William James

Our science is a drop, our ignorance a sea.

William James

Our volitional habits depend, then, first, on what the stock of ideas is which we have; and, second, on the habitual coupling of the several ideas with action or inaction respectively.

William James

Psychology is a science, and teaching is an art; and sciences never generate arts directly out of themselves.

William James

Religion, whatever it is, is a man’s total reaction upon life.

William James

Resign your destiny to higher powers.

William James

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.

William James

Science as such assuredly has no authority, for she can only say what is, not what is not.

William James

Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, ‘This is the real me,’ and when you have found that attitude, follow it.

William James

Selection is the very keel on which our mental ship is built. And in this case of memory its utility is obvious. If we remembered everything, we should on most occasions be as ill off as if we remembered nothing.

William James

Since belief is measured by action, he who forbids us to believe religion to be true, necessarily also forbids us to act as we should if we did believe it to be true.

William James