Quotes by Edward Thorndike

“It will, of course, be understood that directly or indirectly, soon or late, every advance in the sciences of human nature will contribute to our success in controlling human nature and changing it...”

“Nowhere more truly than in his mental capacities is man a part of nature.”

“Human beings are accustomed to think of intellect as the power of having and controlling ideas and of ability to learn as synonymous with ability to have ideas. But learning by having ideas is real...”

“Just as the science and art of agriculture depend upon chemistry and botany, so the art of education depends upon physiology and psychology.”

“Psychology is the science of the intellects, characters and behavior of animals including man.”

“Human folk are as a matter of fact eager to find intelligence in animals.”

“From the lowest animals of which we can affirm intelligence up to man this type of intellect is found.”

“Human education is concerned with certain changes in the intellects, characters and behavior of men, its problems being roughly included under these four topics: Aims, materials, means and methods.”

“The intellectual evolution of the race consists in an increase in the number, delicacy, complexity, permanence and speed of formation of such associations.”

“The statements about human nature made by psychologists are of two sorts,—statements about consciousness, about the inner life of thought and feeling, the 'self as conscious,' the 'stream of though...”

“Selective breeding can alter man's capacity to learn, to keep sane, to cherish justice or to be happy. There is no more certain and economical a way to improve man's environment as to improve his n...”

“If we (researchers) should keep the environment of boys and girls absolutely similar these instincts would produce sure and important differences between the mental and moral activities of boys and...”

“Psychology helps to measure the probability that an aim is attainable. For example, certain writers about education state or imply that the knowledge and skill and habits of behavior which are taug...”