By subscribing to Inspiring Quotes you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
William James, often called the “father of American psychology,” was not only a pioneering psychologist but also an eminent physiologist and philosopher, who happened to come from a family of notable figures. (His brother was the acclaimed novelist Henry James, and his sister, the diarist Alice James.) His wide-ranging fields of investigation gave us ideas such as “the stream of thought” and the concept of a baby’s impression of the world being “one great blooming, buzzing confusion.” Later in life, James helped establish the philosophical school known as pragmatism, in which, broadly speaking, an ideology is true if it works satisfactorily, but should be rejected if it’s impractical. This quote comes from an 1895 speech at Harvard University, in which James told students, “Be not afraid of life.” The very idea that life is worth living, he suggested, will lead to a worthy existence.
14 Motivational Quotes From Super Bowl-Winning Coaches
Quotes From Famous Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
14 Quotes on the Meaning of Racial Equity
12 Quotes on What Makes a Society Strong
9 Evidence-Based Principles for Living a Longer Life, With Quotes
20 of the Most Popular Quotes of All Time
12 Brief Quotes From Notoriously Long Books
13 Motivating Quotes To Help You Accomplish Your Goals
Quotes About Plants for Those With and Without Green Thumbs
Add a Dash of Laughter to Your Day With These Cooking Quotes
13 Franklin Delano Roosevelt Quotes You’ve Never Heard Before