A first principle not formally recognized by scientific methodologists: when you run into something interesting, drop everything else and study it. B. F. Skinner More Quotes by B. F. Skinner More Quotes From B. F. Skinner 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. B. F. Skinner perseverancegiving-upeducation A person who has been punished is not thereby simply less inclined to behave in a given way; at best, he learns how to avoid punishment. B. F. Skinner punishmentpsychologicalway Give me a child and I'll shape him into anything. B. F. Skinner educationgivingchildren The strengthening of behavior which results from reinforcement is appropriately called 'conditioning'. In operant conditioning we 'strengthen' an operant in the sense of making a response more probable or, in actual fact, more frequent. B. F. Skinner reinforcementbehaviorfacts The major difference between rats and people is that rats learn from experience. B. F. Skinner differencesratspeople Behavior is determined by its consequences. B. F. Skinner consequencedeterminedbehavior Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten. B. F. Skinner educationteachergraduation 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. Skinner power-of-loveforceweakness Behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences B. F. Skinner consequencebehavior 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. Skinner educationteacherbook That's all teaching is; arranging contingencies which bring changes in behavior. B. F. Skinner contingencybehaviorteaching The way positive reinforcement is carried out is more important than the amount. B. F. Skinner importantrealityway It is not a question of starting. The start has been made. It's a question of what's to be done from now on. B. F. Skinner startingdonemade What is love except another name for the use of positive reinforcement? Or vice versa. B. F. Skinner what-is-lovevicesnames 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. B. F. Skinner designeducationreality It is a surprising fact that those who object most violently to the manipulation of behaviour nevertheless make the most vigorous effort to manipulate minds. B. F. Skinner effortbehaviourmind Science is a willingness to accept facts even when they are opposed to wishes. B. F. Skinner acceptingwishfacts I've often said that my rats have taught me much more than I've taught them. B. F. Skinner taughtratssaid Do not intervene between a person and the consequences of their own behavior. B. F. Skinner consequencebehaviorpersons A self is a repertoire of behavior appropriate to a given set of contingencies. B. F. Skinner givenbehaviorself
