If I had been a member of the academic establishment, I could have done other experiments.

People got insights into what was bothering them, but they hardly did a damn thing to change.

For that again, is what all manner of religion essentially is: childish dependency. If something is irrational, that means it won't work. It's usually unrealistic. People don't just get upset. They contribute to their upsetness. People have motives and thoughts of which they are unaware. Rational beliefs bring us closer to getting good results in the real world. Self-esteem is the greatest sickness known to man or woman because it's conditional. The art of love is largely the art of persistence.

People are terrified of other people or difficult projects because they tell themselves that they could fail or be rejected. Failure can lead to sorrow, regret, frustration and annoyance - all healthy, negative feelings without which people couldn't exist. But then they add, "I absolutely must succeed and must be loved by significant persons, and if I don't, it's terrible and I'm no good." Those are irrational beliefs. As long as people keep them, they'll be terrified of life and will put themselves down when they get rejected.

I would have liked having children to some degree, but frankly I haven't got the time to take the kids to the goddamn ballgame.

The art of love is largely the art of persistence.

People and things do not upset us. Rather, we upset ourselves by believing that they can upset us.