Book Quote by John Holt
““Not long after the book came out I found myself being driven to a meeting by a professor of electrical engineering in the graduate school I of MIT. He said that after reading the book he realized that his graduate students were using on him, and had used for the ten years and more he had been teaching there, all the evasive strategies I described in the book — mumble, guess-and-look, take a wild guess and see what happens, get the teacher to answer his own questions, etc. But as I later realized, these are the games that all humans play when others are sitting in judgment on them.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Gift of Failure by John Holt, 1975
Students often use evasive tactics to avoid judgment, revealing a universal human tendency to play games when evaluated.
In simple terms: People hide behind tricks when judged.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address avoidance behaviors.
Themes
education
psychology
human behavior
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
advice
observational
When to use this quote
- classroom discussions
- mentor feedback
- performance reviews
Key Concepts
evasion
judgment
self‑protection
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you respond when you feel judged?
- What strategies foster honest engagement?
A Different Perspective
These tactics can also hinder genuine learning and growth.
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