If unconditional love and genuine enthusiasm are present, praise isn't necessary. If they're absent, praise won't help.

We have so much to cover and so little time to cover it. Howard Gardner refers to curriculum coverage as the single greatest enemy of understanding. Think instead about ideas to be discovered.

When we do things that are controlling, whether intentional or not, we are not going to get those long-term outcomes.

Those who know they're valued irrespective of their accomplishments often end up accomplishing quite a lot. It's the experience of being accepted without conditions that helps people develop a healthy confidence in themselves, a belief that it's safe to take risks and try new things.

Most of us would protest that of course we love our children without any strings attached. But what counts is how things look from the perspective of the children

Some who support [more] coercive strategies assume that children will run wild if they are not controlled. However, the children for whom this is true typically turn out to be those accustomed to being controlled— those who are not trusted, given explanations, encouraged to think for themselves, helped to develop and internalize good values, and so on. Control breeds the need for more control, which is used to justify the use of control.

Contrary to what you think, your company will be a lot more productive if you refuse to tolerate competition among your employees.