--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The science of psychology has been far…" description: "\"The science of psychology has been far more successful on the negative than on the positive side... It has revealed to us much about man's shortcomings..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c54/abraham-maslow-2146_health_the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-m_1652649.png" --- # The science of psychology has been far more successful on… ![“The science of psychology has been far more successful on the negative than on the positive side... It has revealed to us much about man's shortcomings, his illnesses, his sins, but little about his potentialities, his virtues, his achievable aspirations, or his psychological health.” quote by Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c54/abraham-maslow-2146_health_the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-m_1652649.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c54/abraham-maslow-2146_health_the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-m_1652649.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c54/abraham-maslow-2146_health_the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-m_1652649.png) > “The science of psychology has been far more successful on the negative than on the positive side... It has revealed to us much about man's shortcomings, his illnesses, his sins, but little about his potentialities, his virtues, his achievable aspirations, or his psychological health.” [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Psychology focuses on flaws rather than strengths, limiting understanding of human potential. **In simple terms:** Science studies problems more than strengths. Key Takeaway Balance research on positives and negatives. Themes potential psychology balance growth Mood analytical hopeful Type theoretical inspirational When to use this quote - education curricula - therapy approaches - workplace development Key Concepts Humanistic psychology strengths‑based well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How can we study human strengths? - What would a strengths‑focused therapy look like? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on pathology can demotivate people. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Man Shortcomings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-shortcomings-671068/) [Positive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive/) [Psychological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychological/) [Psychological health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychological-health/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-psychology-264852/) [Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues/) ## Related quotes > [The science of psychology has been far more successful on the negative than on the positive side... It has revealed to us much about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-more-successful-on-the/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [It looks as if there were a single ultimate goal for mankind, a far goal toward which all persons strive. This is called variously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/it-looks-as-if-there-were-a-single-ultimate-goal-for-mankind-a-far/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [The science of psychology has been far more successful on the negative than on the positive side; it has revealed to us much about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-more-successful-on-the-3/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [Green exercise improves psychological health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-louv/green-exercise-improves-psychological-health/) [Richard Louv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-louv/) > [A sense of reverence is necessary for psychological health. If a person has no sense of reverence, no feeling that there is anyone or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-johnson/a-sense-of-reverence-is-necessary-for-psychological-health-if-a/) [Robert Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-johnson/) > [A man's shortcomings are taken from his epoch; his virtues and greatness belong to himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/a-man-s-shortcomings-are-taken-from-his-epoch-his-virtues-and/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Man's shortcomings and sins are all due to the substance of the body and not to its form; while all his merits are exclusively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/man-s-shortcomings-and-sins-are-all-due-to-the-substance-of-the-body/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [but very little achievement is required in order to pity another man's shortcomings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/but-very-little-achievement-is-required-in-order-to-pity-another-man/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [No psychological health is possible unless this essential care of the person is fundamentally accepted, loved and respected by others and by himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/no-psychological-health-is-possible-unless-this-essential-care-of-the/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [Magick, in it's own way, is a science of psychology because it uses the power of the mind to bring forth change in one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silver-ravenwolf/magick-in-it-s-own-way-is-a-science-of-psychology-because-it-uses-the/) [Silver RavenWolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silver-ravenwolf/) > [“Common human experience alone is no guarantee with which we can build a science of psychology.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-kohler/common-human-experience-alone-is-no-guarantee-with-which-we-can-build/) [Wolfgang Köhler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-kohler/) > [The psycho-physiological hypothesis is both inductively and deductively the sine qua non of the science of psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-sidis/the-psycho-physiological-hypothesis-is-both-inductively-and/) [Boris Sidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-sidis/) > [Like all science, psychology is knowledge; and like science again, it is knowledge of a definite thing, the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mark-baldwin/like-all-science-psychology-is-knowledge-and-like-science-again-it-is/) [James Mark Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mark-baldwin/) > [Science and psychology have isolated the one prime cause for success or failure in life. It is the hidden self-image you have of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/science-and-psychology-have-isolated-the-one-prime-cause-for-success/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [No refining of one's taste in matters of art or literature, no sharpening of one's powers of insight in matters of science or psychology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cowper-powys/no-refining-of-one-s-taste-in-matters-of-art-or-literature-no/) [John Cowper Powys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cowper-powys/) ## More by Abraham Maslow > [It is unfortunate to consider all lawyers as natural Satanists many are just dumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/it-is-unfortunate-to-consider-all-lawyers-as-natural-satanists-many/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [Laugh at what you hold sacred, and still hold it sacred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/laugh-at-what-you-hold-sacred-and-still-hold-it-sacred/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [Good psychology should include all the methodological techniques, without having loyalty to one method, one idea, or one person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/good-psychology-should-include-all-the-methodological-techniques/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [Well why not a technology of joy, of happiness?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/well-why-not-a-technology-of-joy-of-happiness/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [We fear our highest possibilities. We are generally afraid to become that which we can glimpse in our most perfect moments, under conditions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/we-fear-our-highest-possibilities-we-are-generally-afraid-to-become/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [If you love the truth, you'll trust it - that is, you will expect it to be good, beautiful, perfect, orderly, etc., in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/if-you-love-the-truth-you-ll-trust-it-that-is-you-will-expect-it-to/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [My feeling is that the concept of creativeness and the concept of the healthy, self actualizing, fully human person seem to be coming closer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/my-feeling-is-that-the-concept-of-creativeness-and-the-concept-of-the/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [We fear our highest possibility. We are generally afraid to become that which we can glimpse in our most perfect moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/we-fear-our-highest-possibility-we-are-generally-afraid-to-become/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [...the great lesson is that the sacred is in the ordinary, that it is to be found in one's daily life, in one's neighbors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-great-lesson-is-that-the-sacred-is-in-the-ordinary-that-it-is-to/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [Dispassionate objectivity is itself a passion, for the real and for the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/dispassionate-objectivity-is-itself-a-passion-for-the-real-and-for/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-ability-to-be-in-the-present-moment-is-a-major-component-of/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [Plateau experiencing can be achieved, learned, earned by long hard work… A transient glimpse is certainly possible in the peak experiences which may, after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/plateau-experiencing-can-be-achieved-learned-earned-by-long-hard-work/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [You must want to be first-class ...meaning the best, the very best you are capable of becoming. If you deliberately plan to be less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/you-must-want-to-be-first-class-meaning-the-best-the-very-best-you/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [If you treat your children at home in the same way you treat your animals in the lab, your wife will scratch your eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/if-you-treat-your-children-at-home-in-the-same-way-you-treat-your/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [It is vital that people "count their blessings:" to appreciate what they possess without having to undergo its actual loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/it-is-vital-that-people-count-their-blessings-to-appreciate-what-they/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) [Explore all 182 Abraham Maslow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) ## More Health quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [Water is life, and clean water means health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/water-is-life-and-clean-water-means-health/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/) [John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/) > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [I listen to my body, I give it things it wants and I eliminate things it doesn't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-ekland/i-listen-to-my-body-i-give-it-things-it-wants-and-i-eliminate-things/) [Britt Ekland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-ekland/) > [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Mental health is an issue close to my heart - an issue, indeed, I've covered repeatedly for Channel 4 News.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-newman/mental-health-is-an-issue-close-to-my-heart-an-issue-indeed-i-ve/) [Cathy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-newman/) > [If you’re going to die on screen, you’ve got to be strong and in good health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-garbo/if-you-re-going-to-die-on-screen-you-ve-got-to-be-strong-and-in-good/) [Greta Garbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-garbo/) > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [Not only is a healthy America a strong America - it's vital to our national defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/not-only-is-a-healthy-america-a-strong-america-it-s-vital-to-our/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) [Browse all 17,127 Health quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The science of psychology has been far more successful on the negative than on the positive side... It has revealed to us much about man's shortcomings, his illnesses, his sins, but little about his potentialities, his virtues, his achievable aspirations, or his psychological health.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abraham Maslow" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-more-successful-on-the-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Health" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-more-successful-on-the-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c54/abraham-maslow-2146_health_the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-m_1652649.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c54/abraham-maslow-2146_health_the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-m_1652649.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c54/abraham-maslow-2146_health_the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-m_1652649.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The science of psychology has been far more successful on the negative than on the positive side... It has…” — Abraham Maslow", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Abraham Maslow", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The science of psychology has been...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-more-successful-on-the-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/the-science-of-psychology-has-been-far-more-successful-on-the-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```