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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.

“To change ones life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly.”

— William James

Change

All Quotes by 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.”

— William James

Knowledge

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

— William James

Motivational

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

— William James

Great

“Time itself comes in drops.”

— William James

Time

“There must be something solemn, serious, and tender about any attitude which we denominate religious. If glad, it must not grin or snicker if sad, it must not scream or curse.”

— William James

Attitude

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

— William James

God

“The aim of a college education is to teach you to know a good man when you see one.”

— William James

Education

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”

— William James

Motivational

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

— William James

Attitude

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

— William James

Great

“It is only by risking our persons from one hour to another that we live at all. And often enough our faith beforehand in an uncertified result is the only thing that makes the result come true.”

— William James

Faith

“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

“If you want a quality, act as if you already had it.”

— William James

Leadership

“Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second.”

— William James

Sports

“The best argument I know for an immortal life is the existence of a man who deserves one.”

— William James

Best

“In business for yourself, not by yourself.”

— William James

Business

“The world we see that seems so insane is the result of a belief system that is not working. To perceive the world differently, we must be willing to change our belief system, let the past slip away, expand our sense of now, and dissolve the fear in our minds.”

— William James

Change

“Belief creates the actual fact.”

— William James

Inspirational

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

— William James

Leadership

“To study the abnormal is the best way of understanding the normal.”

— William James

Best