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The attitude of unhappiness is not only painful, it is mean and ugly.

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
Painful
Ugly
Attitude
Mean
Unhappiness

More quotes by William James

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There is but one unconditional commandment ... to bring about the very largest total universe of good which we can see.
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I myself believe that the evidence for God lies primarily in inner personal experiences.
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Most men's friendships are too inarticulate.
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Life is one long struggle between conclusions based on abstract ways of conceiving cases, and opposite conclusions prompted by our instinctive perception of them.
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The world we see that seems so insane is the result of a belief system that is not working. To perceive the world differently, we must be willing to change our belief system, let the past slip away, expand our sense of now, and dissolve the fear in our minds.
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We hear in these days of scientific enlightenment a great deal of discussion about the efficacy of Prayer. Many reasons are given why we should not pray. Others give reasons why we should pray. Very little is said of the reason we do pray. The reason is simple: We pray because we cannot help praying.
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Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed. which give happiness. Thomas Jefferson We never enjoy perfect happiness our most fortunate successes are mingled with sadness some anxieties always perplex the reality of our satisfaction.
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Need and struggle are what excite and inspire us our hour of triumph is what brings the void.
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There are no differences but differences of degree between different degrees of difference and no difference.
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It is only the fundamental conceptions of psychology which are of real value to a teacher.
William James
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A remarkable parallel, which I think has never been noticed, obtains between the facts of social evolution on the one hand, and of zological evolution as expounded by Mr. Darwin on the other.
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That which is most personal, is most interesting.
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Religion, whatever it is, is a man's total reaction upon life.
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Both thought and feeling are determinants of conduct, and the same conduct may be determined either by feeling or by thought.
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Results should not be too voluntarily aimed at or too busily thought of. They are sure to float up of their own accord from a long enough daily work at a given matter.
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All religions begin with the cry Help.
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The desire to gain wealth and the fear to lose it are our chief breeders of cowardice and propagators of corruption.
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If it works, it's true.
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... the intellect, everywhere invasive, shows everywhere its shallowing effect.
William James
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Man, biologically considered ... is simply the most formidable of all beasts of prey, and, indeed, the only one that preys systematically on its own kind.
William James