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Each of us is in fact what he is almost exclusively by virtue of his imitative-ness.

William James

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

Men Philosophical Philosophy
The world is all the richer for having a devil in it, so long as we keep our foot upon his neck.
WILLIAM JAMES

Devil Feet Long
Real culture lives by sympathies and admirations, not by dislikes and disdains; under all misleading wrappings it pounces unerringly upon the human core.
WILLIAM JAMES

Culture Life Real
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
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
Individuality is founded in feeling
WILLIAM JAMES

Feelings Individuality Inspirational
We never fully grasp the import of any true statement until we have a clear notion of what the opposite untrue statement would be.
WILLIAM JAMES

Opposites Statement Truth
True ideas are those that we can assimilate, validate, corroborate, and verify. False ideas are those that we cannot
WILLIAM JAMES

Ideas Truth Verify
Let everything you do be done as if it makes a difference.
WILLIAM JAMES

Differences Everything Insightful Making
One of the greatest discoveries of our time is that a man can alter the state of their life by altering the state of their mind.
WILLIAM JAMES

Discovery Men Mind
No living person is sunk so low as not to be imitated by somebody.
WILLIAM JAMES

Failure Lows Person
Our view of the world is truly shaped by what we decide to hear.
WILLIAM JAMES

Decide Shaped Views World
Deepest principle of human nature is to be appreciated.
WILLIAM JAMES

Appreciated Human Nature Principles
We are stereotyped creatures, imitators and copiers of our past selves.
WILLIAM JAMES

Habit Past Self
Truth is something that happens to an idea.
WILLIAM JAMES

Happen 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

Each of us is in fact what he is almost exclusively by virtue of his imitative-ness.

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Each of us is in fact what he is almost exclusively by virtue of his imitative-ness.

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