James McKeen Cattell
American psychologist who advanced mental testing and anthropometrics.
Most quoted
"The object of the present research is to measure the 'personal equation' of different observers, and to determine the causes of its variations."
— from Mind, 1888
"Psychology cannot attain the certainty and exactness of the physical sciences, unless it rests on a foundation of experiment and measurement."
— from Mind, 1888
"We are still far from having a complete system of mental tests, but the progress made in the last few years is encouraging."
— from Mind, 1890
All quotes by James McKeen Cattell (102)
Galton's legacy is in quantifying the unquantifiable.
Introspection is useful, but unreliable without verification.
The mind is not a tabula rasa; it bears the marks of heredity.
In old age, one reflects on the fleeting nature of fame.
Academic freedom is the cornerstone of progress.
Why measure reaction times when we can measure lives?
Beauty in science lies in its precision.
True wisdom is knowing the limits of one's knowledge.
Wundt's laboratory was the birthplace of modern psychology.
Individual differences demand individualized education.
Life is a series of experiments; learn from each.
The ivory tower must open its doors to the world.
Psychologists should laugh at their own pretensions.
Science without art is dry; art without science is vague.
The sage knows when to speak and when to measure.
Mental tests reveal more than they conceal.
Philosophy guides the method of psychology.
Cherish the moments of quiet reflection in a busy life.
University politics are more treacherous than national ones.
A timely quip can disarm the sternest critic.
Contemporaries of James McKeen Cattell
Other Psychologys born within 50 years of James McKeen Cattell (1860–1944).