William James

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William James (January 11, 1842 – August 26, 1910) was an American philosopher, historian, and psychologist, and the first educator to offer a psychology course in the United States.

Quotes from 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.

—William James

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reality perception

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

—William James

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philosophy philosophers

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A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices.

—William James

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opinion prejudice thinking

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All religions begin with the cry "Help.

—William James

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religion help need

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To change one's life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions.

—William James

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life change effort

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The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.

—William James

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As a rule we disbelieve all the facts and theories for which we have no use.

—William James

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Begin to be now what you will be hereafter.

—William James

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now future becoming

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A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug.

—William James

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attitude

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Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.

—William James

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attitude

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If merely 'feeling good' could decide, drunkenness would be the supreme human experience.

—William James

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pleasure drunkenness gluttony

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

—William James

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action change difference

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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

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humor common sense speed

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We have grown literally afraid to be poor. We despise anyone who elects to be poor in order to simplify and save his inner life. If he does not join the general scramble and pant with the moneymaking street, we deem him spiritless and lacking in ambition. We have lost the power even of imagining what the ancient idealization of poverty could have meant: the liberation from material attachments, the unbribed soul.

—William James

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Belief creates the actual fact.

—William James

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belief

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