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

William James

A man of sense is never discouraged by difficulties; he redoubles his industry and his diligence, he perseveres and infallibly prevails at last.
WILLIAM JAMES

Meaningful Motivational Perseverance
How to gain, how to keep, how to recover happiness is in fact for most men at all times the secret motive of all they do, and of all they are willing to endure.
WILLIAM JAMES

Happiness Laughter Men
All of our life is but a mass of small habits – practical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual – that bear us irresistibly toward our destiny.
WILLIAM JAMES

Destiny Military Spiritual
If merely ‘feeling good’ could decide, drunkenness would be the supremely valid human experience.
WILLIAM JAMES

Alcohol Feel Feelings Good
It is wrong always, everywhere, and for everyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence.
WILLIAM JAMES

Believe Government Philosophical
When thoughts do not neutralize an undesirable emotion, action will.
WILLIAM JAMES

Action Emotion Inspiration
Pretend what we may, the whole man within us is at work when we form our philosophical opinions.
WILLIAM JAMES

Men Philosophical Philosophy
For the moment, what we attend to is reality.
WILLIAM JAMES

Attend Moments Reality
A paradise of inward tranquility seems to be faith’s usual result.
WILLIAM JAMES

Inward Paradise Usual
Focus on increasing service. Becoming great where you are. Pile in the wood. The heat will follow.
WILLIAM JAMES

Becoming Great Focus Woods
To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life.
WILLIAM JAMES

Art Life Positive
Most men have a good memory for facts connected with their own pursuits.
WILLIAM JAMES

Educational Memories Philosophy
A man with no philosophy in him is the most inauspicious and unprofitable of all possible social mates.
WILLIAM JAMES

Men Philosophy Social
A man has as many social selves as there are individuals who recognize him.
WILLIAM JAMES

Individual Men Self
We are proud of a human nature that could be so passionately extreme, but we shrink from advising others to follow the example.
WILLIAM JAMES

Example Human Nature Proud
Wisdom is learning what to overlook.
WILLIAM JAMES

Learning Philosophical Wisdom

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

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

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