Negotiations over a shrinking pie are especially difficult because they require an allocation of losses. People tend to be much more easygoing when they bargain over an expanding pie.

It's a wonderful thing to be optimistic. It keeps you healthy and it keeps you resilient.

In essence, the optimistic style involves taking credit for successes but little blame for failures.

Most things that couples disagree upon aren't worth more than a day's combat.

The confidence people have in their beliefs is not a measure of the quality of evidence but of the coherence of the story the mind has managed to construct.

If people do not know what is going to make them better off or give them pleasure, then the idea that you can trust people to do what will give them pleasure becomes questionable.

You're surprised by something, but you don't really know what surprised you; you recognize someone, but you don't really know what cues cause you to recognize that person.