The feeling of being interested can act as a kind of neurological signal, directing us to fruitful areas of inquiry. B. F. Skinner More Quotes by B. F. Skinner More Quotes From B. F. Skinner Many instructional arrangements seem "contrived," but there is nothing wrong with that. It is the teacher's function to contrive conditions under which students learn. 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. B. F. Skinner tasksteachingteacher We shouldn't teach great books; we should teach a love of reading. B. F. Skinner educationinspiringbook Better contraceptives will control population only if people will use them. A nuclear holocaust can be prevented only if the conditions under which nations make war can be changed. The environment will continue to deteriorate until pollution practices are abandoned. We need to make vast changes in human behavior. B. F. Skinner philosophywarart Indeed one of the ultimate advantages of an education is simply coming to the end of it. B. F. Skinner advantageendseducation In the world at large we seldom vote for a principle or a given state of affairs. We vote for a man who pretends to believe in that principle or promises to achieve that state. We don't want a man, we want a condition of peace and plenty-- or, it may be, war and want-- but we must vote for a man. B. F. Skinner menwarbelieve It is a mistake to suppose that the whole issue is how to free man. The issue is to improve the way in which he is controlled. B. F. Skinner issuesmistakemen To say that a man is sinful because he sins is to give an operational definition of sin. To say that he sins because he is sinful is to trace his behavior to a supposed inner trait. But whether or not a person engages in the kind of behavior called sinful depends upon circumstances which are not mentioned in either question. The sin assigned as an inner possession (the sin a person "knows") is to be found in a history of reinforcement. B. F. Skinner definitionsgivingmen I will be dead in a few months. But it hasn't given me the slightest anxiety or worry. I always knew I was going to die. B. F. Skinner anxietydyingworry 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. B. F. Skinner tasksbehaviorstudents Men build society and society builds men. B. F. Skinner men Chaos breeds geniuses. It offers a man something to be a genius about. B. F. Skinner chaosgeniusmen ...not everyone is willing to defend a position of 'not knowing.' There is no virtue in ignorance for its own sake. B. F. Skinner ignoranceknowingsake The majority of people don't want to plan. They want to be free of the responsibility of planning. What they ask for is merely some assurance that they will be decently provided for. The rest is a day-to-day enjoyment of life. That's the explanation for your Father Divines; people naturally flock to anyone they can trust for the necessities of life... They are the backbone of a community--solid, trust-worthy, essential. B. F. Skinner responsibilityfatherpeople The one fact that I would cry form every housetop is this: the Good Life is waiting for us - here and now. B. F. Skinner good-lifewaitingfacts A disappointment is not generally an oversight. It might just be the best one can do the situation being what it is. The genuine error is to quit attempting. B. F. Skinner errorsdisappointmentmight Somehow people get the idea I think we should be given gumdrops whenever we do anything of value. B. F. Skinner peopleideasthinking The severest trial of oppression is the constant outrage which one suffers at the thought of the oppressor. What Jesus discovered was how to avoid the inner devastations. His technique was to practice the opposite emotion... a man may not get his freedom or possessions back, but he's less miserable. It's a difficult lesson. B. F. Skinner oppositesmenjesus To require a citizen to sign a loyalty oath is to destroy some of the loyalty he could otherwise claim, since any subsequent loyal behavior may then be attributed to the oath. B. F. Skinner citizensloyaltymay A piece of music is an experience to be taken by itself. B. F. Skinner piecesmusic-istaken Old age is rather like another country. You will enjoy it more if you have prepared yourself before you go. B. F. Skinner enjoyagecountry
