B. F. Skinner on control
B. F. Skinner107 quotes“To say that behaviors have different ‘meanings’ is only another way of saying that they are controlled by different variables.”
More from B. F. Skinner
Teachers must learn how to teach they need only to be taught more effective ways of teaching.
B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner But restraint is the only one sort of control, and absence of restraint isn’t freedom. It’s not control that’s lacking when one feels ‘free’, but the objectionable control of force.
B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner Do not intervene between a person and the consequences of their own behavior.
B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner Give me a child and I’ll shape him into anything.
B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner We are only just beginning to understand the power of love because we are just beginning to understand the weakness of force and aggression.
B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner Those who have had anything useful to say have said it far too often, and those who have had nothing to say have been no more reticent.
B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner If you’re old, don’t try to change yourself, change your environment.
B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner Science, not religion, has taught me my most useful values, among them intellectual honesty. It is better to go without answers than to accept those that merely resolve puzzlement.
B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner Society already possesses the psychological techniques needed to obtain universal observance of a code – a code which would guarantee the success of a community or state. The difficulty is that these techniques are in the hands of the wrong people-or, rather, there aren’t any right people.
B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner The major difference between rats and people is that rats learn from experience.
B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner We shouldn’t teach great books; we should teach a love of reading. Knowing the contents of a few works of literature is a trivial achievement. Being inclined to go on reading is a great achievement.
B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner Men build society and society builds men.
B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner Something doing every minute’ may be a gesture of despair-or the height of a battle against boredom.
B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner Old age is rather like another country. You will enjoy it more if you have prepared yourself before you go.
B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner We have not yet seen what man can make of man.
B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner …not everyone is willing to defend a position of ‘not knowing.’ There is no virtue in ignorance for its own sake.
B. F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner
Original quotes
From our community writers
You were fully clothed in lies, I was naked in truth. Still, when morning came It was I who survived the cold.
Obehi Vessel A.Obehi Vessel A. I loved you as Icarus loved the sun- too close, too much.
David JonesDavid Jones We attract who our souls need to grow.
Mark AnthonyMark Anthony You’re my bad habit, on this dark planet, light up my world like stars, now they’re ashes.
Chris AllchinChris Allchin Permanence is a wonderful magician. Now you see him, next he goes on to perform the greatest disappearing act of all time.
Hamilton K. AmadiHamilton K. Amadi Live to be happy not to impress.
Hayley EvansHayley Evans You shined your light on all the things I’ve been trying so hard to hide.
CindyCindy You are the love I could never escape not that I would ever want to.
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More on control
For me to have a cheeky little biscuit, it’s not going to hurt. But I need to control those indulgences. I can’t just be scoffing cakes and biscuits five nights a week.
Anthony JoshuaAnthony Joshua No. I probably do better not being in politics. They have too much control over you when you are in politics.
Evander HolyfieldEvander Holyfield You’ve got to trust people. And because I am a control freak, sometimes that’s difficult for me, because I want to micro-manage absolutely everything. I can’t hand over. But I’m trying to do that more.
Victoria BeckhamVictoria Beckham The most common misconception people have had in the past is about my own control and calculation of my career.
George MichaelGeorge Michael I am a control freak. I am very hands on and pay attention to details.
Victoria BeckhamVictoria Beckham When I’ve been unsuccessful, I’ve been controlled. When I’ve been successful, I’ve been in control.
Katharine HepburnKatharine Hepburn Life happens. There is no point in being upset or down about things we can’t control or change.
Amy WinehouseAmy Winehouse I can’t run a company… I can’t even run my own life!
Adam SandlerAdam Sandler
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