Give me a child and I’ll shape him into anything.
Meaning of the quote
This quote suggests that a person's behavior and personality can be greatly influenced and molded by the way they are raised and educated, especially when they are young. The psychologist B.F. Skinner believed that with the right techniques and environment, a child's character and the person they become can be significantly shaped and directed, much like sculpting a figure out of clay. This highlights the powerful impact that parents, teachers, and others who work with children can have on shaping a young person's development and future.
About B. F. Skinner
B.F. Skinner was a renowned American psychologist who developed the theory of operant conditioning and founded the experimental analysis of behavior. He was a prolific author and is considered one of the pioneers of modern behaviorism, being the most influential psychologist of the 20th century.
More quotes from B. F. Skinner
Society attacks early, when the individual is helpless.
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If you’re old, don’t try to change yourself, change your environment.
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The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.
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The consequences of an act affect the probability of it’s occurring again.
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I did not direct my life. I didn’t design it. I never made decisions. Things always came up and made them for me. That’s what life is.
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The way positive reinforcement is carried out is more important than the amount.
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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.
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We shouldn’t teach great books; we should teach a love of reading.
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Give me a child and I’ll shape him into anything.
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Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.
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