William James Quotes

There’s no point in believing in things that exist.

We have the notion that we exist but we have no way to prove it. 'I am' is the closest foundation we can get.

Truth exists. The sole purpose of this proposition is to assert the existence of truth against imbeciles and sceptics.

I might as well doubt of my own being, as of the being of those things I actually see and feel.

One day it will have to be officially admitted that what we have christened reality is an even greater illusion than the world of dreams.

Everyone who observes himself doubting observes a truth, and about that which he observes he is certain; therefore he is certain about a truth. Everyone therefore who doubts whether truth exists has in himself a truth on which not to doubt.... Hence one who can doubt at all ought not to doubt the existence of truth.

We are and we know we are and we love to be it and know it.

Every man is fully satisfied that there is such a thing as truth, or he would not ask any question.

Their [the Skeptics'] way of speaking is: "I settle nothing. . . . I do not understand it. . . . Nothing seems true that may not seem false." Their sacramental word is . . . , which is to say, I suspend my judgment.

...skepticism can never provide firm ground under a man's feet. And perhaps, after all, we need firm ground.

Well, sir, if things are real, they’re there all the time." "Are they?" said the Professor; and Peter did not quite know what to say.

Reality is not optional.

God forbid that Truth should be confined to Mathematical Demonstration!

The reasons for which 'this' world has been characterized as 'apparent' are the very reasons which indicate its reality; any other kind of reality is absolutely indemonstrable.

There is no point in using the word 'impossible' to describe something that has clearly happened.

Love is all there is. That I know to be absolutely true.

Beyond living and dreaming there is something more important: waking up.

You can only find truth with logic if you have already found truth without it.

The totality of facts determines both what is the case, and also all that is not the case.

...I will not allow books to prove any thing." "But how shall we prove any thing?" "We never shall.

A man must have a good deal of vanity who believes, and a good deal of boldness who affirms, that all the doctrines he holds are true, and all he rejects are false.

Katie smiled and turned away, knowing it wasn't an illusion or a figment of her imagination. She knew what she saw. She knew what she believed.

It is not a thing that you can imagine. It only is. After that, there can be no imagining.

The thing about the truth is that it exists outside of belief. Even if nobody believes it, that thing is still true.

You knew the truth all along, Colie. That's all matters. You knew.