Welcome to the world of William Glasser, a renowned psychiatrist and author whose insights have left an indelible mark on the fields of psychology, education, and personal development. Born in 1925, Glasser’s pioneering theories centered around the idea of personal choice and responsibility, emphasizing the importance of individual agency in shaping one’s own life. His work challenged traditional psychiatric approaches, advocating for a more holistic understanding of human behavior that prioritizes connection, purpose, and self-realization.
Glasser introduced concepts such as Choice Theory and Reality Therapy, which have since become foundational pillars in therapeutic practice. Choice Theory posits that our behavior is driven by the choices we make to fulfill our basic human needs for belonging, power, freedom, fun, and survival. Meanwhile, Reality Therapy focuses on helping individuals take control of their lives by making responsible choices that align with their values and goals. Through his writings, lectures, and clinical practice, Glasser inspired countless individuals to take ownership of their mental health and pursue authentic, fulfilling lives.
Below, you’ll find a collection of insightful William Glasser quotes that capture the essence of his teachings and offer profound reflections on human nature, relationships, and personal growth. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, guidance, or simply a fresh perspective, these quotes are sure to resonate and provoke thought. Feel free to use them as a source of motivation, share them with others, or even incorporate them into your own creative projects. Dive in, explore, and let Glasser’s wisdom guide you on your journey of self-discovery and empowerment.
Prior to being allowed to enter the profession, prospective teachers should be asked to talk with a group of friendly students for at least half an hour and be able to engage them in an interesting conversation about any subject the prospective teacher wants to talk about. William Glasser
Told that the passing grade is a B or competence and that we will help you to get there, students do competent work. The lowest passing grade in the real world is competence. Why do schools accept so much less? William Glasser
Caring for but never trying to own may be a further way to define friendship. William Glasser
In a Glasser Quality School there is no such thing as a closed book test. Students are told to get out their notes and open their books. There is no such thing as being forbidden to ask the teacher or another student for help. William Glasser
We may be up against a stone wall, but we don’t have to bloody our heads against it unless we choose to. William Glasser
I think it is totally wrong and terribly harmful if education is defined as acquiring knowledge. William Glasser
To be depressed or neurotic is passive. It happened to us; we are its victim, and we have no control over it. William Glasser
You can acquire a lot of knowledge without ever going to school. William Glasser
If you improve education by teaching for competence, eliminating schooling, and connecting with students, the test scores will improve. William Glasser
Every single major push in education has made it worse and right now it’s really bad because everything we’ve done is de-humanizing education. It’s destroying the possibility of the teacher and the student having a warm, friendly, intellectual relationship. William Glasser
We don’t focus as much in schools on educational knowledge which requires thinking and application, as we do on acquiring facts. William Glasser
As long as acquiring knowledge is the educational goal of schools, educational opportunities will be limited, as they are now, to affluent families. William Glasser
There are only two places in the world where time takes precedence over the job to be done. School and prison. William Glasser
We are driven by five genetic needs: survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun. William Glasser
To counter the avoidance of intellectual challenge and responsibility, we must reduce the domination of certainty in education. William Glasser
We can pay teachers a hundred thousand dollars a year, and we’ll do nothing to improve our schools as long as we keep the A, B, C, D, F grading system. William Glasser
Since there will be no one left to talk peace after the next war, it makes good sense to break with tradition and hold the peace conference first. William Glasser
I think education is both using and improving knowledge and that changes the whole picture. William Glasser
Too many of us fail to fulfill our needs because we say no rather than yes, or perhaps later in life, yes when we should say no. William Glasser
There is plenty of competition in a Glasser Quality School in that there is winning but no losing. William Glasser
The faster you go, the more students you leave behind. It doesn’t matter how much or how fast you teach. The true measure is how much students have learned. William Glasser
It is almost impossible for anyone, even the most ineffective among us, to continue to choose misery after becoming aware that it is a choice. William Glasser
If we had in this room a hundred teachers, good teachers from good schools, and asked them to define the word education, there would be very little general agreement. William Glasser
This is at the heart of all good education, where the teacher asks students to think and engages them in encouraging dialogues, constantly checking for understanding and growth. William Glasser
Sex is on the minds of most people, especially those who shouldn’t be having it. William Glasser
No human being will work hard at anything unless they believe that they are working for competence. William Glasser
Good or bad, everything we do is our best choice at that moment. William Glasser
What happened in the past that was painful has a great deal to do with what we are today, but revisiting this painful past can contribute little or nothing to what we need to do now. William Glasser
Don’t marry someone you would not be friends with if there was no sex between you. William Glasser
Effective teaching may be the hardest job there is. William Glasser
When we label anyone ‘bad’, we will have more trouble dealing with him than if we could have settled for a lesser label. William Glasser
If you want to change attitudes, start with a change in behavior. William Glasser
Using no control and using humor will build a relationship and make a dent to where the client puts the counselor in their quality world and then begins to relate and seek out the counselor. Effective therapy begins with the acceptance of the therapist into the client’s quality world. William Glasser
Running a school where the students all succeed, even if some students have to help others to make the grade, is good preparation for democracy. William Glasser
What students lack in school is an intellectual relationship or conversation with the teacher. William Glasser
Without pay, no human being will work up to their ability if he or she is not cared for and respected. William Glasser
We almost always have choices, and the better the choice, the more we will be in control of our lives. William Glasser
Everybody needs one essential friend. William Glasser
Education is the process in which we discover that learning adds quality to our lives. Learning must be experienced. William Glasser
We can teach a lot of things, but if the teacher can’t relate by talking to a group of friendly students, he’ll never be a competent teacher. William Glasser
If everyone could learn that what is right for me does not make it right for anyone else, the world would be a much happier place. William Glasser
They have this big book called the ‘DSM-IV,’ you know, that is supposedly written about crazy people, but I think it is a book that is written by crazy people! William Glasser
When we depress, we believe we are the victims of a feeling over which we have no control. William Glasser
