Play is the most natural method of self-healing that childhood affords.

In America nature is autocratic, saying, "I am not arguing, I am telling you.

The fact that human conscience remains partially infantile throughout life is the core of human tragedy.

Adolescents need freedom to choose, but not so much freedom that they cannot, in fact, make a choice.

Children cannot be fooled by empty praise and condescending encouragement. They may have to accept artificial bolstering of their self-esteem in lieu of something better, but what I call their accruing ego identity gains real strength only from wholehearted and consistent recognition of real accomplishment, that is, achievement that has meaning in their culture.

You can actively flee, then, and you can actively stay put.

The playing adult steps sideward into another reality; the playing child advances forward to new stages of mastery.