The existence of dissonance, being psychologically uncomfortable, will motivate the person to try to reduce the dissonance and achieve consonance.

When dissonance is present, in addition to trying to reduce it, the person will actively avoid situations and information which would likely increase the dissonance.

A man with a conviction is a hard man to change. Tell him you disagree and he turns away. Show him facts or figures and he questions your sources. Appeal to logic and he fails to see your point.

Research can increasingly address itself to minor unclarities in prior research rather than to larger issues; people can lose sight of the basic problems because the field becomes defined by the ongoing research.

I used to measure the heavens, now I measure the shadows of Earth.

-- Johannes Kepler

If heaven had granted me five more years, I could have become a real painter.

-- Katsushika Hokusai

A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself.

-- Abraham Maslow

I have conquered twenty-four cities, each with their surrounding districts.

-- Mansa Musa

No friend ever did him a service, and no enemy ever did him a wrong, that he did not surpass in repayment.

-- Sulla

A loyalty oath is in essence an attempt by the state to invade the realm of conscience. The University must defend the freedom of conscience or it ceases to be a University.

-- Edward C. Tolman