William James (January 11, 1842 – August 26, 1910) was an American philosopher and psychologist. He was also trained as a physician.
William James was the first educator to offer a psychology course in the United States. And, James was one of the leading thinkers of the late nineteenth century.
William James is one of the most influential philosophers the United States has ever produced, and he is known as “Father of American psychology”.
William James is associated with the philosophical school known as pragmatism, and is also cited as one of the founders of functional psychology.
He also developed the philosophical perspective known as radical empiricism.
Read below the famous quotes of William James.
The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook.
Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action
The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human can alter his life by altering his attitude.
A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.
The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.
Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact.
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.
If you can change your mind, you can change your life.
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.
We don’t laugh because we’re happy, we’re happy because we laugh.
We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep.
Anything you may hold firmly in your imagination can be yours.
Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.
Wherever you are, it is your friends who make your world.
Our view of the world is truly shaped by what we decide to hear.
Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.
If you want a quality, act as if you already had it.
Procrastination is attitude’s natural assassin. There’s nothing so fatiguing as an uncompleted task.
I don’t sing because I’m happy. I’m happy because I sing.
To change one’s life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions
The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.
