B. F. Skinner Quotes

A collection of quotes by B. F. Skinner.

B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) was an influential American psychologist and behaviorist who revolutionized the field of psychology by emphasizing the importance of observable behavior and the concept of operant conditioning. He conducted extensive research on behavioral responses to environmental stimuli and developed novel theories and techniques, such as the Skinner box, to study animal and human behavior. Skinner's work laid the foundation for modern behaviorism and his ideas continue to have a lasting impact on psychology, education, and other related fields.

The real problem is not whether machines think but whether m

The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.

We shouldn't teach great books; we should teach a love of re

We shouldn't teach great books; we should teach a love of reading.

Love Books Reading

It has always been the task of formal education to set up be

It has always been the task of formal education to set up behavior which would prove useful or enjoyable later in a student's life.

Life Education

I did not direct my life. I didn't design it. I never made d

I did not direct my life. I didn't design it. I never made decisions. Things always came up and made them for me. That's what life is.

Design

Physics does not change the nature of the world it studies,

Physics does not change the nature of the world it studies, and no science of behavior can change the essential nature of man, even though both sciences yield technologies with a vast power to manipulate the subject matters.

Manners

Society attacks early, when the individual is helpless.

Society attacks early, when the individual is helpless.

Society

A failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be the best

A failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be the best one can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying.

Failure

Give me a child and I'll shape him into anything.

Give me a child and I'll shape him into anything.

Leadership

The way positive reinforcement is carried out is more import

The way positive reinforcement is carried out is more important than the amount.

Positive

Education is what survives when what has been learned has be

Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.

Education

If you're old, don't try to change yourself, change your env

If you're old, don't try to change yourself, change your environment.

Age

The consequences of an act affect the probability of its occ

The consequences of an act affect the probability of its occurring again.

Action(s)