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We never fully grasp the import of any true statement until we have a clear notion of what the opposite untrue statement would be.

William James

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William James
Age: 68 †
Born: 1842
Born: January 11
Died: 1910
Died: August 26
Philosopher
Physician
Psychologist
University Teacher
W. James
Would
Opposite
Opposites
Import
Fully
Unfaithful
Notion
Imports
Clear
Untrue
True
Grasp
Truth
Statement
Never
Statements

More quotes by William James

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If things are ever to move upward, some one must take the first step, and assume the risk of it. No one who is not willing to try charity, to try non-resistance as the saint is always willing, can tell whether these methods will or will not succeed.
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History is a bath of blood.
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The deepest human need is the need to be appreciated.
William James
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a man does not cry because he is sad, he is sad because he cries
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In the dim background of our mind we know meanwhile what we ought to be doing: getting up, dressing ourselves, answering the person who has spoken to us, trying to make the next step in our reasoning. But somehow we cannot start.
William James
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The discovery of the power of our thoughts will prove to be the most important discovery of our time
William James
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We must make automatic and habitual, as early as possible, as many useful actions as we can...in the acquisition of a new habit, we must take car to launch ourselves with as strong and decided initiative as possible. Never suffer an exception to occur till the new habit is securely rooted in your life.
William James
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As Charles Lamb says, there is nothing so nice as doing good by stealth and being found out by accident, so I now say it is even nicer to make heroic decisions and to be prevented by 'circumstances beyond your control' from ever trying to execute them.
William James
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It is very important that teachers should realize the importance of habit.
William James
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I don't sing because I'm happy I'm happy because I sing.
William James
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Pessimism leads to weakness. Optimism leads to power.
William James
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The aim of science is always to reduce complexity to simplicity.
William James
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Footnotes -- little dogs yapping at the heels of the text
William James
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Each of us is in fact what he is almost exclusively by virtue of his imitative-ness.
William James
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The ideas gained by men before they are twenty-five are practically the only ideas they shall have in their lives.
William James
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In the matter of belief, we are all extreme conservatives.
William James
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Belief is desecrated when given to unproved and unquestioned statements for the solace and private pleasure of the believer . . . It is wrong always, everywhere, and for every one, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence.
William James
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There is but one indefectibly certain truth , and that is the truth that pyrrhonistic scepticism itself leaves standing, the truth that the present phenomenon of consciousness exists.
William James
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Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude.
William James
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Strength is a facade for the proud, weakness is a mask for the lazy.
William James