Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by B. F. Skinner (American Psychologist)

Burrhus Frederic Skinner (1904–90) was an American psychologist and a leading proponent of behaviorism, which views human behavior as responses to environmental stimuli and emphasizes the study of observable actions to understand human nature.

Born in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, Skinner initially pursued writing before earning his PhD from Harvard University, graduating in 1931. He is best known for developing “operant conditioning,” a concept that examines how behavior is influenced by rewards and punishments. He also designed the “Skinner box,” a controlled environment used to study animal behavior, which became a cornerstone of experimental psychology. His work emphasized observable behavior over internal mental states, solidifying his status as a key figure in behaviorism.

Notable works include The Behavior of Organisms (1938,) which introduced operant conditioning principles, and Science and Human Behavior (1953,) which applied these principles to human activity. His utopian novel Walden Two (1948) imagined a society based on behaviorist principles, sparking ethical debates. Skinner also published Beyond Freedom and Dignity (1971,) a critique of traditional views on free will, Verbal Behavior (1957,) an analysis of language as behavior, and About Behaviorism (1974,) which addressed misconceptions about behaviorism.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by B. F. Skinner

Give me a child and I’ll shape him into anything.
—B. F. Skinner
Topics: Leadership, Influence

We shouldn’t teach great books; we should teach a love of reading.
—B. F. Skinner
Topics: Book

Physics does not change the nature of the world it studies, and no science of behavior can change the essential nature of man, even though both sciences yield technologies with a vast power to manipulate the subject matters.
—B. F. Skinner
Topics: Manners, Behavior

The consequences of an act affect the probability of its occurring again.
—B. F. Skinner
Topics: Consequences

On artificial intelligence: the real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.
—B. F. Skinner
Topics: Thinking, Thoughts, Intelligence, Computers

Society attacks early, when the individual is helpless.
—B. F. Skinner
Topics: Civilization, Society

Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.
—B. F. Skinner
Topics: Education, Learning

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
Topics: Failure

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