Regardless of past circumstances, the psychiatric patient must develop the strength to take the responsibility to fulfill his needs satisfactorily. Treatment, therefore, is not to give him understanding of past misfortunes which caused his "illness," but to help him to function in a better way right now.

When a man acts in such a way that he gives and receives love, and feels worthwhile to himself and others, his behavior is right or moral.

Our job is not to lessen the pain of irresponsible actions, but to increase the patient's strength so that he can bear the necessary pain of a full life as well as enjoy the rewards of a deeply responsible existence.

We accept no excuses for irresponsible acts. Students are held responsible for their behavior and cannot escape responsibility on the plea of being emotionally upset, mistreated by mother, neglected by father, or discriminated against by society.

Finding out how bad the past was does not help unless the person can learn better and more responsible ways to behave now and in the future.

[W]aiting for attitudes to change stalls therapy whereas changing behavior leads quickly to a change in attitude, which in turn can lead to fulfilling needs and further better behavior.

The patient rather than the therapist must decide whether or not his behavior is irresponsible and whether he should change it. [...] If a man thinks it is all right to overeat and be fat, no obesity treatment will work.

The skill of therapy is to put the responsibility upon the patient, and after involvement is established, to ask him why he remains in therapy if he is not dissatisfied with his behavior.

Happiness occurs most often when we are willing to take responsibility for our behavior. Irresponsible people, always seeking to gain happiness without assuming responsibility, find only brief periods of joy, but not the deep-seated satisfaction which accompanies responsible behavior.