B.F. Skinner

Behaviorism

Modern influential 132 sayings

Sayings by B.F. Skinner

The future of man is in his own hands.

1971 — Beyond Freedom and Dignity
Humorous Unverifiable

Control is not a dirty word.

1974 — About Behaviorism
Humorous Unverifiable

The consequences of behavior determine the probability of its recurrence.

1953 — Science and Human Behavior
Humorous Unverifiable

We are controlled by the world in which we live.

1971 — Beyond Freedom and Dignity
Humorous Unverifiable

The only way to do great work is to love what you do.

Unknown — Attributed, common sentiment
Humorous Unverifiable

Freedom is a matter of contingencies of reinforcement, not of some inner state of mind.

1971 — Beyond Freedom and Dignity
Humorous Unverifiable

The fact that people are happy, content, and well behaved, though controlled, is a terrifying indictment of the human condition.

1971 — Beyond Freedom and Dignity
Humorous Unverifiable

We need to design a world where people behave well because they want to, not because they have to.

Unknown — Attributed, aligned with the goals of his work on positive reinforcement.
Humorous Unverifiable

The environment not only selects behavior, it maintains it.

1974 — About Behaviorism
Humorous Unverifiable

The technology of behavior is a promise, not a threat.

1971 — Beyond Freedom and Dignity
Humorous Unverifiable

We are not responsible for our behavior, but we are responsible for the environment that controls it.

1971 — Beyond Freedom and Dignity
Humorous Unverifiable

Man is a product of his environment, and the environment is a product of man.

Unknown — Attributed, common sentiment in his work.
Humorous Unverifiable