William James

It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.

Lives based on having are less free than lives based either on doing or being.

A man of sense is never discouraged by difficulties; he redoubles his industry and his diligence, he perseveres and infallibly prevails at last.

Human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.

The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.

The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.

It is well for the world that in most of us, by the age of thirty, the character has set like plaster, and will never soften again.

If merely 'feeling good' could decide, drunkenness would be the supremely valid human experience.

Begin to be now what you will be hereafter.

The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes.

Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second.

If you want a quality, act as if you already had it.

To change ones life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly.

The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

The faculty of voluntarily bringing aback a wandering attention, over and over again, is the very root of the judgement, character, and will.

The test of all beliefs is their practical effect in life. If it be true that optimism compels the world forward, and pessimism retards it, then it is dangerous to propagate a pessimistic philosophy.