Professor quotes

Explore insightful quotes from various professors on academia, knowledge, and life. Find wisdom from the minds of educators.

This is the first test of a gentleman: his respect for those who can be of no possible value to him.

- William Lyon Phelps

The happiest people are those who think the most interesting thoughts. Those who decide to use leisure as a means of mental development, who love good music, good books, good pictures, good company, good conversation, are the happiest people in the world. And they are not only happy in themselves, they are the cause of happiness in others.

- William Lyon Phelps

Music is essentially the manly art... In the entire history of music, in all times and countries, there had never been a woman able to write first-rate music.

- William Lyon Phelps

If at first you don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.

- William Lyon Phelps

At a certain age, people's minds close up and they live off their intellectual fat.

- William Lyon Phelps

Life is suffering. Love is the desire to see unnecessary suffering ameliorated.

- Jordan Peterson

It’s better to do something badly than to not do it at all.

- Jordan Peterson

It's a good thing, not a selfish thing, to choose people who are good for you.

- Jordan Peterson

It took untold generations to get you where you are. A little gratitude might be in order.

- Jordan Peterson

Imagine who you could be, and then aim single-mindedly at that.

- Jordan Peterson

If you’re going to be successful you need to be smart, conscientious, and tough.

- Jordan Peterson

If you haven’t done anything wrong, do not apologise.

- Jordan Peterson

If you have a comprehensive explanation for everything then it decreases uncertainty and anxiety and reduces your cognitive load. And if you can use that simplifying algorithm to put yourself on the side of moral virtue then you’re constantly a good person with a minimum of effort.

- Jordan Peterson

If you fulfill your obligations everyday you don't need to worry about the future.

- Jordan Peterson

If you don’t stand your ground, then all that happens is people push you backwards.

- Jordan Peterson

If you don’t say what you think then you kill your unborn self.

- Jordan Peterson

If you dare to do the most difficult thing you can conceptualize your life will work out better than it will if you do anything.

- Jordan Peterson

If you can't understand why someone is doing something, look at the consequences of their actions, whatever they might be, and then infer the motivations from their consequences. For example if someone is making everyone around them miserable and you'd like to know why, their motive may simply be to make everyone around them miserable including themselves.

- Jordan Peterson

If you betray yourself, if you say untrue things, if you act out a lie, you weaken your character.

- Jordan Peterson

If you are not willing to be a fool, you can't become a master.

- Jordan Peterson