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I am well aware how odd it must seem to some of you to hear me say that an idea is true so long as to believe it is profitable to our lives

William James

The true’to put it very briefly, is only the expedient in the way of our thinking, just as ‘the right’ is only the expedient in the way of our behaving.
WILLIAM JAMES

Briefly Thinking True Way
[T]here is very little difference between one person and another, but what little difference ther eis, is very important.
WILLIAM JAMES

Differences Important Personality
Our faith is faith in someone else’s faith, and in the greatest matters this is most the case.
WILLIAM JAMES

Cases Matter Philosophical
The discovery of the power of our thoughts will prove to be the most important discovery of our time
WILLIAM JAMES

Discovery Important Positive
A man has as many social selves as there are individuals who recognize him.
WILLIAM JAMES

Individual Men Self
… the intellect, everywhere invasive, shows everywhere its shallowing effect.
WILLIAM JAMES

Effects Intellect Shows
To give up pretensions is as blessed a relief as to get them ratified.
WILLIAM JAMES

Blessed Deception Giving Up
A new opinion counts as true just in proportion as it gratifies the individual’s desire to assimilate the novel in his experience to his beliefs in stock
WILLIAM JAMES

Belief Desire Truth
The aim of a college education is to teach you to know a good man when you see one.
WILLIAM JAMES

Die Education Philosophical
Truth is something that happens to an idea.
WILLIAM JAMES

Happen Ideas Truth
Truth happens to an idea
WILLIAM JAMES

Happens Ideas Truth
To consider hypotheses is surely always better than to dogmatize ins blaue hinein
WILLIAM JAMES

Dogmatize Hypothesis Truth
We with our lives are like islands in the sea, or like trees in the forest… But the trees also commingle their roots in the darkness underground.
WILLIAM JAMES

Islands Roots Sea Underground
Pretend what we may, the whole man within us is at work when we form our philosophical opinions.
WILLIAM JAMES

Men Philosophical Philosophy
The total possible consciousness may be split into parts which co-exist but mutually ignore each other.
WILLIAM JAMES

Consciousness May Splits
Earnestness means willingness to live with energy, though energy bring pain.
WILLIAM JAMES

Energy Mean Pain

I am well aware how odd it must seem to some of you to hear me say that an idea is true so long as to believe it is profitable to our lives

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I am well aware how odd it must seem to some of you to hear me say that an idea is true so long as to believe it is profitable to our lives

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