Steven Pinker Quotes

Just because you have a mouth and nobody is stopping you, you can't say whatever you want.

You are just as capable of making a mistake as anyone else. By insisting too eagerly upon a small right, you may turn it into a wrong against yourself and also against your neighbor.

I believe in the freedom of expression, unequivocally - though, as I have written before, I wish more people would understand that freedom of expression is not freedom from consequence.

Everyone ought to bear patiently the results of his own conduct.

If it was necessary to tolerate in other people everything that one permits oneself, life would be unbearable.

I try to stay in line and not be a jerk. I've always been conscious that if I really screw up, people might notice.

We all have to take responsibility for what we say and do.

Every human must take responsibility for his actions.

It's amazing what we can get away with and what we can't. But it's not for me to decide.

I believe in freedom of speech. I believe people have the right to say whatever they want to say. As long as they're ready to own what they say. Because there's a price to pay when you say something that's against the grain that is not correct.

Unfortunately, we don't live in a society where you can say whatever you want, and there will be no repercussions. Pick and choose your battles. I think that's the key.

You may have the right to live anyway you like, but you don't have a right to have other people like it. Respect it or pay for it.

Movies don't make people act a fool. People act a fool because they want to act a fool.

It's not my responsibility to make everything I say idiot-proof.

Sometimes what you mustn't do is just as just as important as what you must do.

I feel a real need to observe a level of propriety in what I'm handing out. Instead of me just venting or spilling my guts, I've got to consider how it's going to affect people. How it's going to affect me, as well. Because it's like a cycle.

I believe everybody is responsible for what they do themselves.

I would just never out anybody. I think everyone has to find it in their own way and their own time.

How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.

It's OK to do cute little things like kissing a turtle, but you can't kiss another person because he's a different color? Give me a break. And you have to remember, I'm from Dallas, Texas.

It's essential to distinguish between events that are really beyond your control and events you caused yourself.

I believe in rules of behavior, and I'm quite interested in stories about the consequences of breaking those rules.

Don't throw stones at your neighbors if your own windows are glass.

We have to stop rewarding bad behavior.

It there is no check to the freedom of your words, then let your hearts be open to the freedom of our actions.