William James quotes - page 2

If this life be not a real fight, in which something is eternally gained for the universe by success, it is no better than a game of private theatricals from which one may withdraw at will. But it feels like a real fight. (William James)
The most violent revolutions in an individual's beliefs leave most of his old order standing. Time and space, cause and effect, nature and history, and one's own biography remain untouched. New truth is always a go-between, a smoother-over of transitions. It marries old opinion to new fact so as ever to show a minimum of jolt, a maximum of continuity. View quote
William James
As a rule we disbelieve all the facts and theories for which we have no use. View quote
William James
Whenever two people meet there are really six people present. There is each man as he sees himself, each man as the other person sees him, and each man as he really is. View quote
William James
The great thing, then, in all education, is to make our nervous system our ally instead of our enemy. View quote
William James
Religion ... is a mans total reaction upon life. View quote
William James
To change your life Start immediately Do it flamboyantly No exceptions. View quote
William James
Begin to be now what you will be hereafter. View quote
William James
Whereever you are it is your own friends who make your world. View quote
William James
If you believe that feeling bad or worrying long enough will change a past or future event, then you are residing on another planet with a different reality system. View quote
William James
If any organism fails to fulfill its potentialities, it becomes sick. (William James)
Knowledge about life is one thing; effective occupation of a place in life, with its dynamic currents passing through your being, is another. View quote
William James
Belief creates the actual fact. View quote
William James
The aim of a college education is to teach you to know a good man when you see one. View quote
William James
We have to live today by what truth we can get today and be ready tomorrow to call it falsehood. View quote
William James
The union of the mathematician with the poet, fervor with measure, passion with correctness, this surely is the ideal. View quote
William James
A thing is important if anyone think it important. View quote
William James
Democracy is still upon its trial. The civic genius of our people is its only bulwark. View quote
William James
A purely disembodied human emotion is a nonentity. View quote
William James
In the deepest heart of all of us there is a corner in which the ultimate mystery of things works sadly. View quote
William James
I myself believe that the evidence for God lies primarily in inner personal experiences. (William James)
Be willing to have it so. Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune. View quote
William James
Action may not bring happiness but there is no happiness without action. View quote
William James
If merely 'feeling good' could decide, drunkenness would be the supremely valid human experience. View quote
William James
Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude. View quote
William James