William James Quotes

• The hell to be endured hereafter, of which theology tells, is no worse than the hell we make for ourselves in this world by habitually fashioned our characters in the wrong way.

  William James

  Tags in Endured, Habitually

• The history of philosophy is to a great extent that of a certain clash of human temperaments.

  William James

  Tags in Clash, Temperaments

• The sway of alcohol over mankind is unquestionably due to its power to stimulate the mystical faculties of human nature, usually crushed to earth by the cold facts and dry criticisms of the sober hour.

  William James

  Tags in Sway, Unquestionably

• There is an organic affinity between joyousness and tenderness, and their companionship in the saintly life need in no way occasion surprise.

  William James

  Tags in Organic

• There is only one thing a philosopher can be relied upon to do, and that is to contradict other philosophers.

  William James

  Tags in Philosopher, Contradict

• Those thoughts are truth which guide us to beneficial interaction with sensible particulars as they occur, whether they copy these in advance or not.

  William James

  Tags in Advance, Occur

• To be conscious means not simply to be, but to be reported, known, to have awareness of one’s being added to that being.

  William James

  Tags in Awareness, Means

• Our errors are surely not such awfully solemn things. In a world where we are so certain to incur them in spite of all our caution, a certain lightness of heart seems healthier than this excessive nervousness on their behalf.

  William James

  Tags in Incur, Lightness

• Our esteem for facts has not neutralized in us all religiousness. It is itself almost religious. Our scientific temper is devout.

  William James

  Tags in Almost, Neutralized

• Our normal waking consciousness, rational consciousness as we call it, is but one special type of consciousness, whilst all about it, parted from it by the filmiest of screens, there lie potential forms of consciousness entirely different.

  William James

  Tags in Parted, Screens

• Success or failure depends more upon attitude than upon capacity successful men act as though they have accomplished or are enjoying something. Soon it becomes a reality. Act, look, feel successful, conduct yourself accordingly, and you will be amazed at the positive results.

  William James

  Topics in Positive

  Tags in Successful, Accomplished

• Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.

  William James

  Tags in Pessimism, Optimism

• Do something everyday for no other reason than you would rather not do it, so that when the hour of dire need draws nigh, it may find you not unnerved and untrained to stand the test.

  William James

  Tags in Untrained, Dire

• If any organism fails to fulfill its potentialities, it becomes sick.

  William James

  Tags in Fulfill, Potentialities

• If the grace of God miraculously operates, it probably operates through the subliminal door.

  William James

  Tags in Subliminal, Miraculously

• It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.

  William James

  Tags in Affect, Successful

• Man can alter his life by altering his thinking.

  William James

  Tags in Altering, Alter

• A man has as many social selves as there are individuals who recognize him.

  William James

  Tags in Selves, Recognize

• An act has no ethical quality whatever unless it be chosen out of several all equally possible.

  William James

  Tags in Chosen, Ethical

• An idea, to be suggestive, must come to the individual with the force of revelation.

  William James

  Tags in Revelation, Suggestive

William James (125)

Birth:	11th January, 1842
Death:	26th August, 1910
Nationality:	American
Profession:	Philosopher, Psychologist

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