85 James Allen Quotes From The Original Self-Help Writer

Moumita Dutta
Dec 12, 2023 By Moumita Dutta
Originally Published on Feb 22, 2021
Edited by Jacob Fitzbright
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Read time: 10.6 Min

James Allen was a philosophical writer who became the pioneer of the self-help movement of authors and writers.  

James was born into a working-class British family. Before becoming a writer he worked many jobs to keep his family functioning.

In 1898, James Allen got his break by publishing in the magazine 'The Herald Of The Golden Age'. Since then there was no turning back for James.

He emerged as a spiritual and philosophical writer, and in 1903 he published his best work called 'As A Man Thinketh' based on literally what he thinks. Following his footsteps, a number of extraordinary self-help authors came into limelight who gave us very good books. In this article, you will find many wonderful James Allen quotes.

If you like this article, then you should check out other articles like 'As A Man Thinketh' quotes and William Arthur quotes.

James Allen 'As A Man Thinketh' Quotes

'As A Man Thinketh' was the best work of James Allen and he is widely renowned for the book. Here are a few quotes by James Allen from his book, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

1. "As a man thinketh in his heart, so shall he be."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

2. "Man's mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

3. "Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

4. "As he thinks, so he is; as he continues to think, so he remains."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

5. "A strong man cannot help a weaker unless ... develop the strength which he admires in another. None but himself can alter his condition."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

6. "There can be no progress nor achievement without sacrifice, and a ... his mind on the development of his plans, and the strengthening of his resolution and self-reliance."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

7. "Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. It is the result of long and patient effort in self-control."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

8. "To desire is to obtain to aspire is to achieve."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

9. "A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

10. "A person is limited only by the thoughts that he chooses."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

11. "A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

12. "He who would accomplish little need sacrifice little; he who would accomplish much must sacrifice much, he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

13. "Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

14. "The dreamers are the saviors of the world."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

15. "Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

16. "A noble and God-like character is not a ... effect of long-cherished association with God-like thoughts."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

17. "All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

18. "Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

19. "Suffering is always the effect of wrong thought in some direction. It is an indication that the individual is out of harmony with himself, with the law of his being."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

20. "Work joyfully and peacefully, knowing that right thoughts and right efforts inevitably bring about right results."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

21. "For you will always gravitate toward that which you, secretly, most love."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

22. "The circumstances which a man encounters with suffering are the result of his own mental inharmony."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

23. "Self-control is strength; Right thought is mastery; Calmness is power. Say unto your heart, 'Peace, be still!'."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

24. "Act is the blossom of thought; and joy and suffering are its fruits; thus does a man garner in the sweet and biter fruitage of his own husbandry."

- James Allen, 'As A Man Thinketh'.

James Allen Quotes on Love

Female hands showing a heart shape

Below are some James Allen quotes that you can dedicate to your loved ones.

25. "Knowing the law of love, he lives it, and maintains the same calm attitude of mind and sweetness of heart towards all."

- James Allen.

26. "He who knows that love is at the heart of all things, and has realized the all-sufficing power of that over, has no room in his heart for condemnation."

- James Allen.

27. "Think lovingly, speak lovingly, act lovingly and no danger shall overtake you."

- James Allen.

28. "Love does not so brand and classify men; does not seek to convert men to his own views, not to convince them of the superiority of his methods."

- James Allen.

29. "Look through the eyes of love, and you shall see everywhere the beautiful and true."

- James Allen.

30. "Love is the magic that transforms all things into power and beauty."

- James Allen.

31. "The soul attracts that which it secretly harbours; that which it loves, and also that which it fears."

- James Allen.

32. “Harmony is one phase of the law whose spiritual expression is love.”

- James Allen.

33. "The man who thinks hateful thoughts brings hatred upon himself. The man who thinks loving thoughts is loved."

- James Allen.

Inspiring James Allen Quotes

Reading James Allen quotes will inspire you in every aspect and soothe your soul.

34. "A man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life."

- James Allen.

35. “The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom.”

- James Allen.

36. "As the physically weak man can exercise and become strong, his mind can become strong by exercising himself in right thinking."

- James Allen.

37. "For true success ask yourself these four questions: Why? Why not? Why not me? Why not now?"

- James Allen.

38. "No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks."

- James Allen.

39. "Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bad fruit."

- James Allen.

40. "The human will, that force unseen, the strengthh of granite intervene."

- James Allen.

41. "You will be what you 'will' to be."

- James Allen.

42. "There is an unavoidable tendency to become literally the embodiment of that quality upon which one most constantly thinks."

- James Allen.

43. "A man remains ignorant because he doesn't love wisdom and doesn't choose wise thoughts."

- James Allen.

44. "Do not dwell upon the sins and mistakes of yesterday so exclusively as to prevent you from living purely today."

- James Allen.

45. "He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass: environment is but his looking glass."

- James Allen.

Life Transforming James Allen Quotes

Here are some soothing James Allen quotes that will help you all of you find your purposes in life.

46. "Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall your dreams show you what you shall at last unveil."

- James Allen.

47. "Your circumstances may be uncongenial, but they shall not long remain so if you but perceive an Ideal and strive to reach it."

- James Allen.

48. "Cease to be a disobedient child in the school of experience, and begin to learn, with humility and patience, the lessons that are set for your ultimate perfection."

- James Allen.

49. "The law of harvest is to sow a character and you reap a destiny."

- James Allen.

50. "The universe does not favour the greedy, the dishonest, the universe helps the honest, the magnanimous, the virtuous."

- James Allen.

51. "The outer conditions of a person's life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state."

- James Allen.

52. "To begin to think with purpose, is to enter the ranks of those strong ones who only recognize failure as one of the pathways to attainment."

- James Allen.

53. "Thought is the fountain of action, life, and manifestation; make the fountain pure, and all will be pure."

- James Allen.

54. "The world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going."

- James Allen.

55. "Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself."

- James Allen.

56. "The world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going."

- James Allen.

58. "No man is hindered by another; he is only hindered by himself. No man suffers because of another; he suffers only because of himself."

- James Allen.

59. "In a justly ordered universe, where individual responsibility must be absolute."

- James Allen.

60. "Our life is what our thoughts make it. A man will find that as he alters his thoughts toward things and other people, things and other people will alter towards him."

- James Allen.

61. "A man can only rise, conquer, and achieve by lifting up his thoughts."

- James Allen.

62. "He who delights in work will not long remain unemployed."

- James Allen.

63. "Every act of a man springs from the hidden seeds of thought."

- James Allen.

Best James Allen Quotes

Some of the best of James Allen quotes that are applicable for you are given below.

64. "Unrest and pain and sorrow are the shadows of life."

- James Allen.

65. "Blessedness, not material possessions, is virtue, desiring material possessions is the measure of wrong thought."

- James Allen.

66. "If your real desire is to be good, there is no need to wait for the money before you do it."

- James Allen.

67. "The world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going."

- James Allen.

68. "The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can achieve anything."

- James Allen.

69. "Self-control is strength.”

- James Allen.

70. "You are today where your thoughts have brought you.”

- James Allen.

71. "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.

72. “You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration.”

- James Allen.

73. "The visions you glorify in your mind. The ideals you enthrone in your heart. This you will build your life by. This you will become."

- James Allen.

74. "Not what he wishes and prays for does a man get, but what he justly earns. His wishes and prayers are only gratified and answered when they harmonize with his thoughts and actions."

- James Allen.

75. "You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you."

- James Allen.

76. "As the reaper of his own harvest, man learns both of suffering and bliss"

- James Allen.

77. "They themselves are makers of themselves.."

- James Allen.

78. "Man is made or unmade by himself. He holds the key to every situation."

- James Allen.

79. "In all human affairs there are efforts, and there are results, and the strength of the effort is the measure of the result.”

- James Allen.

80. "As he thinks, so he is; as he continues to think, so he remains."

- James Allen.

81. "The key to happiness is having dreams; the key to success is making them come true."

- James Allen.

82. "Mind is the master weaver, both of the inner garment of character and the outer garment of circumstance."

- James Allen.

83. "Suffering is always the effect of wrong thought in some direction."

- James Allen.

84. "The world is your kaleidoscope."

- James Allen.

85. "And you, too, youthful reader, will realize the Vision (not the idle wish) of your heart."

- James Allen.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for James Allen quotes then why not take a look at Thomas Wolfe quotes or [Will Duran quotes]?

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Written by Moumita Dutta

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management

Moumita Dutta picture

Moumita DuttaBachelor of Arts specializing in Journalism and Mass Communication, Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Management

A content writer and editor with a passion for sports, Moumita has honed her skills in producing compelling match reports and stories about sporting heroes. She holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Calcutta University, alongside a postgraduate diploma in Sports Management.

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