Susan Cain Quotes

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Shyness is the fear of social disapproval or humiliation, while introversion is a preference for environments that are not overstimulating. Shyness is inherently painful; introversion is not.

Susan Cain

Environment, Painful, Shyness

Susan Cain (2012). “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking”, p.19, Penguin UK

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So stay true to your own nature. If you like to do things in a slow and steady way, don't let others make you feel as if you have to race. If you enjoy depth, don't force yourself to seek breadth. If you prefer single-tasking to multi-tasking, stick to your guns. Being relatively unmoved by rewards gives you the incalculable power to go your own way.

Susan Cain

Gun, Race, Giving

Susan Cain (2012). “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking”, p.173, Broadway Books

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There's zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.

Susan Cain

Volleyball, Zero, Motivation

"The Power of Introverts". TED Talk, www.ted.com. February 2012.

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The secret to life is to put yourself in the right lighting. For some, it's a Broadway spotlight; for others, a lamplit desk. Use your natural powers -- of persistence, concentration, and insight -- to do work you love and work that matters. Solve problems. make art, think deeply.

Susan Cain

Art, Thinking, Persistence

Susan Cain (2012). “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking”, p.264, Broadway Books

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Introverts prefer to work independently, and solitude can be a catalyst to innovation.

Susan Cain

Solitude, Innovation, Introvert

Susan Cain (2012). “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking”, p.74, Broadway Books

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Everyone shines, given the right lighting.

Susan Cain

Shining, Introvert, Given

"Seen but not heard: the introverts in our classrooms" by Genevieve White, www.theguardian.com. May 2, 2012.

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Studies have shown that performance gets worse as group size increases ... If you have talented and motivated people, they should be encouraged to work alone when creativity or efficiency is the highest priority.

Susan Cain

Creativity, People, Priorities

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Solitude matters. And for some people it's the air they breathe.

Susan Cain

Air, People, Solitude

"Introverts run the world -- quietly" by Susan Cain, www.cnn.com. March 18, 2012.

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Don't think of introversion as something that needs to be cured.

Susan Cain

Thinking, Needs, Introvert

Susan Cain (2012). “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking”, p.255, Broadway Books

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Introversion- along with its cousins sensitivity, seriousness, and shyness- is now a second-class personality trait, somewhere between a disappointment and a pathology. Introverts living in the Extrovert Ideal are like women in a man's world, discounted because of a trait that goes to the core of who they are. Extroversion is an enormously appealing personality style, but we've turned it into an oppressive standard to which most of us feel we must conform.

Susan Cain

Cousin, Disappointment, Class

Susan Cain (2012). “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking”, p.12, Penguin UK

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We don't need giant personalities to transform companies. We need leaders who build not their own egos but the institutions they run.

Susan Cain

Running, Personality, Leader

Susan Cain (2012). “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking”, p.55, Broadway Books

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Persistence isn't very glamorous. If genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration, then as a culture we tend to lionize the one percent. We love its flash and dazzle. But great power lies in the other ninety-nine percent.

Susan Cain

Lying, Inspiration, Persistence

Susan Cain (2012). “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking”, p.169, Broadway Books

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Introverts, in contrast, may have strong social skills and enjoy parties and business meetings, but after a while wish they were home in their pajamas. They prefer to devote their social energies to close friends, colleagues, and family. They listen more than they talk, think before they speak, and often feel as if they express themselves better in writing than in conversation. They tend to dislike conflict. Many have a horror of small talk, but enjoy deep discussions.

Susan Cain

Strong, Party, Home

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We put too much of a premium on presenting and not enough on substance and critical thinking.

Susan Cain

Thinking, Substance, Too Much

Susan Cain (2012). “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking”, p.52, Broadway Books

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we have two ears and one mouth and we should use them proportionally

Susan Cain

Two, Use, Ears

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The same person who would never raise his hand in a lecture hall of two hundred people might blog to two thousand, or two million, without thinking twice. The same person who finds it difficult to introduce himself to strangers might establish a presence online and then extend these relationships into the real world.

Susan Cain

Real, Thinking, Hands

Susan Cain (2012). “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking”, p.63, Broadway Books

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Being relatively unmoved by rewards gives you the incalculable power to go your own way.

Susan Cain

Giving, Rewards, Way

Susan Cain (2012). “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking”, p.173, Broadway Books

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Introversion - along with its cousins sensitivity, seriousness, and shyness - is now a second-class personality trait, somewhere between a disappointment and a pathology.

Susan Cain

Cousin, Disappointment, Class

Susan Cain (2012). “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking”, p.12, Penguin UK

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Our culture is biased against quiet and reserved people, but introverts are responsible for some of humanity's greatest achievements.

Susan Cain

People, Achievement, Humanity

"Introverts Run the World - Quietly". edition.cnn.com. March 18, 2012.

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The next time you see a person with a composed face and a soft voice, remember that inside her mind she might be solving an equation, composing a sonnet, designing a hat. She might, that is, be deploying the power of quiet.

Susan Cain

Voice, Design, Mind

Susan Cain (2012). “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking”, p.266, Broadway Books

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When you're more focused in getting your message across than you are worrying about how people are viewing you, that's huge.

Susan Cain

People, Worry, Messages

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You're told that you're in your head too much, a phrase that's often deployed against the quiet and cerebral. Or maybe there's another word for such people: thinkers.

Susan Cain

People, Phrases, Diners

Susan Cain (2012). “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking”, p.7, Broadway Books

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Introverts living under the Extroversion Ideal are like women in a man's world, discounted because of a trait that goes to the core of who they are.

Susan Cain

Men, World, Extroverts

Susan Cain (2012). “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking”, p.4, Broadway Books

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...I also believe that introversion is my greatest strength. I have such a strong inner life that I’m never bored and only occasionally lonely. No matter what mayhem is happening around me, I know I can always turn inward.

Susan Cain

Lonely, Strong, Believe

"The Power of Introverts: A Manifesto for Quiet Brilliance". Interview with Gareth Cook, www.scientificamerican.com. January 24, 2012.

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Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Gandhi — all these peopled described themselves as quiet and soft-spoken and even shy. And they all took the spotlight, even though every bone in their bodies was telling them not to.

Susan Cain

Motivation, Inspiration, Spotlight

"The Power of Introverts". Ted Talk, www.ted.com. February 2012.

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Born: 1968
Occupation: Writer
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