"Neuro-Linguistic programming is the study of our subjective experience; how we create what passes for reality in our minds. [...] NLP also studies brilliance and quality - how outstanding individuals and organisations get their outstanding results." (Joseph O’Connor, "Leading With NLP: Essential Leadership Skills for Influencing and Managing People", 1998)
"NLP contains a set of principles and distinctions which are uniquely suited to analyze and identify crucial patterns of values, behavior and interrelationships so that they may be put into pragmatic and testable implementations." (Robert B Dilts, "Modeling with NLP", 1998)
"NLP is the process by which the relevant pieces of these people's behavior was discovered and then organized into a working model." (Robert B Dilts, "Modeling with NLP", 1998)
"NLP operates from the assumption that the map is not the territory. As human beings, we can never know reality, in the sense that we have to experience reality through our senses and our senses are limited. [...] We can only make maps of the reality around us through the information that we receive through our senses and the connection of that information to our own personal memories and other experiences. Therefore, we don't tend to respond to reality itself, but rather to our own maps of reality." (Robert B Dilts, "Modeling with NLP", 1998)
"One of the goals of NLP is to identify problematic generalizations, deletions or distortions through the analysis of the 'syntax' or form of the surface structure and provide a system of tools so that a more enriched representation of the deep structure may be attained. Another goal of NLP, represented by the modeling process, is to be able to create better links and pathways between surface structures and deep structures." (Robert B Dilts, "Modeling with NLP", 1998)
"The focus of most NLP modeling processes is at the level of capabilities, the how to level. Capabilities connect beliefs and values to specific behaviors. Without the how, knowing what one is supposed to do, and even why to do it, is largely ineffective. Capabilities and skills provide the links and leverage to manifest our vision, identity, values and beliefs as actions in a particular environment." (Robert B Dilts, "Modeling with NLP", 1998)
"The objective of the NLP modeling process is not to end up with the one 'right' or 'true' description of a particular person's thinking process, but rather to make an instrumental map that allows us to apply the strategies that we have modeled in some useful way. An 'instrumental map' is one that allows us to act more effectively - the 'accuracy' or 'reality' of the map is less important than its 'usefulness'." (Robert B Dilts, "Modeling with NLP", 1998)
"[...] the philosophy of NLP is that effective learning and change involves initially setting goals, evidence and evidence procedures to reach a particular desired state. A wide coverage of strategies and activities are then provided in order to be able to vary the operations applied to reach goals." (Robert B Dilts, "Modeling with NLP", 1998)
"The primary function of NLP tools and techniques is to help to widen, enrich or add to our maps of the world. The basic presupposition of NLP is that the richer your map of the world is, the more possibilities that you have of dealing with whatever challenges occur in reality." (Robert B Dilts, "Modeling with NLP", 1998)
