"A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices." ~William James
"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
"Compared with what we ought to be, we are half awake." ~William James
From "The Energies of Men" (1907)
"He who refuses to embrace a unique opportunity loses the prize as surely as if he had tried and failed." ~William James
From The Will to Believe and Other Essays in Popular Philosophy (1897)
"Everybody should do at least two things each day that he hates to do, just for practice." ~William James
"How to gain, how to keep, how to recover happiness, is in fact for most men at all times the secret motive of all they do, and of all they are willing to endure." ~William James
From The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902)
"If merely 'feeling good' could decide, drunkenness would be the supremely valid human experience." ~William James
From The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902)
"The best argument I know for an immortal life is the existence of a man who deserves one." ~William James
From The Letters of William James
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Psychologist and philosopher William James (1842-1910) is often referred to as the father of American psychology. His landmark textbook, The Principles of Psychology, is considered a classic text and one of the most significant works in psychology history. In addition to his work as a teacher and researcher, James was also known as a writer of great eloquence. Wilhelm Wundt, who is called the founder of modern psychology, famously remarked that James's Principles was beautiful.
William James is considered one of the most important American thinkers of the 19th century. He influenced American writers.
