"Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution. If you don't have any problems, you don't get any seeds"
About this Quote
Peale turns adversity into a kind of spiritual agriculture: problems aren’t just obstacles, they’re planting season. The line is classic mid-century American optimism with a pulpit polish, engineered to make struggle feel not only tolerable but productive. By calling solutions “seeds,” he smuggles in two persuasive ideas at once: growth takes time, and growth is natural. You don’t “invent” your way out of trouble so much as cultivate what the trouble already contains.
The intent is pastoral and practical. Peale isn’t offering policy or diagnosis; he’s offering posture. The subtext is a gentle rebuke to comfort-seeking: if you want a life without problems, you’re also choosing a life without the raw material for change. That second sentence is the kicker, because it flips the usual fantasy of stability. No problems sounds like paradise until he frames it as sterility. It’s not just “don’t complain,” it’s “don’t confuse ease with meaning.”
Context matters: Peale’s fame rose with The Power of Positive Thinking (1952), an era hungry for confidence as America slid from postwar boom into Cold War anxiety. His ministry blended Protestant reassurance with self-help technique, selling hope as a discipline. Critics saw a sugarcoated theology that dodged structural realities; supporters heard empowerment. The quote works because it offers agency without demanding heroics. You can be scared, stuck, imperfect - still, there are “seeds” in the mess. All you have to do is learn to tend them.
The intent is pastoral and practical. Peale isn’t offering policy or diagnosis; he’s offering posture. The subtext is a gentle rebuke to comfort-seeking: if you want a life without problems, you’re also choosing a life without the raw material for change. That second sentence is the kicker, because it flips the usual fantasy of stability. No problems sounds like paradise until he frames it as sterility. It’s not just “don’t complain,” it’s “don’t confuse ease with meaning.”
Context matters: Peale’s fame rose with The Power of Positive Thinking (1952), an era hungry for confidence as America slid from postwar boom into Cold War anxiety. His ministry blended Protestant reassurance with self-help technique, selling hope as a discipline. Critics saw a sugarcoated theology that dodged structural realities; supporters heard empowerment. The quote works because it offers agency without demanding heroics. You can be scared, stuck, imperfect - still, there are “seeds” in the mess. All you have to do is learn to tend them.
Quote Details
| Topic | Overcoming Obstacles |
|---|---|
| Source | Later attribution: Know Your Limits - Then Ignore Them (John Mason, 1999) modern compilationISBN: 9781890900120 · ID: Juumj0XpgBYC
Evidence: ... Norman Vincent Peale pointed out , " Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution . If you don't have any problems , you don't get any seeds . " Look for obstacles . They are your big chance ! Live your life so that you can say ... Other candidates (1) Norman Vincent Peale (Norman Vincent Peale) compilation34.9% olding you back what is it that stands in your way do it sometimes we see people persevering in the face of what seem... |
More Quotes by Norman
Add to List
