William James
Father of American psychology
Most quoted
"A man's Self is the sum total of all that he CAN call his, not only his body and his psychic powers, but his clothes and his house, his wife and children, his ancestors and friends, his reputation and works, his lands and horses, and yacht and bank-account. All these things give him the same emotions. If they wax and prosper, he feels triumphant; if they dwindle and die away, he feels cast down."
— from The Principles of Psychology, 1890
"Religion, therefore, as I now ask you arbitrarily to take it, shall mean for us the feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men in their solitude, so far as they apprehend themselves to stand in relation to whatever they may consider the divine."
— from The Varieties of Religious Experience, 1902
"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."
— from Talks to Teachers on Psychology, 1899
All quotes by William James (263)
The individual is the starting point of all philosophy.
The only way to conquer fear is to go out and do what you are afraid of.
The essence of genius is to know what to neglect.
The world is full of possibilities, and we are the ones who actualize them.
The greatest error a man can make is to be afraid of making one.
The world is not a static thing, but a dynamic process.
The mind is not a passive recipient of impressions, but an active constructor of reality.
The only measure of a man's worth is the life he lives.
The world is a place of constant change and novelty.
The true philosopher is a man who is always open to new ideas.
The world is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.
The greatest good is the greatest good for the greatest number.
The world is a place of endless possibilities and opportunities.
The only true knowledge is that which is useful.
The world is a place where we are constantly making choices.
The greatest strength of a man is his ability to adapt to change.
The world is a place of constant learning and growth.
The only way to find out what you believe is to act on it.
The world is a place where we are always striving for something better.
The community stagnates without the impulse of the individual. The impulse dies away without the sympathy of the community.
Contemporaries of William James
Other Psychologys born within 50 years of William James (1842–1910).