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Language is the most imperfect and expensive means yet discovered for communicating thought.

William James

We are thinking beings, and we cannot exclude the intellect from participating in any of our functions.
WILLIAM JAMES

Function Intellect Thinking
Truth happens to an idea
WILLIAM JAMES

Happens Ideas Truth
Our intelligence cannot wall itself up alive, like a pupa in a chrysalis. It must at any cost keep on speaking terms with the universe that engendered it.
WILLIAM JAMES

Alive Cost Wall
Objective evidence and certitude are doubtless very fine ideals to play with, but where on this moonlit and dream-visited planet are they found?
WILLIAM JAMES

Dream Play Science
The impulse to take life strivingly is indestructible in the race.
WILLIAM JAMES

Free Race Vagueness Will
Impulse without reason is enough, and reason without impulse is a poor makeshift.
WILLIAM JAMES

Enough Poor Reason
It is very important that teachers should realize the importance of habit.
WILLIAM JAMES

Important Realizing Teacher
All religions begin with the cry Help.
WILLIAM JAMES

Cry Helping Religion
Most unhappiness is caused because people listen to themselves… instead of talking to themselves.
WILLIAM JAMES

People Talking Unhappiness
Truth, as any dictionary will tell you, is a property of certain of our ideas. It means their agreement, as falsity means their disagreement, with reality.
WILLIAM JAMES

Mean Reality Truth
The instant field of the present is at all times what I call the ‘pure’ experience. It is only virtually or potentially either object or subject as yet.
WILLIAM JAMES

All Fields Instant Time
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
So to feel brave, act as if we were brave, use all our will to that end…and a courage-fit will very likely replace the fit of fear.
WILLIAM JAMES

Anticipation Brave Use
Footnotes — little dogs yapping at the heels of the text
WILLIAM JAMES

Dog Littles Writing
There can be no existence of evil as a force to the healthy-minded individual.
WILLIAM JAMES

Evil Healthy Individual
He who refuses to embrace a unique opportunity loses the prize as surely as if he had failed.
WILLIAM JAMES

Encouragement Encouraging Inspirational

Language is the most imperfect and expensive means yet discovered for communicating thought.

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Language is the most imperfect and expensive means yet discovered for communicating thought.

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Popular Authors

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