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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

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

Men Philosophical Philosophy
Modern man . . . has not ceased to be credulous . . . the need to believe haunts him.
WILLIAM JAMES

Believe Men Needs
A new position of responsibility will usually show a man to be a far stronger creature than was supposed.
WILLIAM JAMES

Men Responsibility Stronger
The mind, in short, works on the data it receives very much as the sculptor works on his block of stone.
WILLIAM JAMES

Block Data Mind
That which is most personal, is most interesting.
WILLIAM JAMES

Interesting Most Personal
Each of us is in fact what he is almost exclusively by virtue of his imitative-ness.
WILLIAM JAMES

Facts Models Role Virtue
Both thought and feeling are determinants of conduct, and the same conduct may be determined either by feeling or by thought.
WILLIAM JAMES

Determine Feelings May
The deepest human need is the need to be appreciated.
WILLIAM JAMES

Appreciated Humans Needs
I don’t sing because I’m happy; I’m happy because I sing.
WILLIAM JAMES

Happiness Music Philosophical
For the moment, what we attend to is reality.
WILLIAM JAMES

Attend Moments Reality
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
It is art that makes life, and I know of no substitute whatsoever for the force and beauty of its process.
WILLIAM JAMES

Art Force Process
A new idea is first condemned as ridiculous and then dismissed as trivial, until finally, it becomes what everybody knows.
WILLIAM JAMES

Change Dream Inspirational
All natural happiness thus seems infected with a contradiction. The breath of the sepulchre surrounds it.
WILLIAM JAMES

Contradiction Happiness Natural
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
There’s nothing so absurd that if you repeat it often enough, people will believe it.
WILLIAM JAMES

Believe People Propaganda

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

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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

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