William James Quote: Fatalism, whose solving word in all crises of...

Fatalism, whose solving word in all crises of behavior is “All striving is vain,” will never reign supreme, for the impulse to take life strivingly is indestructible in the race. Moral creeds which speak to that impulse will be widely successful in spite of inconsistency, vagueness, and shadowy determination of expectancy. Man needs a rule for his will, and will invent one if one be not given him.

— William James

Source: Principles of Psychology - Chapter 21 - 1890

man whose rule invent reign

Select Quotes by William James

The union of the mathematician with the poet, fervor with measure, passion with correctness, this surely is the ideal.

— William James

There is but one unconditional commandment, which is that we should seek incessantly, with fear and trembling, so to vote and to act as to bring about the very largest total universe of good which we can see.

— William James

Source: The Moral Philosopher and the Moral Life - 1897

The hell to be endured hereafter, of which theology tells, is no worse than the hell we make for ourselves in this world by habitually fashioning our characters in the wrong way.

— William James

Source: Principles of Psychology - Chapter 4 - 1890