Quotes by William James

Explore a curated collection of 131 quotes by William James. Discover timeless wisdom, insightful thoughts, and memorable words that have inspired readers around the world. Browse through the gallery below and click on any quote to read more.

The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human can alter his life by altering his attitude. — William James
A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices. — William James
Pragmatism asks its usual question. "Grant an idea or belief to be true," it says, "what concrete difference will its be — William James
the exclusive worship of the bitch-goddess sucess is our national disease — William James
Wisdom is seeing something in a non-habitual manner. — William James
The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook. — William James
we have to live today by what truth we can get today and be ready tomorrow to call it falsehood — William James
Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action. — William James
If merely 'feeling good' could decide, drunkenness would be the supremely valid human experience. — William James
Belief creates the actual fact. — William James
It is only by risking our persons from one hour to another that we live at all. — William James
In order to disprove the assertion that all crows are black, one white crow is sufficient. — William James
So you see that the process of education, taken in a large way, may be described as nothing but the process of acquiring — William James
Round about the accredited and orderly facts of every science there ever floats a sort of dust-cloud of exceptional obse — William James
We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep. — William James
Human beings are born into this little span of life of which the best thing is its friendships and intimacies … and yet — William James
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. — William James
To change one’s life: 1. Start immediately. 2. Do it flamboyantly. 3. No exceptions. — William James
Work usually follows will. — William James
Each of us literally chooses, by his way of attending to things, what sort of universe he shall appear to himself to inh — William James