William Glasser Quotes

Powerful William Glasser for Daily Growth

About William Glasser

William Glasser (April 2, 1925 - August 23, 2013) was an American psychiatrist, educator, and author who developed the theory of Reality Therapy, a counseling method focused on personal choice and responsibility. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he spent his early years in the Bronx, New York City before serving in the United States Navy during World War II. Glasser's interest in psychology was sparked by a high school teacher who introduced him to the works of Sigmund Freud. After earning a Bachelor of Arts from Wesleyan University and a medical degree from Case Western Reserve University, he pursued psychiatric training at Columbia University. Throughout his career, Glasser worked as a psychiatrist in various institutions, including state hospitals, correctional facilities, and schools. His experiences led him to develop Reality Therapy, which emphasizes that individuals are responsible for their behavior and can change it by choosing more constructive actions. He also created Choice Theory, an extension of Reality Therapy, which explains human behavior in terms of the choices people make to satisfy five basic needs: survival, love and belongingness, power, freedom, and fun. Glasser authored several books, including "The Quality School" (1969), "Reality Therapy" (1965), and "Exceptional PEERS" (2010). His works have significantly influenced the fields of education, mental health, and counseling by offering practical strategies for improving personal and interpersonal relationships. In his later years, Glasser remained active as a speaker, writer, and educator, advocating for the importance of personal choice and responsibility in creating positive change in individuals' lives. His legacy continues to inspire and impact professionals and students worldwide.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"What a man can be, he must be. This is the meaning of life."

William Glasser's quote emphasizes personal growth and self-realization as the fundamental purpose of human existence. It suggests that each individual has unique potential and capabilities, and it is essential to strive towards actualizing these qualities in order to live a meaningful life. In other words, embracing one's true nature and achieving personal fulfillment through personal development is the essence of living.


"The more clearly we can focus on the here and now, the less tyranny there is in our lives from the past and the future."

This quote emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and living in the present moment, rather than being controlled by past experiences or fearing future events. By focusing on the present, we reduce the influence of negative emotions associated with the past and anxiety about the future, thus gaining more control over our lives and experiencing less "tyranny." It encourages a perspective that empowers us to live fully in each moment, rather than being held back by fears or regrets.


"People are not their behaviors."

This quote emphasizes that people are more than just the actions they perform; it suggests that behavior is not one's identity. Rather, people should be understood in terms of their thoughts, feelings, and motivations that drive their actions. Essentially, Glasser asserts that we should see individuals as complex entities with inner dynamics, rather than reducing them to their outward manifestations.


"Choice Theory is the theory that everything I do is a choice, based on my total belief system at the time I make the choice."

William Glasser's Choice Theory posits that every action we take is a deliberate choice, driven by our current set of beliefs or belief system. This perspective emphasizes personal responsibility and the idea that individuals have control over their actions because they choose them based on their unique worldview at any given moment. It encourages understanding one's choices within a larger context to foster self-awareness, accountability, and ultimately, positive change.


"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor."

This quote emphasizes that an individual's life quality is directly linked to their dedication towards achieving excellence, no matter what field they choose to pursue. In essence, it suggests that striving for the best in any given area can lead to a more fulfilling life. The commitment to excellence is a universal principle that transcends professions and fields, implying that personal growth and success are achievable in any endeavor with consistent effort.


When we depress, we believe we are the victims of a feeling over which we have no control.

- William Glasser

Control, Over, Which, Depress

To be depressed or neurotic is passive. It happened to us; we are its victim, and we have no control over it.

- William Glasser

Over, Over It, Depressed, Passive

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

Need, Deal, In The Past, Great Deal

I think it is totally wrong and terribly harmful if education is defined as acquiring knowledge.

- William Glasser

Education, Think, I Think, Harmful

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

Think, Checking, Encouraging, Good Education

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

Work, Students, Will, Passing

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

Bad, Will, Dealing, Lesser

If you improve education by teaching for competence, eliminating schooling, and connecting with students, the test scores will improve.

- William Glasser

Education, Test, Scores, Schooling

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

Education, Student, Bad, Possibility

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

Out, Begins, Seek, Client

What students lack in school is an intellectual relationship or conversation with the teacher.

- William Glasser

Teacher, School, Students, Conversation

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

Friendly, Half, Allowed, Conversation

There are only two places in the world where time takes precedence over the job to be done. School and prison.

- William Glasser

Two, Done, Over, Precedence

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

Against, May, Unless, Stone

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

Good, Students, Some, Help Others

Without pay, no human being will work up to their ability if he or she is not cared for and respected.

- William Glasser

Work, Will, Human Being, Respected

Education is the process in which we discover that learning adds quality to our lives. Learning must be experienced.

- William Glasser

Process, Discover, Which, Experienced

Everybody needs one essential friend.

- William Glasser

Friend, Needs, Everybody, Essential

We don't focus as much in schools on educational knowledge which requires thinking and application, as we do on acquiring facts.

- William Glasser

Which, Educational, Schools, Requires

We are driven by five genetic needs: survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun.

- William Glasser

Freedom, Needs, Genetic, Fun

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

Teacher, Teach, Friendly, Competent

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

Student, Test, Notes, Closed

We almost always have choices, and the better the choice, the more we will be in control of our lives.

- William Glasser

Better, Always, Lives, Our Lives

To counter the avoidance of intellectual challenge and responsibility, we must reduce the domination of certainty in education.

- William Glasser

Domination, Reduce, Certainty

Caring for but never trying to own may be a further way to define friendship.

- William Glasser

Friendship, Caring, Never, Further

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

Impossible, Becoming, Almost, Ineffective

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

Goal, Will, Educational, Acquiring

I think education is both using and improving knowledge and that changes the whole picture.

- William Glasser

Think, I Think, Using, Improving

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

Will, Next, Conference, Since

You can acquire a lot of knowledge without ever going to school.

- William Glasser

Going, Lot, Ever, Acquire

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