Fortunately I experienced Max Wertheimer's teaching in Berlin and collaborated for over a decade with Wolfgang Köhler. I need not emphasize my debts to these outstanding personalities. The fundamental ideas of Gestalt theory are the foundation of all our investigations in the field of the will, of affection, and of the personality.

There is nothing so practical as a good theory.

Social action, just like physical action, is steered by perception.

The American culture ideal of the "self-made-man," of everyone "standing on his own feet" seemed as tragic a picture as the initiative-destroying dependence on a benevolent despot. He felt and perceived clearly that we all need continuous help from each other, and that this type of interdependence is the greatest challenge to maturity of individual and group functioning.

Learning is more effective when it is an active rather than a passive process.

A successful individual typically sets his next goal somewhat, but not too much, above his last achievement.

If you want to learn about an organization, try to change it.