Dale Carnegie

Quotes are word for word from the source.

• Confidence through thought

  “Once realize that your opinion on a subject does not represent the choice you have made between what Dr. Cerebrum has written and Professor Cerebellum has said, but is the result of your own earnestly-applied brain-energy, and you will gain a confidence in your ability to speak on that subject that nothing will be able to shake.”

  Our noteDeveloping original thoughts through personal effort creates unshakeable confidence in one's expertise.

• Hidden library treasures

  “Unsuspected treasures lie in the smallest library. Even when the owner has read every last page of his books it is only in rare instances that he has full indexes to all of them”

  Our noteCarnegie explains why business owners should revisit their own bookshelves for ideas.

• Effective Titles

  “All in all, from whatever motive it be chosen, let the title be fresh, short, suited to the subject, and likely to excite interest.”

  Our noteCarnegie provides criteria for choosing a compelling title for a speech.

• Efficiency in explanation

  “To explain more than is needed for the purposes of your argument or appeal is to waste energy all around.”

  Our noteHe emphasizes the importance of brevity and relevance in business communication.

• The Rule of Brevity

  “Use your own judgment as to whether in picturing you had better proceed from a general view to the details, or first give the details and thus build up the general picture, but by all means BE BRIEF.”

  Our noteHe gives advice on the structure of descriptions while emphasizing brevity.

• Significant Characteristics Only

  “Choose only the significant, suggestive characteristics and bring those out with terse vividness. Learn a lesson from the few strokes used by the poster artist.”

  Our noteCarnegie advises using brevity and impact, similar to visual art, when describing things.

• Relentless Editing

  “Relentlessly cut out all ideas and words not necessary to produce the effect you desire. Each element in a mental picture either helps or hinders.”

  Our noteHe emphasizes the need for brevity and removing distractions to achieve a specific goal.

• Effective Speech Openings

  “A clumsy, inappropriate introduction is fatal, whereas a single apt or witty sentence will kindle interest and prepare a favorable hearing.”

  Our noteCarnegie explains the importance of starting an anecdote with a strong, engaging sentence.

• Power of Assurance

  “Assert your message with implicit assurance, and your own belief will act as so much gunpowder to drive it home.”

  Our noteCarnegie describes how internal belief functions as a force to deliver a message effectively.

• Environmental Influence

  “Environment controls us unless the contrary is strongly suggested. A gloomy day, in a drab room, sparsely tenanted by listeners, invites platform disaster.”

  Our noteDiscussing how physical surroundings and crowd size affect the receptivity of an audience.

• Victory Mindset

  “The speaker who will entertain no idea of defeat begets in his hearers the idea of his victory.”

  Our noteCarnegie notes that a leader's refusal to consider failure influences the audience's perception of success.

• The Contagious Leader

  “The leader of the crowd or mob is its determining factor. He becomes self-hynoptized with the idea that unifies its members, his enthusiasm is contagious--and so is theirs.”

  Our noteCarnegie describes how a leader's enthusiasm unifies and drives a crowd.

• Value of imagery

  “Awaken your image-making gift, for even in the most coldly logical discourse it is sure to prove of great service.”

  Our noteEncouraging speakers to develop their imagination regardless of their topic.

• Cultivating imagination

  “It is important that you find out at once just how full and how trustworthy is your imagination, for it is capable of cultivation--as well as of abuse.”

  Our noteThe necessity of assessing and training one's imaginative faculties.

• Practical memory utility

  “The freak memory is not worth striving for, but a good working memory decidedly is.”

  Our noteCarnegie distinguishes between useless memory stunts and the practical memory needed for professional success.