Lives of others Quotes by Barry Schwartz

When you rely on incentives, you undermine virtues. Then when you discover that you actually need people who want to do the right thing,…

— Barry Schwartz

“When asked about what they regret most in the last six months, people tend to identify actions that didn’t meet expectations. But when asked…

— Barry Schwartz

“If society asks more of us, and arranges its social institutions appropriately, it will get more.”

— Barry Schwartz

Years of research in psychology has shown that rewards and punishments can be very effective in changing behavior. But, at the same time, they…

— Barry Schwartz

“Being able to criticize our own certainties is often a painful struggle, demanding some courage as we try to stand back and impartially judge…

— Barry Schwartz

“According to standard economic assumptions, the only opportunity costs that should figure into a decision are the ones associated with the next-best alternative.”

— Barry Schwartz

“We give disproportionate weight to whether yogurt is said to be five percent fat or 95 percent fat free. People seem to think that…

— Barry Schwartz

Too little attention is paid to the dark side of incentives. They are anything but a magic bullet. Psychologists have known this for years,…

— Barry Schwartz

“Focus on what makes you happy, and do what gives meaning to your life”

— Barry Schwartz

How much does it really matter whether your child will soon be enjoying a first year at Harvard or Yale or will instead end…

— Barry Schwartz

What I look for in any book is an argument, based on evidence, that changes the way I think about something important.

— Barry Schwartz