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William James

55 quotes

William James (1842–1910) was an American philosopher, psychologist, and the first educator to offer a course in psychology in the United States. Often called the "Father of American Psychology," James was a leading thinker in pragmatism and functionalism whose ideas about consciousness, habit, and belief continue to influence philosophy and psychology.

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

— William James

Attitude

All Quotes by William James

“We are all ready to be savage in some cause. The difference between a good man and a bad one is the choice of the cause.”

— William James

Good

“Our faith is faith in someone else's faith, and in the greatest matters this is most the case.”

— William James

Faith

“Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing.”

— William James

Humor

“Begin to be now what you will be hereafter.”

— William James

Motivational

“Man lives for science as well as bread.”

— William James

Science

“Whatever universe a professor believes in must at any rate be a universe that lends itself to lengthy discourse. A universe definable in two sentences is something for which the professorial intellect has no use. No faith in anything of that cheap kind!”

— William James

Faith

“The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.”

— William James

Nature

“Truth lives, in fact, for the most part on a credit system. Our thoughts and beliefs pass, so long as nothing challenges them, just as bank-notes pass so long as nobody refuses them.”

— William James

Truth

“No matter how full a reservoir of maxims one may possess, and no matter how good one's sentiments may be, if one has not taken advantage of every concrete opportunity to act, one's character may remain entirely unaffected for the better.”

— William James

Good

“This life is worth living, we can say, since it is what we make it.”

— William James

Life

“If merely 'feeling good' could decide, drunkenness would be the supremely valid human experience.”

— William James

Experience

“Time itself comes in drops.”

— William James

Time

“Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.”

— William James

Power

“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

Attitude

“A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.”

— William James

Great

“If you care enough for a result, you will most certainly attain it.”

— William James

Leadership

“Knowledge about life is one thing effective occupation of a place in life, with its dynamic currents passing through your being, is another.”

— William James

Knowledge

“Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.”

— William James

Life

“The ideas gained by men before they are twenty-five are practically the only ideas they shall have in their lives.”

— William James

Men

“The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.”

— William James

Great