Albert Ellis Quotes

A collection of quotes by Albert Ellis.

Albert Ellis was a renowned American psychologist and the founder of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), a groundbreaking approach to psychotherapy. He was born on September 27, 1913, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and passed away on July 24, 2007, in New York City.

Ellis grew up in a troubled family environment that greatly influenced his thinking and career. Struggling with social anxieties, he sought solace in philosophy and psychology. Ellis earned a Bachelor's degree in business from the City University of New York and later obtained his Ph.D. in psychology from Columbia University.

In the 1950s, Ellis developed REBT, which challenged the prevailing Freudian psychoanalysis by emphasizing the role of the individual's thoughts and beliefs in shaping their emotions and behaviors. He believed that people tend to hold irrational and counterproductive beliefs that lead to psychological distress, and his therapy focused on creating rational alternatives to these beliefs.

Throughout his career, Ellis wrote numerous influential books and articles, including "A Guide to Rational Living" and "How to Stubbornly Refuse to Make Yourself Miserable About Anythingâ€”Yes, Anything." He also founded the Albert Ellis Institute in New York City, which continues to promote and teach the principles of REBT.

Albert Ellis was widely recognized for his innovative contributions to the field of psychology and his impact on cognitive-behavioral therapy. His work has influenced countless therapists and individuals seeking to overcome emotional and behavioral challenges.

For that again, is what all manner of religion essentially i

For that again, is what all manner of religion essentially is: childish dependency.

The art of love is largely the art of persistence.

The art of love is largely the art of persistence.

I get people to truly accept themselves unconditionally, whe

I get people to truly accept themselves unconditionally, whether or not their therapist or anyone loves them.

I had a great many sex and love cases where people were abso

I had a great many sex and love cases where people were absolutely devastated when somebody with whom they were compulsively in love didn't love them back. They were killing themselves with anxiety and depression.

We teach people that they upset themselves. We can't change

We teach people that they upset themselves. We can't change the past, so we change how people are thinking, feeling and behaving today.

I had used eclectic therapy and behavior therapy on myself a

I had used eclectic therapy and behavior therapy on myself at the age of 19 to get over my fear of public speaking and of approaching young women in public.

People got insights into what was bothering them, but they h

People got insights into what was bothering them, but they hardly did a damn thing to change.

There's no evidence whatsoever that men are more rational th

There's no evidence whatsoever that men are more rational than women. Both sexes seem to be equally irrational.

People could rationally decide that prolonged relationships

People could rationally decide that prolonged relationships take up too much time and effort and that they'd much rather do other kinds of things. But most people are afraid of rejection.

I'm very happy. I like my work and the various aspects of it

I'm very happy. I like my work and the various aspects of it - going around the world, teaching the gospel according to St. Albert.

Acceptance is not love. You love a person because he or she

Acceptance is not love. You love a person because he or she has lovable traits, but you accept everybody just because they're alive and human.

If something is irrational, that means it won't work. It's u

If something is irrational, that means it won't work. It's usually unrealistic.

The more sinful and guilty a person tends to feel, the less

The more sinful and guilty a person tends to feel, the less chance there is that he will be a happy, healthy, or law-abiding citizen. He will become a compulsive wrong-doer.

The art of love ... is largely the art of persistence.

The art of love ... is largely the art of persistence.

I think the future of psychotherapy and psychology is in the

I think the future of psychotherapy and psychology is in the school system. We need to teach every child how to rarely seriously disturb himself or herself and how to overcome disturbance when it occurs.

As a result of my philosophy, I wasn't even upset about Hitl

As a result of my philosophy, I wasn't even upset about Hitler. I was willing to go to war to knock him off, but I didn't hate him. I hated what he was doing.

The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide

The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny.

I hope to die in the saddle seat.

I hope to die in the saddle seat.