Dale Carnegie is the best-selling author of “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” He helped people truly grasp how powerful interpersonal skills and public speaking could be to one’s life.

He was born into poverty in Missouri, and worked as a salesman and actor following his college graduation. Additionally, he began teaching public speaking classes which ended up becoming extremely successful. Carnegie was able to sell advice which if applied, could help people from all ages become successful.

Below are 20 of Dale Carnegie’s most influential quotes from his book, How to Make Friends and Influence People:

1. “A person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” – Dale Carnegie

2. “Every successful person loves the game. The chance to prove his worth, to excel, to win.” –Dale Carnegie

3. “Every man I meet is my superior in some way. In that, I learn of him.” – Dale Carnegie

4. “Pay less attention to what men say. Just watch what they do.” – Dale Carnegie

5. “Ask questions instead of giving orders.” – Dale Carnegie

6. “There is only one way to get the best of an argument — and that is to avoid it.” – Dale Carnegie

7. “Happiness doesn’t depend on any external conditions, it is governed by our mental attitude.” – Dale Carnegie

8. “To be interesting, be interested.” – Dale Carnegie

9. “All men have fears, but the brave put down their fears and go forward.” – Dale Carnegie

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10. “It raises one above the herd and gives one a feeling of nobility and exaltation to admit one’s mistakes.” – Dale Carnegie

11. “You can’t win an argument. If you lose it, you lose it; and if you win it, you lose it.” – Dale Carnegie

12. “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.” – Dale Carnegie

13. “When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but with creatures bristling with prejudice and motivated by pride and vanity.” – Dale Carnegie

14. “Any fool can criticize, complain, and condemn—and most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.” – Dale Carnegie

15. “Talk to someone about themselves and they’ll listen for hours.” – Dale Carnegie

16. “Names are the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” – Dale Carnegie

17. “Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person’s precious pride, hurt his sense of importance and arouse resentment.” – Dale Carnegie

18. “By fighting you never get enough, but by yielding you get more than you expected.” – Dale Carnegie

19. “Winning friends begins with friendliness.” – Dale Carnegie

20. “Remember a name and call it easily and you have paid a subtle and very effective compliment.” – Dale Carnegie

Which one of these Dale Carnegie quotes resonated most with you and why?