
- Spread positivity and create a warm environment by sharing your smile to make interactions more welcoming and friendly.
- Build rapport by using and remembering people’s names, acknowledging the significance of personal connection in communication.
- Establish meaningful conversations by actively listening to and encouraging others to share their thoughts and feelings.
- Engage others in more captivating discussions by aligning your communication with their interests.
- Enhance the sense of importance in others by genuinely and sincerely appreciating their contributions.
- Maintain positive relationships by steering away from arguments and focusing on finding common ground.
- Cultivate positive communication by respecting others’ opinions, creating an atmosphere of mutual understanding.
- Strengthen relationships by admitting mistakes promptly and emphatically, building an environment of humility.
- Boost interactions by initiating conversations with a friendly and positive attitude.
- Establish rapport by creating an atmosphere of agreement and encouraging collaboration and cooperation.
- Promote meaningful conversations by allowing others to express themselves and share their perspectives.
- Inspire creativity and collaboration by allowing others to feel ownership and involvement in generating ideas.
- Strengthen connections by understanding and appreciating things from others’ points of view.
- Build rapport by being sympathetic to others’ ideas and desires, creating a supportive and positive environment.
- Inspire positive action by appealing to others’ higher values and noble motives.
- Initiate conversations or feedback with positive reinforcement, creating a foundation of encouragement.
- Handle mistakes with maturity and sensitivity, avoiding embarrassment and maintaining positive relationships.
- Establish trust by acknowledging personal mistakes before offering criticism and promoting humility.
- Encourage collaboration by leading with questions rather than direct orders, promoting open dialogue.
- Maintain positive interactions by preserving others’ dignity and avoiding unnecessary humiliation.
- Recognize and reinforce positive changes, no matter how small, to encourage ongoing growth.
- Boost others’ self-esteem by expecting the best from them, creating a positive self-fulfilling prophecy.
- Facilitate positive change by providing support and encouragement, making the process seem achievable.
- Align suggestions with others’ happiness and mutual benefit, making them more appealing and compelling.
In a nutshell, Dale Carnegie’s quotes from How to Win Friends and Influence People carry timeless lessons on building better connections. These gems of wisdom remind us to listen actively, appreciate others, and approach relationships with empathy.
By incorporating these lessons into our lives, we can build positive interactions, both personally and professionally. Carnegie’s teachings remain a guiding light, showing us that genuine connections are at the heart of success and fulfillment.
So, let’s take these lessons to heart and start a journey of meaningful connections and positive influence.
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30 Inspirational Quotes From “How to Win Friends and Influence People”
