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- “Life doesn’t make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that, the better for us all.” – Erik Erikson.
- “Once you start making the effort to ‘wake yourself up’—that is, be more mindful in your activities—you suddenly start appreciating life a lot more.”
- “We are what we are because we have been what we have been, and what is needed for solving the problems of human life and motives is not moral estimates but more knowledge.”
- “If you want to be creative, stay in part a child, with the creativity and invention that characterizes children before they are deformed by adult society.”
Feb 26, 2022 · An emphasis on personal stories, rather than abstract data, is a well-known way to make issues feel more concrete and relatable. The same strategy can be applied to climate change and misinformation—making the harm, and the victims, feel more personal can activate people’s prosocial impulses.
- Overview
- Maslow: Finding New Ways to Tackle Problems
- James: Doing Hard Things Can Build Character
- Ellis: Taking Personal Responsibility for Your Life
- Rogers: Maintaining a Sense of Optimism
- Skinner: Learning That Lasts a Lifetime
- Rogers: Life Is a Direction, Not a Destination
- More Great Psychology Quotes
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Inspirational quotes can offer fresh insights and perspectives on problems that everyone faces at one time or another. If you are looking for some quotes that might help you feel motivated or energized, you might want to start by taking a closer look at these, from some of psychology's best-known thinkers.
At a Glance
Sometimes you just need a words from a different perspective to help you see things in a new light. Quotations are often an excellent source of motivation and wisdom, including some of the following psychology quotes that focus on solving problems, building character, taking responsibility, and much more.
Abraham Maslow
I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail. — Abraham Maslow This famous quote from Abraham Maslow is often known as the law of instrument or Maslow's hammer. Essentially, it suggests an over-reliance on a familiar or favorite tool. While such tools can sometimes be helpful, they can lead to approaching problems in ways that are not helpful or even destructive. In psychological terms, this might involve always relying on the same coping mechanisms, rather than looking for new solutions. Rather than falling prey to this tendency, Maslow's quote suggests that you try expanding your horizons a bit to learn about new ways of thinking and explore different ways of communicating with others. Maslow is also known for his hierarchy of needs. 2
William James
Everybody should do at least two things each day that he hates to do, just for practice. — William James With this quote, psychologist and philosopher William James is saying life shouldn't always be about taking the easy road. Sometimes the greatest learning experiences are those brought on by adversity and challenge. It is during these times that you learn a great deal about yourself, your strengths, and your weaknesses. As James's quote suggests, sometimes it is important to do things even if you do not necessarily enjoy or want to engage in these activities. For an ardent introvert, starting conversations with strangers would be a great example of an undesirable task that might lead to an unexpected reward. If you find yourself falling into a rut, try taking James' advice. Challenge yourself to try something new or tackle something that you don't necessarily find enjoyable. Some ideas might include enrolling in a new class, trying a different workout, or committing to a marathon. See what skills and knowledge you might gain from the experience. 3
Albert Ellis
The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny. — Albert Ellis This quote from Albert Ellis is all about taking responsibility for your own life and choices. Clearly, there are aspects of your life that are outside of your control. While you might not be able to control all the things that happen to you or that you experience throughout your life, you can take charge of how you respond to these events. In psychology, this concept is often referred to as having an internal locus of control. Essentially, your locus of control refers to whether you see the events in your life as outside your control or feel that your actions can influence your destiny. People with an internal locus of control tend to feel more in control, have a greater sense of self-efficacy, and are typically happier and healthier. Those who possess an external locus of control often feel helpless, powerless, and unmotivated to make changes in their lives. Ellis is known for developing rational emotive behavior therapy, a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy focused on helping clients change irrational beliefs. 4
Carl Rogers
When I look at the world, I'm pessimistic, but when I look at people I am optimistic. — Carl Rogers Carl Rogers is saying it can be all too easy to start to feel pessimistic about the state of the world. The news seems filled with stories of tragedy and human misery. Your social media feed might present you with a constant influx of stories focused on strife, arguments, and crises. Rogers's quote suggests that while focusing on such stories might make the world seem like a terrible place, focusing on individual people can help you maintain a more optimistic and realistic view of the world. News articles and social media stories don't offer a true look at what's going on in the world around you. If you find yourself getting pessimistic about the world, take a look at the people around you who can help boost you up. Focus on stories about inspirational people who are doing great things and making powerful contributions to society. As Carl Rogers suggests, the world is full of kind and generous people who can inspire great optimism. 5
B. F. Skinner
Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten. — B. F. Skinner When people think of education, they tend to think of facts and figures learned in school. However, it is often the methods, principles, and inquiry process that lie behind knowledge that really matter. As B. F. Skinner says, the sum of our knowledge goes far beyond simple textbook learning. While the information you learn in class might not be retained in long-term memory after taking an exam, the critical thinking skills acquired while pursuing an education will last a lifetime. The learning process never ends, even long after the days of school are over. Never stop challenging yourself to explore new information, new ways of doing things, and different ways of thinking about the world.
Press Play for Advice On Challenging Yourself
Hosted by therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast, featuring Human Performance Expert Steve Magness, shares how to push yourself to do hard things. Click below to listen now. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts 6
Carl Rogers
The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination. — Carl Rogers Have you ever been so focused on achieving a goal that you totally forget to enjoy the journey toward reaching that goal? Carl Rogers's quotation suggests that living a good life is all about the journey itself. Instead of focusing on what you think will ultimately lead to "living the good life," such as having a big house, driving a nice car, and going on exotic vacations, focus your attention on the everyday good things in your life. The things you learn, the family and friends you share your life with, and the things that bring you happiness are the greatest indicators of a happy, fulfilled life. 7
If you're looking for a little more inspiration from some of psychology's greatest thinkers, here's a collection of insightful quotes to get you started:
•"If you deliberately plan on being less than you are capable of being, then I warn you that you’ll be unhappy for the rest of your life." - Abraham Maslow
•"Words have a magical power. They can bring either the greatest happiness or deepest despair; they can transfer knowledge from teacher to student; words enable the orator to sway his audience and dictate its decisions. Words are capable of arousing the strongest emotions and prompting all men's actions." - Sigmund Freud
•"Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." - Carl Jung
•"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
•"The only normal people are the ones you don't know very well." - Alfred Adler
Nov 5, 2011 · These 15 quotes encompass a wide range of human behavior from intelligence to personal growth through life.
- Figure-Ground. Tell me if this image sounds familiar to you. You’re looking at a black and white image. Maybe you see a vase in the middle of the image. Or, maybe you see two faces.
- Similarity. The second principle states that we tend to group things that are similar together. When our mind makes these groups, we make similar assumptions about the group and all of the objects in it.
- Proximity. I mentioned just a moment ago that the distance between each element plays into how we perceive the overall image. This is the principle of proximity.
- Common Region. What about this photo of 27 dots? They’re all equally spaced apart, yet our minds separate them into two groups. This can be explained by the Common Region principle.
Sep 13, 2023 · Here is a list of 50+ of the most inspirational positive psychology quotes in the world. In this post, you’ll find quotes provided by positive psychology experts, well-known psychologists, and influential people from around the globe.
Apr 18, 2023 · What is self-transcendence in psychology? Browse the definition, examples, theory, scales, and quotes about self-transcendence.
