Quotes from Shlomo Breznitz

Our genetic endowments, coupled with many early environmental impacts, establish our childhood intelligence. An environment lacking a sufficient level of stimulation stifles our mental development. An environment with a sufficient level of stimulation enables our genetically different abilities to flower, and at the same time often sets into motion positive social and cultural pressures that reinforce our improvement.

If we all have a sufficiently stimulating environment, then our inherent abilities—our genetic gifts—will dominate in the unfolding of our lives. If we lack a sufficiently stimulating environment, our cognitive gifts never have the chance to blossom.

Our cognitive skills are not fixed. At all ages the brain has the ability to respond to new information and new stimuli. Our intellectual abilities are a combination of our inherent genetic gifts and the lifelong consequences of all of the decisions we make that either positively or negatively contribute to our cognitive fitness.