The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.

Skinner’s line reframes a popular mid‑century debate about “thinking machines” by turning the scrutiny back on human behavior. In keeping with his behaviorist outlook, it suggests that arguing over whether a machine possesses an inner mental life can distract from the more urgent question: whether people reliably engage in careful, evidence‑guided reasoning at all. The aphorism also carries a moral edge—humans often act automatically, under the control of habit, reinforcement, and social pressures, while congratulating themselves on being rational. The quote thus challenges complacency about human cognition and implies that the standards we demand of machines (consistency, logic, accountability) are ones we frequently fail to meet ourselves.