Quote

One hearty laugh together will bring enemies into a closer communion of heart than hours spent on both sides in inward wrestling with the mental demon of uncharitable feeling.

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
Heart
Laughing
Inward
Bring
Demon
Sides
Closer
Enemy
Enemies
Feeling
Forgiveness
Uncharitable
Hours
Mental
Hearty
Feelings
Spent
Communion
Together
Laugh
Wrestling

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It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.
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It is so human a book that I don't see how belief in its divine authority can survive the reading of it.
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What holds attention determines action.
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Woe to him whose beliefs play fast and loose with the order which realities follow in his experience they will lead him nowhere or else make false connections
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Mental fire is what won't burn real sticks mental water is what won't necessarily (though of course it may) put out even a mentalfire.
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In all primary school work the principle of multiple impressions is well recognized.
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Science herself consults her heart when she lays it down that the infinite ascertainment of fact and correction of false belief are the supreme goods for man.
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I am only a philosopher, and there is only one thing that a philosopher can be relied on to do, and that is, to contradict other philosophers.
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But when all is said and done, the fact remains that some teachers have a naturally inspiring presence and can make their exercises interesting, whilst others simply cannot. And psychology and general pedagogy here confess their failure, and hand things over to the deeper spring of human personality to conduct the task.
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An act has no ethical quality whatever unless it be chosen out of several all equally possible.
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We are all ready to be savage in some cause. The difference between a good man and a bad one is the choice of the cause.
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Let everything you do be done as if it makes a difference.
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Man can alter his life by altering his thinking.
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There is an organic affinity between joyousness and tenderness, and their companionship in the saintly life need in no way occasion surprise.
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If theological ideas prove to have a value for concrete life, they will be true, for pragmatism, in the sense of being good for so much. How much more they are true, will depend entirely on their relations to the other truths that also have to be acknowledged.
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Religious awe is the same organic thrill which we feel in a forest at twilight, or in a mountain gorge.
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It would probably astound each of them beyond measure to be let into his neighbor's mind and to find how different the scenery there was from that in his own.
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