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At a GlanceSometimes 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.
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.
1Maslow: Finding New Ways to Tackle ProblemsAbraham MaslowI suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.This famous quote fromAbraham Maslowis 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 hishierarchy of needs.
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Maslow: Finding New Ways to Tackle ProblemsAbraham MaslowI suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.This famous quote fromAbraham Maslowis 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 hishierarchy of needs.
Maslow: Finding New Ways to Tackle Problems
Abraham MaslowI suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail.
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.
This famous quote fromAbraham Maslowis 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 hishierarchy of needs.
2
James: Doing Hard Things Can Build Character
William JamesEverybody should do at least two things each day that he hates to do, just for practice.
William James
Everybody should do at least two things each day that he hates to do, just for practice.
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 ardentintrovert, 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.
3Ellis: Taking Personal Responsibility for Your LifeAlbert EllisThe 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.This quote fromAlbert Ellisis 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 internallocus 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 developingrational emotive behavior therapy, a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy focused on helping clients change irrational beliefs.
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Ellis: Taking Personal Responsibility for Your LifeAlbert EllisThe 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.This quote fromAlbert Ellisis 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 internallocus 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 developingrational emotive behavior therapy, a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy focused on helping clients change irrational beliefs.
Ellis: Taking Personal Responsibility for Your Life
Albert EllisThe 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
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.
This quote fromAlbert Ellisis 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 internallocus 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 developingrational emotive behavior therapy, a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy focused on helping clients change irrational beliefs.
4Rogers: Maintaining a Sense of OptimismCarl RogersWhen I look at the world, I’m pessimistic, but when I look at people I am optimistic.Carl Rogersis 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.
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Rogers: Maintaining a Sense of OptimismCarl RogersWhen I look at the world, I’m pessimistic, but when I look at people I am optimistic.Carl Rogersis 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.
Rogers: Maintaining a Sense of Optimism
Carl RogersWhen I look at the world, I’m pessimistic, but when I look at people I am optimistic.
Carl Rogers
When I look at the world, I’m pessimistic, but when I look at people I am optimistic.
Carl Rogersis 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.
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Skinner: Learning That Lasts a Lifetime
B. F. SkinnerEducation is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.
B. F. Skinner
Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.
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.
AsB. F. Skinnersays, the sum of our knowledge goes far beyond simple textbook learning. While the information you learn in class might not be retained inlong-term memoryafter 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
6Rogers: Life Is a Direction, Not a DestinationCarl RogersThe good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.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.
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Rogers: Life Is a Direction, Not a DestinationCarl RogersThe good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.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.
Rogers: Life Is a Direction, Not a Destination
Carl RogersThe good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.
The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.
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.
7More Great Psychology QuotesIf 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"Life itself remains a very effective therapist." Karen Horney"Becoming is better than being." - Carol S. Dweck"Don’t become a mere recorder of facts, but try to penetrate the mystery of their origin. -Ivan Pavlov"A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices." - William JamesFunny Quotes About Stress
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More Great Psychology QuotesIf 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"Life itself remains a very effective therapist." Karen Horney"Becoming is better than being." - Carol S. Dweck"Don’t become a mere recorder of facts, but try to penetrate the mystery of their origin. -Ivan Pavlov"A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices." - William JamesFunny Quotes About Stress
More Great Psychology Quotes
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:
Funny Quotes About Stress
6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Maslow AH.The Psychology of Science: A Reconnaissance.Harper & Row; 1966.Diehl AB.Making meaning of barriers and adversity: Experiences of women leaders in higher education.Advancing Women in Leadership. 2014;34:54-63.Cobb-Clark DA.Locus of control and the labor market.IZA J Labor Econ.2015;4. doi:10.1186/s40172-014-0017-xSoroka S, McAdams S.News, politics, and negativity.Political Communication. 2015;32(1):1-22. doi:10.1080/10584609.2014.881942Rezaei S, Derakhshan A, Bagherkazemi M.Critical thinking in language education.J Lang Teach Res. 2011;2(4):769-777. doi:10.4304/jltr.2.4.769-777Horney K.Our Inner Conflicts: A Constructive Theory of Neurosis. Reissued. Norton; 1992.
6 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Maslow AH.The Psychology of Science: A Reconnaissance.Harper & Row; 1966.Diehl AB.Making meaning of barriers and adversity: Experiences of women leaders in higher education.Advancing Women in Leadership. 2014;34:54-63.Cobb-Clark DA.Locus of control and the labor market.IZA J Labor Econ.2015;4. doi:10.1186/s40172-014-0017-xSoroka S, McAdams S.News, politics, and negativity.Political Communication. 2015;32(1):1-22. doi:10.1080/10584609.2014.881942Rezaei S, Derakhshan A, Bagherkazemi M.Critical thinking in language education.J Lang Teach Res. 2011;2(4):769-777. doi:10.4304/jltr.2.4.769-777Horney K.Our Inner Conflicts: A Constructive Theory of Neurosis. Reissued. Norton; 1992.
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Maslow AH.The Psychology of Science: A Reconnaissance.Harper & Row; 1966.Diehl AB.Making meaning of barriers and adversity: Experiences of women leaders in higher education.Advancing Women in Leadership. 2014;34:54-63.Cobb-Clark DA.Locus of control and the labor market.IZA J Labor Econ.2015;4. doi:10.1186/s40172-014-0017-xSoroka S, McAdams S.News, politics, and negativity.Political Communication. 2015;32(1):1-22. doi:10.1080/10584609.2014.881942Rezaei S, Derakhshan A, Bagherkazemi M.Critical thinking in language education.J Lang Teach Res. 2011;2(4):769-777. doi:10.4304/jltr.2.4.769-777Horney K.Our Inner Conflicts: A Constructive Theory of Neurosis. Reissued. Norton; 1992.
Maslow AH.The Psychology of Science: A Reconnaissance.Harper & Row; 1966.
Diehl AB.Making meaning of barriers and adversity: Experiences of women leaders in higher education.Advancing Women in Leadership. 2014;34:54-63.
Cobb-Clark DA.Locus of control and the labor market.IZA J Labor Econ.2015;4. doi:10.1186/s40172-014-0017-x
Soroka S, McAdams S.News, politics, and negativity.Political Communication. 2015;32(1):1-22. doi:10.1080/10584609.2014.881942
Rezaei S, Derakhshan A, Bagherkazemi M.Critical thinking in language education.J Lang Teach Res. 2011;2(4):769-777. doi:10.4304/jltr.2.4.769-777
Horney K.Our Inner Conflicts: A Constructive Theory of Neurosis. Reissued. Norton; 1992.
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