Inertia Quote by Richard H. Thaler

““First, never underestimate the power of inertia. Second, that power can be harnessed.””

Richard H. Thaler

About This Quote

Source Speech: Lecture on Behavioral Economics, 2015

Inertia keeps things unchanged; it can be directed toward desired outcomes.

In simple terms: Inertia can be used positively.

Key Takeaway

Leverage momentum for goals.

Themes

psychology economics behavior

Mood

practical insightful

Type

motivational strategic

When to use this quote

personal finance
policy design
habit formation

Key Concepts

inertia motivation strategy

Questions to Reflect On

How can you redirect existing habits?
What risks arise when forcing inertia?

A Different Perspective

Inertia can also resist beneficial change.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4.9 out of 5 (8 ratings)

More by Richard H. Thaler

“10. Calories count in New York City. The Big Apple recently adopted a law that requires fast-food restaurants with at least fifteen outlets in…

Richard H. Thaler

Image

“I began to have deviant thoughts about economic theory while I was a graduate student”

Richard H. Thaler

Image

“specific values to objects. When they have to give something up, they are hurt more than they are pleased if they acquire the very…

Richard H. Thaler

Image

“Hundreds of studies confirm that human forecasts are flawed and biased. Human decision making is not so great either. Again to take just one…

Richard H. Thaler

Image

“John Rawls (1971) called the publicity principle. In its simplest form, the publicity principle bans government from selecting a policy that it would not…

Richard H. Thaler

Image

“Our principal claim here is that patients and doctors should be free to make their own agreements about that right. If patients want to…

Richard H. Thaler

Image

“We are also greatly influenced by consumption norms within the relevant group. A light eater eats much more in a group of heavy eaters.…

Richard H. Thaler

Image

“People think about life in terms of changes, not levels.”

Richard H. Thaler

Image

“predictions can’t vary more than the thing being forecast.”

Richard H. Thaler

Image

“When in a cold state, we do not appreciate how much our desires and our behavior will be altered when we are “under the…

Richard H. Thaler

Image

“Bargains and Rip-Offs”

Richard H. Thaler

Image

“you want to nudge people into socially desirable behavior, do not, by any means, let them know that their current actions are better than…

Richard H. Thaler

Image

Explore all 84 Richard H. Thaler quotes

More Inertia quotes

Change is not overcoming inertia as much as it is redirecting, guiding, tweaking what already is and what has already happened. We must believe…

Max McKeown

Image

Sometimes you make up your mind about something without knowing why, and your decision persists by the power of inertia. Every year it gets…

Milan Kundera

Image

“We know how ninety-nine percent of the universe works," he told Carter shortly after they met, "and that's the clockworks, that's what we build…

Glen David Gold

Image

It takes forever if you go by inertia.

Jane Siberry

Image

“When describing me, Tracy often refers to a well-known concept of physics: 'inertia.' As Newton avers in his first law: 'An object that is…

Michael J Fox

Image

All that is necessary to break the spell of inertia and frustration is this: Act as if it were impossible to fail. That is…

Dorothea Brande

Image

“You know, the whole thing about perfectionism. The perfectionism is very dangerous. Because of course if your fidelity to perfectionism is too high, you…

David Foster Wallace