Excerpt: Read our 10 quotes from As A Man Thinketh and learn more about the power of thinking positively and the effect it has on all areas of life.
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Introduction: We are what we repeatedly do.
One of my initial goals when starting MoveMe Quotes was to create a platform that would inspire people to take more empowering, loving, and thoughtful actions so that they may keep moving forward (the only direction) in their day-to-day lives.
In order to do that I have been curating, organizing, and sharing quotes, picture quotes, short stories, and personal insight regularly since 2010. And while my original intention was to inspire as many other people as possible, what I have slowly come to realize is that the person I have been influencing the most is… me.
In his book As A Man Thinketh, James Allen composed a series of short, pointed essays on the power of thinking positively and its influence on character, circumstance, and health. He uses a beautiful example of likening the human mind to that of a garden which, based on the work of the gardener, will either produce lush, green, fruit-bearing plants, or due to neglect and bad seed planting, will produce nothing but weeds.
With each quote I shared, each picture quote I posted, each short story I read, I was cultivating, planting, and watering the thoughts in my mind which eventually influenced more positive actions and led me to become the person I am today.
You can’t create a beautiful garden, from scratch, in a day—it takes time and daily maintenance. So, too, does a beautiful mind. When you spend some time cultivating your mind daily you’ll reap the benefits of powerful growth later on.
For me, it happened through the process of sharing all of the good I found with others via this very website you’re visiting today. The question now is, how can you take action on this concept to get it to work for you?
Below, you’ll find 10 of our favorite quotes from As A Man Thinketh that will help you get a jump start on your new gardening ventures! Be sure to keep track of any of the quotes that poke out at you and make you think. Those are the ones that you should plant for later. Good luck!
NEW In The Shop: Don’t Let The Tame Ones Tell You How To Live [Poster]
Why We ♥ It: Some of the best advice I (Matt here) ever got was: don’t take life advice from people who aren’t living a life you want to live and don’t take criticism from people you wouldn’t go to for advice. I created this poster to act as a reminder to listen more closely to our role models and less closely to our critics, trolls, and tamed-comfort-zone-hugger acquaintances. It’s also a perfect gift for the outdoor adventurer, travel enthusiast, or solo explorer (or soon to be). Available in print or digital download. 👇🏼
...Want to advertise your book, product, or service? Send inquiries to matt@movemequotes.com.
The List: 10 Empowering James Allen Quotes from As A Man Thinketh
“A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.”
James Allen, As A Man Thinketh
“Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. This is but saying that nothing can come from corn but corn, nothing from nettles but nettles. Men understand this law in the natural world, and work with it; but few understand it in the mental and moral world (though its operation there is just as simple and undeviating), and they, therefore, do not cooperate with it.”
James Allen, As A Man Thinketh
“Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself; he also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace.”
James Allen, As A Man Thinketh
“Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts, for out of them will grow all delightful conditions, all heavenly environment; of these, if you but remain true to them, your world will at last be built.”
James Allen, As A Man Thinketh
“As the physically weak man can make himself strong by careful and patient training, so the man of weak thoughts can make them strong by exercising himself in right thinking.”
James Allen, As A Man Thinketh
“To live continually in thoughts of ill will, cynicism, suspicion, and envy, is to be confined in a self-made prison hole. But to think well of all, to be cheerful with all, to patiently learn to find the good in all – such unselfish thoughts are the very portals of heaven; and to dwell day by day in thoughts of peace toward every creature will bring abounding peace to their possessor.”
James Allen, As A Man Thinketh
“As you cannot have a sweet and wholesome abode unless you admit the air and sunshine freely into your rooms, so a strong body and a bright, happy, or serene countenance can only result from the free admittance into the mind of thoughts of joy and goodwill and serenity.”
James Allen, As A Man Thinketh
“Thought allied fearlessly to purpose becomes creative force: he who knows this is ready to become something higher and stronger than a mere bundle of wavering thoughts and fluctuating sensations; he who does this has become the conscious and intelligent wielder of his mental powers.”
James Allen, As A Man Thinketh
“A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set out to accomplish it. He should make this purpose the centralizing point of his thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual ideal, or it may be a worldly object, according to his nature at the time being; but whichever it is, he should steadily focus his thought forces upon the object which he has set before him. He should make this purpose his supreme duty, and should devote himself to its attainment, not allowing his thoughts to wander away into ephemeral fancies, longings, and imaginings. This is the royal road to self-control and true concentration of thought. Even if he fails again and again to accomplish his purpose (as he necessarily must until weakness is overcome), the strength of character gained will be the measure of his true success, and this will form a new starting point for future power and triumph.”
James Allen, As A Man Thinketh
“Only the wise man, only he whose thoughts are controlled and purified, makes the winds and the storms of the soul obey him.”
James Allen, As A Man Thinketh
If you enjoyed these quotes from As a Man Thinketh, then I’m sure you’ll love the book:
Book Overview: The mind guides our footsteps as we progress along the pathway of life. Purity of mind leads inevitably to purity of life, to the precious love and understanding that should control our everyday acts and attitudes towards friends and foes. But where must one look for guidance? How does one achieve purity of mind that alone brings happiness and confidence? The author offers his clear answers in this book As A Man Thinketh.
Buy from Amazon! Listen on Audible!
Great on Kindle. Great Experience. Great Value. The Kindle edition of this book comes highly recommended on Amazon.
NEW In The Shop: Don’t Let The Tame Ones Tell You How To Live [Poster]
Why We ♥ It: Some of the best advice I (Matt here) ever got was: don’t take life advice from people who aren’t living a life you want to live and don’t take criticism from people you wouldn’t go to for advice. I created this poster to act as a reminder to listen more closely to our role models and less closely to our critics, trolls, and tamed-comfort-zone-hugger acquaintances. It’s also a perfect gift for the outdoor adventurer, travel enthusiast, or solo explorer (or soon to be). Available in print or digital download. 👇🏼
...Want to advertise your book, product, or service? Send inquiries to matt@movemequotes.com.
Written by Matt Hogan
Founder of MoveMe Quotes. On a mission to help busy people do inner work—for better mental health; for healing; for personal growth. Find me on Twitter / IG / Medium. I also share daily insights here. 🌱
It has taken me 1,000’s of hours to build this free library for you. If it has helped you, you can support my continued effort here. ☕️