Top 172 quotes by B. F. Skinner

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B. F. Skinner quote A failure is not always a m...

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

Perseverance , Education , Giving Up

359

B. F. Skinner quote A person who has been punis...

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

Way , Punishment , Psychological

339

B. F. Skinner quote We shouldn't teach great bo...

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

Love , Achievement , Reading , Teach , Great , Trivial

319

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

Love , Achievement , Reading , Teach , Great , Trivial

319

B. F. Skinner quote Give me a child and I'll sh...

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

Children , Education , Giving

274

B. F. Skinner quote The major difference betwee...

The major difference between rats and people is that rats learn from experience.
B. F. Skinner

People , Differences , Rats

245

B. F. Skinner quote Behavior is determined by i...

Behavior is determined by its consequences.
B. F. Skinner

Determined , Behavior , Consequence

234

B. F. Skinner quote Education is what survives ...

Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.
B. F. Skinner

New Scientist 21 May 1964

Education , Teacher , Graduation

228

B. F. Skinner quote The strengthening of behavi...

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

B.F Skinner (2012). “Science And Human Behavior”, p.65, Simon and Schuster

Facts , Behavior , Reinforcement

214

B. F. Skinner quote That's all teaching is; arr...

That's all teaching is; arranging contingencies which bring changes in behavior.
B. F. Skinner

Teaching , Contingency , Behavior

203

B. F. Skinner quote Behavior is shaped and main...

Behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences
B. F. Skinner

Behavior , Consequence

190

B. F. Skinner quote The way positive reinforcem...

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

Way , Reality , Important

184

B. F. Skinner quote It is not a question of sta...

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

B. F. Skinner (1974). “Walden Two”, p.257, Hackett Publishing

Starting , Done , Made

181

B. F. Skinner quote What is love except another...

What is love except another name for the use of positive reinforcement? Or vice versa.
B. F. Skinner

B. F. Skinner (1974). “Walden Two”, p.282, Hackett Publishing

Names , Reinforcement , What Is Love

168

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

Book , Education , Teacher

161

B. F. Skinner quote We are only just beginning ...

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

B. F. Skinner (1974). “Walden Two”, p.97, Hackett Publishing

Force , Weakness , Power Of Love