Quotes from W. Clement Stone

book Cycles, co-authored by Edward R. Dewey and Edwin F. Dakin.

An insect may not be able to avoid being caught in the spider's web. And when once trapped, it is unable to free itself. There is one thing, however, over which each person has absolute, inherent control, and that is his mental attitude. We can avoid mental cobwebs. We can clear them. And we can sweep them away as they begin to develop. We can free ourselves when once enmeshed. And we can remain free.

One of the best ways to inspire another person to desirable action is to relate a true story that appeals to his emotions.

Thought must be followed through by action.

seeking self-inspiration, to action, seeking know-how, and seeking knowledge.

Have the courage to say "no!" Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. Do it now!

inspiration to action, know-how, and activity knowledge. They are the keys to the system.

You and Psychiatry. (You and Psychiatry, Menninger and Leaf, Scribner's, New York, 1948)

each new decision that a child or an adult makes in a given set of circumstances begins patterns of thought that later create a tremendous impact in his life.

Have the courage to say "no!" Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right.

every new experience and in every new environment an individual will feel some degree of fear.

If you lack experience or a particular talent or skill and you don't want to pay the price to acquire it, then hire someone who has it to do the job for you.

The development of good character is a battle that you, I, and everyone must fight for himself. But victory can be ours.

In interviewing salesmen, appeal to their imagination, appeal to their emotions, by telling the stories of other men in the organization who are a success in your work.

The world has become a better place in which to live because of persons who have made it a habit to try to do the right thing only because it was right.

All the world's progress in every field of activity has been the result of action by men, and women who experienced inspirational dissatisfaction-never by those who were satisfied

by employing the right work habits, you do become an expert. Then you experience the joy of work, and the job is no longer work. It becomes fun.

As you read this chapter, you saw it clearly: To develop good character, work. To have good health, work. To win over yourself, work. To do the right thing because it is right, work. To rise from rags to riches, work. To fight your way back, work. To acquire knowledge, work. To acquire know-how, work.

focus your attention and effort to acquire the necessary knowledge, know-how and motivation to become an expert and achieve your specific desired objective.

you should concentrate the rays of the sun through a magnifying glass on one spot on a fallen log, you'd start a fire within a few minutes. Yet the sun could shine for decades on the same piece of wood and it wouldn't ignite without the glass.

Now the essence of anything is abstract. It is never found. It is never reached. Yet if you search for the essence of perfection, you become more perfect. Search for the essence of success and you become more successful. Search for the essence of achievement and you achieve more.

The word know-how does not mean knowing how to do something-that's activity knowledge. Know-how is doing that something the right way, with skill and effectiveness, and with minimum expenditure of time and effort.

Remember: The essence of a living philosophy is that it must be alive. To be alive, it must be lived. To be lived, you must act! Actions, not mere words, determine the validity of a man's living philosophy.

Congress sets the rules and says: "Save all the taxes you can, but play the game according to the rules. If there is an inequity, we'll change the rules.