45 William James Quotes From The Father Of Psychology

Check out these famous William James quotes that will help you understand the deeper aspects of human experience and the incredible power of the mind.

William James was a renowned American philosopher and psychologist widely regarded as one of the most influential intellectuals of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Known as the “Father of American Psychology,” he is celebrated for his contributions to pragmatism, functionalism, and the philosophy of religion.

As a founding member of the philosophical school of pragmatism, James emphasized the practical application of ideas and their impact on human behavior and experience.

His groundbreaking work in functionalism explored the purpose of mental processes and behaviors, focusing on how they help individuals adapt to their environments.

William James’s writings, such as The Principles of Psychology, Essays in Radical Empiricism, and The Varieties of Religious Experience, have profoundly shaped modern thought. His insights into personal growth, resilience, and the pursuit of truth continue to inspire readers worldwide.

In his honor, we have curated the best William James quotes that inspire you to embrace curiosity, take purposeful action, and strive for excellence.

Top 10 William James Quotes

1. “To kill time is not murder, it’s suicide.” — William James 

   
2. “Begin to be now what you will be hereafter.” — William James   

   

3. “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” — William James 

   

4. “Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.” — William James      

   

5. “The good we do today becomes the happiness of tomorrow.” — William James   

   

6. “The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.” — William James

   

7. “A difference which makes no difference is no difference at all.” — William James 

   

8. “Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.” — William James                             

   

9. “Formula to live your dreams: 1. Be bold. 2. Begin now. 3. No exceptions.” — William James

   

10. “Give your dreams all you’ve got, and you’ll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you.” — William James

Best William James Quotes from the Father of Psychology

1. “The mind is made up by what it feeds upon.” — William James
2. “Circumstance does not make me, it reveals me.” — William James
3. “If you can change your mind, you can change your life.” — William James
4. “Let everything you do be done as if it makes a difference.” — William James
5. “Anything you may hold firmly in your imagination can be yours.” — William James
6. “Human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.” — William James
7. “The greatest use of a life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.” — William James
8. “Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.” — William James
9. “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” — William James
10. “Tension is a habit. Relaxing is a habit. Bad habits can be broken, good habits formed.” — William James
11. “There is but one cause of human failure. And that is man’s lack of faith in his true self.” — William James
12. “A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.” — William James
13. “Thoughts become perception, perception becomes reality. Alter your thoughts, alter your reality.” — William James
14. “You may not get everything you dream about, but you will never get anything you don’t dream about.” — William Jame
15. “Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.” — William James
16. “Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.” — William James

Famous Quotes By William James

1. “Success plus Self-esteem equals Pretensions.” — William James
2. “The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” — William James
3. “Action may not bring happiness but there is no happiness without action.” — William James
4. “There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision.” — William James
5. “Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact.” — William James
6. “The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude.” — William James
7. “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. ” — William James
8. “A winner’s attitude: it may be difficult, but it’s possible. A loser’s attitude: It may be possible, but it’s too difficult.” — William James
9. “It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.” — William James
10. “Knowledge about life is one thing; effective occupation of a place in life, with its dynamic currents passing through your being, is another.” — William James

Thought-Provoking Quotes From William James

1. “’Facts’ are the bounds of human knowledge, set for it, not by it.” — William James
2. “The love of life, at any and every level of development, is the religious impulse.” — William James
3. “Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second.” — William James
4. “The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.” — William James
5. “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.” — William James
6. “There is a law in psychology that if you form a picture in your mind of what you would like to be, and you keep and hold that picture there long enough, you will soon become exactly as you have been thinking.” — William James
7. “As we take, in fact, a general view of the wonderful stream of our consciousness, what strikes us first is this different pace of its parts. Like a bird ‘s life, it seems to be made of an alternation of flights and perchings.” — William James
8. “Why should we think upon things that are lovely? Because thinking determines life. It is a common habit to blame life upon the environment. Environment modifies life but does not govern life. The soul is stronger than its surroundings.” — William James
9. “Positive images of the future are a powerful and magnetic force… They draw us on and energize us, give us courage and will to take on important initiatives. Negative images of the future also have a magnetism. They pull the spirit downward in the path of despair.” — William James
10. “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.” – William James

Conclusion

What are your favorite William James quotes and sayings listed above that inspired you the most? If there is a quote that we’ve missed then let us know in the comments section below.

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