William James Quote: There is but one unconditional commandment, which is...

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

trembling fear vote commandment largest

Select Quotes by William James

Tell him to live by yes and no.
Yes to everything good,
No to everything bad.

— William James

Source: Quoted in The Thought and Character of William James - 1899

The attitude of unhappiness is not only painful, it is mean and ugly. What can be more base and unworthy than the pining, puling, mumping mood, no matter by what outward ills it may have been engendered? What is more injurious to others? What less helpful as a way out of the difficulty? It but fastens and perpetuates the trouble which occasioned it, and increases the total evil of the situation. At all costs, then, we ought to reduce the sway of that mood; we ought to scout it in ourselves and others, and never show it tolerance.

— William James

Source: The Varieties of Religious Experiences - 1902