William James

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

“Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.”

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

“Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.”

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

“Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing.”

“If you want a quality, act as if you already have it.”

“The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.”

“A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.”

“There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision.”

“Genius, in truth, means little more than the faculty of perceiving in an unhabitual way.”

“If you can change your mind, you can change your life.”

“The strenuous life tastes better.”

“We don't laugh because we're happy – we're happy because we laugh.”

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

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

“To change one's life: 1. Start immediately. 2. Do it flamboyantly. 3. No exceptions.”