In life, most of us are highly skilled at suppressing action. All the improvisation teacher has to do is to reverse this skill and he creates very ‘gifted’ improvisers. Bad improvisers block action, often with a high degree of skill. Good improvisers develop action.

Basketball is an intricate, high-speed game filled with split-second, spontaneous decisions. But that spontaneity is possible only when everyone first engages in hours of highly repetitive and structured practice--perfecting their shooting, dribbling, and passing and running plays over and over again--and agrees to play a carefully defined role on the court. . . . spontaneity isn't random.

The injunction to be nice is used to deflect criticism and stifle the legitimate anger of dissent.

Be kind and considerate with your criticism. . . . It's just as hard to write a bad book as it is to write a good book.

Hypocrisy is the faction of the self.

If you have no critics you'll likely have no success.