William James Quotes

Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.

Action seems to follow feeling, but really action and feeling go together; and by regulating the action, which is under the more direct control of the will, we can indirectly regulate the feeling, which is not.

Wisdom is learning what to overlook.

The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.

Human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.

The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.

This life is worth living, we can say, since it is what we make it.

Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second.

To change ones life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly.

I don't sing because I'm happy; I'm happy because I sing.

The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.

If you believe that feeling bad or worrying long enough will change a past or future event, then you are residing on another planet with a different reality system.

If you want a quality, act as if you already had it.

A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.

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.

The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes.

Begin to be now what you will be hereafter.

Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.

The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.

Belief creates the actual fact.

Success or failure depends more upon attitude than upon capacity successful men act as though they have accomplished or are enjoying something. Soon it becomes a reality. Act, look, feel successful, conduct yourself accordingly, and you will be amazed at the positive results.

Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing.

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.

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.