---
title: "6 Cognitive Quotes By David D. Burns"
description: "6 Cognitive quotes by David D. Burns. Plus more from David D. Burns and more Cognitive sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/506/david-d-burns-4607_about_the-first-principle-of-cognitive-therapy_16784.png"
---

> [The first principle of cognitive therapy is that all your moods are created by your 'cognitions,' or thoughts. A cognition refers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/the-first-principle-of-cognitive-therapy-is-that-all-your-moods-are/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/506/david-d-burns-4607_about_the-first-principle-of-cognitive-therapy_16784.png)

> [Cognitive therapy is based on the idea that when you change the way you think, you can change the way you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/cognitive-therapy-is-based-on-the-idea-that-when-you-change-the-way/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/david-d-burns-4607_about_cognitive-therapy-is-based-on-the-idea-t_727013.png)

> [Cognitive therapy is a fast-acting technology of mood modification that you can learn to apply on your own. It can help you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/cognitive-therapy-is-a-fast-acting-technology-of-mood-modification/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3db/david-d-burns-4607_apply_cognitive-therapy-is-a-fast-acting-techn_1288546.jpg)

> [Although no one treatment will ever be a panacea, research studies indicate that cognitive therapy can be helpful for a variety of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/although-no-one-treatment-will-ever-be-a-panacea-research-studies/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6eb/david-d-burns-4607_addition_although-no-one-treatment-will-ever-be-a_1992518.png)

> [One of the most interesting things about the cognitive theory is the idea that anger and interpersonal conflict ultimately result from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/one-of-the-most-interesting-things-about-the-cognitive-theory-is-the/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/678/david-d-burns-4607_about_one-of-the-most-interesting-things-about_2479220.png)

> [I have been amazed by the interest in cognitive behavioral therapy that has developed since 'Feeling Good' was first published in 1980.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/i-have-been-amazed-by-the-interest-in-cognitive-behavioral-therapy/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd6/david-d-burns-4607_amazed_i-have-been-amazed-by-the-interest-in-co_2975779.jpg)

## Other authors on Cognitive

## More by David D. Burns

> [A poor self-image is the magnifying glass that can transform a trivial mistake or an imperfection into an overwhelming symbol of personal defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/a-poor-self-image-is-the-magnifying-glass-that-can-transform-a/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [Most people do surprisingly poorly when dealing with a relative who is hurting, depressed, or anxious - we get defensive and try to solve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/most-people-do-surprisingly-poorly-when-dealing-with-a-relative-who/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [The first principle of cognitive therapy is that all your moods are created by your 'cognitions,' or thoughts. A cognition refers to the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/the-first-principle-of-cognitive-therapy-is-that-all-your-moods-are/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [“In one sense, depression can feel even worse than cancer, because most cancer patients feel hope as well as self-esteem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/in-one-sense-depression-can-feel-even-worse-than-cancer-because-most/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [More often than not, the belief that you are bad contributes to the "bad" behavior. Change and learning occur most readily when you (a)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/more-often-than-not-the-belief-that-you-are-bad-contributes-to-the/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [Guilt is not the best way to remedy your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/guilt-is-not-the-best-way-to-remedy-your-mistakes/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [I had the fear of heights when I was young, along with many other fears and phobias, including the fear of dogs, bees, horses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/i-had-the-fear-of-heights-when-i-was-young-along-with-many-other/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [“The attitude that depression is necessary strikes me as destructive, inhuman, and victimizing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/the-attitude-that-depression-is-necessary-strikes-me-as-destructive/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [“know about the brain's hardware and software. How does the firing of a nerve or a series of nerves get translated into a thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/know-about-the-brain-s-hardware-and-software-how-does-the-firing-of-a/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [“There was nothing dreadfully wrong with me, I was just upsetting myself with my irrational thinking. I just couldn't admit it until I knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/there-was-nothing-dreadfully-wrong-with-me-i-was-just-upsetting/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [“Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/aim-for-success-not-perfection-never-give-up-your-right-to-be-wrong/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [“And most important, nobody could love or relate to you. It would be impossible to feel any love for someone who was flawless and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/and-most-important-nobody-could-love-or-relate-to-you-it-would-be/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [Negative thinking patterns can be immensely deceptive and persuasive, and change is rarely easy. But with patience and persistence, I believe that nearly all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/negative-thinking-patterns-can-be-immensely-deceptive-and-persuasive/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [“Many research studies, as well as my own clinical experience, have confirmed that severely depressed patients who appear very "biologically" depressed with lots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/many-research-studies-as-well-as-my-own-clinical-experience-have/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

> [Assert your right to make a few mistakes. If people can't accept your imperfections, that's their fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/assert-your-right-to-make-a-few-mistakes-if-people-can-t-accept-your/)

[David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/)

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