40 popular self-help quotes taken from the Bible

The Holy Bible is “the Word of God”, revealing the relationship between God, human beings and the purpose of Creation. The book consists of 66 books, filled with instructions, laws and principles for living a successful life.

It’s important that as believers we do not limit the scriptures to religious activities, but as the definitive guide to direct us in all aspects of our lives.

 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. – 2 Peter 1:3

We’ve compiled a list of popular self-help quotes that derive and were founded on Biblical principles.

The aim of this article is to encourage you to allow the Word of God to be the foundation of your life.

40 popular self-help quotes taken from the Bible

Picture: Abraham Lincoln 

1. “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” – Abraham Lincoln

“If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.” – Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NIV)

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2. “As he thinks, so he is; as he continues to think, so he remains.” – James Allen

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.” – Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)

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Picture: Martin Luther king (Second from the right) 

3. “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” – Martin Luther King

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you – Matthew 5:43-44 (NIV)

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4. “When you want to attract something into your life, make sure your actions don’t contradict your desires. Think about what you have asked for, and make sure that your actions are mirroring what you expect to receive, and that they’re not contradicting what you‘ve asked for.” – Rhonda Byrne, The Secret

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.” – James 2:17-18 (NLT)

Picture: Napoleon Hill 

5. “Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right’. Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along”. – Napoleon Hill

“Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.” – Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NLT) 

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6. “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” – Henry Ford

“The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” – Genesis 11:6 (NIV)

Picture: Winston Churchill 

7. “He who fails to plan is planning to fail.” – Sir Winston Churchill

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” – Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

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8. “You get out of life what you put into it.” – Sean “Puffy Combs”

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” – Galatians 6:7 (NLT)

Picture: Thomas Edison 

9. “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas A. Edison

“Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.” – Ecclesiastes 11:6 (NIV)

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10. “When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.” – Wayne Dyer

“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” – Matthew 7:2 (NIV)

Picture: Les Brown 

11. “Don’t waste another minute dealing with a toxic, negative, energy-draining person. Some people are wired for negativity. They love being argumentative, combative and abusive. Run for your life as quickly as possible.” – Les Brown

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

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12. “Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.” – Leo F. Buscaglia

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:34 (NLT)

Picture: Paulo Coelho 

12. “Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.” – Paulo Coelho

“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” – Matthew 7:5 (NLT)

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13. “Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. Before you retire, save. Before you die, give.” – William A. Ward

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But whoever does not have them is short-sighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.” – 2 Peter 1:5-9 (NIV) 

Muhammad Ali 

14. “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” – Muhammad Ali

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by It.” – Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)

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15. “Days are expensive. When you spend a day you have one less day to spend. So make sure you spend each one wisely.” – Jim Rohn

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12 (NIV) 

Image: J.R.R Tolkien 

16. “Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

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17. “You only have control over three things in your life—the thoughts you think, the images you visualize, and the actions you take.” – Jack Canfield

“A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” Proverbs 25:28 (NLT)

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18. “Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.” – Paulo Coelho

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:20-21 (NLT)

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19. “The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.” – Paulo Coelho

“For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.” – Proverbs 24:16 (NIV)

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20. “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar

“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” – Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)

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21. “Deliberately seek the company of people who influence you to think and act on building the life you desire.” – Napoleon Hill

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” – Proverbs 15:22 (ASV)

Picture: Tony Robbins 

22. “If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results you want and copy what they do and you’ll achieve the same results.” – Tony Robbins

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the Sun.” – Ecclesiastes 1:9, New International Version (NIV)

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23. “Small daily improvements over time lead to stunning results.” – Robin Sharma

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” – Luke 16:10-9

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Picture: Jim Rohn 

24. “Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want.” – Jim Rohn

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)

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25. “Focus on where you want to go, not on what you fear.” – Anthony Robbins

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

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26. “Go hard or go home.” – Unknown

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,” – Colossians 3:23

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27. “There’s no way to succeed in business without the highest ethical standards.” – Jordan Belfort

“Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” – Proverbs 13:11 (NIV)

Picture: Earl Nightingale 

28. “When you rise above the temptation to be dishonest, you do more for your peace of mind than any money can, and you set up positive emotion-habits, which take root in everything you, do.” – Earl Nightingale

“These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.” – Proverbs 1:18-19

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29. “It doesn’t matter where you came from. All that matters is where you are going.”- Brian Tracy

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” – Isaiah 43:18 (NIV)

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Picture: Benjamin Franklin 

30. “Fear not death for the sooner we die, the longer we shall be immortal.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” – Matthew 10:28 (ASV)

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31. “He that can have patience can have what he will.” – Benjamin Franklin

“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” – Romans 8:25 (NLT)

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32. “The Bible – the wisest document ever known in human existence, which defies the ravages of time and change because it contains the truth that cannot be changed or invalidated.” – Norman Vincent Pearl

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:17 (NIV)

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33. “To cure worry, spend fifteen minutes daily filling your mind full of God. Worry is just a very bad mental habit. You can change any habit with God’s help.” – Norman Vincent Pearl

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” – Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

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34. “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” – Napoleon Hill

“He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” – Matthew 17:20 (NLT)

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35. “You must find the place inside yourself where nothing is impossible.” – Deepak Chopra

“If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” – Mark 9:23 (NIV)

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36. “The only difference between a rich person and a poor person is how they use their time.” – Robert Kiyosaki

“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest– and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.” – Proverbs 24:34 (NIV)

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37. “Challenge whatever you find hardest to do, do with all your heart.” – Dali Lama

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” – Colossians 3:23 (NLT)

Picture: Helen Keller 

38. “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

“The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” – Genesis 11:6 (NIV)

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39. “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.” – Proverbs 4:5-6 (NIV)

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40. “People are rewarded in public for what they do in private.” – Tony Robbins

“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – Matthew 6:3-4 (NIV) 

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41. “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” – Dalai Lama

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” – Luke 6:38 (NIV)

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42. “Worry pretends to be necessary but serves no useful purpose” – Eckhart Tolle

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” – Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)