George A. Miller

Cognitive Science American 1920 – 2012 106 quotes

A pioneering cognitive psychologist known for his seminal paper 'The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two' on short-term memory capacity.

Quotes by George A. Miller

The human mind is not a blank slate, but a structure shaped by evolution.

Personal reflection in letter 1980

In studying the mind, we must bridge the gap between the wetware of the brain and the software of thought.

Cognitive Science Society Keynote 1990

Memory is not a warehouse but a creative reconstruction.

Journal article on memory 1955

The capacity of short-term memory is limited to about seven chunks of information.

The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two 1956

Information theory provides a new language for psychology.

Speech on information theory 1955

We are all limited by the bandwidth of our attention.

Book on attention 1975

The cognitive revolution was a rebellion against behaviorism's black box.

Autobiographical essay 1986

Understanding language requires more than syntax; it demands semantics and pragmatics.

Linguistics conference 1965

Life is too short for trivial pursuits; focus on what matters in the mind.

Personal letter 2000

Humor in science lightens the load of discovery.

Witty remark in interview 1985

The mind's eye sees patterns where the eye alone sees chaos.

Book on perception 1972

Teaching is the art of igniting curiosity in young minds.

Harvard lecture 1962

In the dance of neurons, thought emerges.

Reflection on neuroscience 1995

Politics of the mind: how ideas shape society.

Essay on cognitive politics 1982

Art imitates life, but the mind imitates art in unexpected ways.

Interview on creativity 1978

Wisdom comes not from years, but from questioning the obvious.

Late-life reflection 2005

The seven-digit phone number is a tribute to our memory limits.

The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two 1956

Behavior without cognition is like a ship without a rudder.

Plans and the Structure of Behavior 1960

Letters between colleagues reveal the raw excitement of discovery.

Correspondence with Noam Chomsky 1950

In interviews, I always say: think beyond the stimulus-response.

Psychology Today interview 1970