William James

49 quotations
Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.
William James · Adversity
To give up pretensions is as blessed a relief as to get them ratified.
William James · Deception
Events are influenced by our very great desires.
William James · Desire
If you care enough for a result, you will most certainly attain it.
William James · Desire
A chain is no stronger than its weakest link, and life is after all a chain.
William James · Ecology
There can be no existence of evil as a force to the healthy-minded individual.
William James · Evil
There is but one cause of human failure. And that is man's lack of faith in his true Self.
William James · Failure
Our faith is faith in someone else's faith, and in the greatest matters this is most the case.
William James · Faith
Faith means belief in something concerning which doubt is theoretically possible.
William James · Faith
It is wrong always, everywhere, and for everyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence.
William James · Faith
Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.
William James · Fatigue
Only necessity understood, and bondage to the highest is identical with true freedom.
William James · Freedom
To spend life for something which outlasts it.
William James · Achievement
If merely feeling good could decide, drunkenness would be the supremely valid human experience.
William James · Alcohol and Alcoholism
The minute a man ceases to grow, no matter what his years, that minute he begins to be old.
William James · Growth
Act in earnest and you will become earnest in all you do.
William James · Honesty
An idea, to be suggestive, must come to the individual with the force of revelation.
William James · Ideas
If you want a quality, act as if you already had it. Try the as if technique.
William James · Imagination
The best argument I know for an immortal life is the existence of a man who deserves one.
William James · Immortality
We don't laugh because we're happy -- we're happy because we laugh.
William James · Laughter
Everybody should do at least two things each day that he hates to do, just for practice.
William James · Life and Living
The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.
William James · Life and Living
Is life worth living? It all depends on the liver.
William James · Life and Living
We are doomed to cling to a life even while we find it unendurable.
William James · Life and Living
The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated.
William James · Approval

Subjects William James spoke about

Achievement Action Adversity Alcohol and Alcoholism Approval Belief Choice Deception Desire Ecology Evil Failure Faith Fatigue Freedom Growth Honesty Ideas Imagination Immortality