We can't live in a state of perpetual doubt, so we make up the best story possible and we live as if the story were true.

Human beings cannot comprehend very large or very small numbers. It would be useful for us to acknowledge that fact.

You know, the standard state for people is 'mildly pleasant.' Negative emotions are quite rare, and extremely positive emotions are rare. But people are mildly pleased most of the time, they're mildly tired a lot of the time, and they wish they were somewhere else a substantial part of the time - but mostly they're mildly pleased.

To better avoid errors, you should talk to people who disagree with you and you should talk to people who are not in the same emotional situation you are.

The idea that you can ask one question and it makes the point - well, that wasn't how psychology was done at the time.

A person who has not made peace with his losses is likely to accept gambles that would be unacceptable to him otherwise.

Our comforting conviction that the world makes sense rests on a secure foundation: our almost unlimited ability to ignore our ignorance.