November 6, 2025 by Ewell Smith
How three unforgettable sales pros brought Dale Carnegie’s timeless lessons to life.
(Top 40 Quotes Below)
What You’ll Learn
- How three remarkable sales professionals brought Dale Carnegie’s timeless principles to life.
- Why relationship-based selling still outperforms pressure-driven tactics.
- How empathy, listening, and creativity build lifelong business friendships.
- The key Dale Carnegie quotes that inspire connection, trust, and influence.
- Practical takeaways you can apply in your own sales and leadership journey.
Dale Carnegie, without question, is best known for his book How to Win Friends and Influence People, hence being quoted and referenced for decades.
When I think about my own journey and the people who have shaped it, three sales pros come to mind. These are three people I am still friends with today, even after 25 years. That is saying something, considering that throughout my career I have had over a thousand salespeople call on me for marketing, promotions, and partnerships of every kind.
These three stand out because they embodied exactly what Dale Carnegie taught. They lived it.
The first is my friend Kacy Wainwright, one of the top sales reps at WWL Radio, the powerhouse AM station that covers the entire Gulf Coast and reaches 35+ states on a clear night. She has been with them for more than 25 years. I affectionately call her Radio Babe.
Kacy always came to me looking for ways to add value. She called them "marketing moments."We would sit down and brainstorm ideas to better market Louisiana Seafood. Wild, creative, sometimes off-the-wall ideas. She invested hours with me over the years, and to this day, we are still great friends.
The second is Jeanne Smith, a salesperson with Louisiana Public Television. I still remember when I was venting about how challenging it was to work with Food Network on the Great American Seafood Cook-Off with all the hoops and hurdles. Jeanne listened and then said, “Suppose we can get the Great American Seafood Cook-Off on PBS? Let me see what I can do.”
And sure enough, she made it happen. Jeanne worked with the leadership at Louisiana Public Television and turned that idea into reality, securing national syndication for the Great American Seafood Cook-Off through PBS. That moment changed everything and had a lasting impact on domestic seafood communities nationwide. Once again, it all came down to relationships, not transactions.
And last and but not least is John Barranco, the very first salesperson who ever called on me back when I was with the Louisiana Seafood Board. In fact, we were both starting our new roles at the same time. I first met John when he was the Director of Sports Marketing at Tulane University. From there, he went on to UNO Sports, then to Cox Sports Television, and eventually became a commissioner with the Sun Belt Conference. I have followed his career all the way through, and for good reason.
John had a simple philosophy. I did not fully recognize it at the time, but looking back, I see it clearly. He would walk in, ask a few thoughtful questions, and then just listen intently. He was not there to pitch; he was there to understand. That kind of listening builds connection, and connection builds trust.
I left the Louisiana Seafood Board in 2013, but the relationships with Jeanne, Kacy, and John are still cherished today. They instinctively did what Dale Carnegie wrote and spoke about. It came naturally to them, and that is why those friendships and long-term relationships have endured all these years.
I am deeply grateful to the three of them, and I hope the list of quotes below inspires you to see and maybe even practice the same qualities in your own relationships.
Dale Carnegie’s wisdom has outlasted generations because it speaks to something timeless: the power of genuine human connection. Whether you are selling, leading, or simply trying to make an impact, his ideas remind us that strong relationships will always matter more than transactions.
The Dale Carnegie quotes below capture the essence of what still drives success today. Each one reflects the heart of relationship-based selling and the simple truth that people do business with those they trust. These sales principles are as relevant now as they were nearly a century ago.
Top 40 Dale Carnegie Quotes That Build Influence and Connection
Human Connection and Communication
- “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
- “Remember that a person’s name is, to that person, the sweetest sound in any language.”
- “Talk to someone about themselves and they will listen for hours.”
- “If you want to gather honey, do not kick over the beehive.”
- “The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.”
- “Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain, and most fools do.”
- “Be hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise.”
- “Give honest and sincere appreciation.”
Leadership and Influence
9. “Begin with praise and honest appreciation.”
10. “Call attention to people’s mistakes indirectly.”
11. “Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.”
12. “Let the other person save face.”
13. “Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement.”
14. “Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.”
15. “Make the other person feel important and do it sincerely.”
16. “A person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”
Confidence and Personal Growth
17. “Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.”
18. “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.”
19. “Do the thing you fear to do and keep on doing it. That is the quickest and surest way to conquer fear.”
20. “If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”
21 “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage.”
22. “When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic but creatures of emotion.”
23. “Happiness does not depend on any external conditions. It is governed by our mental attitude.”
24. “Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.”
Worry and Mindset
25. “Our fatigue is often caused not by work but by worry, frustration, and resentment."
26. “Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.”
27. “If you cannot sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It is the worry that gets you, not the loss of sleep.”
28. “When we hate our enemies, we are giving them power over us.29
29. “Cooperate with the inevitable.”
30. “Two men looked out from prison bars; one saw the mud, the other saw the stars.”
31. “Let us not allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget.”
32. “Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves.”
Service and Success
33. “People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing"
34.“Flaming enthusiasm, backed up by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success.”
35. “The successful person profits from their mistakes and tries again in a different way.”
36. “Act enthusiastic and you will be enthusiastic.”
37. “Do not be afraid of enemies who attack you. Be afraid of the friends who flatter you.”
38. “By fighting you never get enough, but by yielding you get more than you expected.”
39 “The person who seeks all their applause from outside has their happiness in another’s keeping.”
40. “Most of us have far more courage than we ever dreamed we possessed.”
All quotes in this post have been cross-verified with trusted sources, including DaleCarnegie.com, and Dale Carnegie’s published works such as How to Win Friends and Influence People, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, and The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking. Each quote reflects Dale Carnegie’s authentic voice and enduring message about building trust, influence, and meaningful human connection in business and life.
Frequently Asked Questions - Dale Carnegie
What can professionals learn from Dale Carnegie today?
Dale Carnegie’s lessons still remind us that success in sales comes from understanding people, not pushing products. His focus on empathy, listening, and appreciation continues to guide business leaders in building trust and authentic relationships.
How do Dale Carnegie’s quotes apply to relationship-based selling?
Carnegie taught that genuine interest in others opens doors faster than any sales tactic. His quotes inspire sales professionals to connect through sincerity, service, and respect — the foundation of every strong business relationship.
Why do Dale Carnegie’s principles still matter in the AI era?
Even in an age of automation, people still buy from people they trust. Carnegie’s timeless principles remind us that technology can enhance the sales process, but human connection is what truly closes the deal.
AI will only make the human connection that much more important, especially in person.
For more on selling with confidence and authenticity, visit the Close The Deal Podcast
Check out Top 40 Zig Ziglar Quotes That Help You Close More Deals
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About The Author: Ewell Smith - Certified Franchise Consultant / Publisher - Close The Deal / Host - Close The Deal Podcast / Author - Your First Franchise Roadmap - Ewell serves aspiring entrepreneurs and Veterans considering a franchise. To learn more, contact Ewell.
