What can we surmise about the likelihood of someone's being caring and generous, loving and helpful, just from knowing that they are a believer? Virtually nothing, say psychologists, sociologists, and others who have studied that question for decade Alfie Kohn More Quotes by Alfie Kohn More Quotes From Alfie Kohn Grades dilute the pleasure that a student experiences on successfully completing a task. Alfie Kohn pleasure tasks students Maximum difficulty isn't the same as optimal difficulty. Alfie Kohn optimal maximum difficulty Non-cooperative approaches, by contrast, almost always involve duplication of effort, since someone working independently must spend time and skills on problems that already have been encountered and overcome by someone else. A technical hitch, for example, is more likely to be solved quickly and imaginatively if scientists (including scientists from different countries) pool their talents rather than compete against one another. Alfie Kohn effort skills country To control students is to force them to accommodate to a preestablished curriculum. Alfie Kohn curriculum force students Contrary to what you think, your company will be a lot more productive if you refuse to tolerate competition among your employees. Alfie Kohn employee competition thinking In education, parody is obsolete. Alfie Kohn parody obsolete We learn most readily, most naturally, most effectively, when we start with the big picture - precisely when the basics don't come first. Alfie Kohn basics bigs firsts There are different kinds of motivation, and the kind matters more than the amount. Alfie Kohn motivation different matter Someone who thinks well of himself is said to have a healthy self-concept and is envied. Someone who thinks well of his country is called a patriot and is applauded. But someone who thinks well of his species is regarded as hopelessly naïve and is dismissed. Alfie Kohn self country thinking How can we do our best when we are spending our energies trying to make others lose - and fearing that they will make us lose? Alfie Kohn spending energy trying