william james – Kenny Toh

Intentions, intentions, intentions. Don’t we think we always act out of good intentions?

“With mere good intentions hell is proverbially paved.” ~ William James

But having good intentions simply isn’t enough. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

We are judged by others not by our intentions, no matter how noble they might be, but by our actions and the impact of our actions.

Intention and action are equally important and inseparable partners in the dance of manifestation. Without action, intention remains a latent potential. And without appropriate action, the impact is seldom as intended.

Let your intentions be pure and clear, your actions deliberate and appropriate, and the world gains from the impact of your existence.

“When your intention is clear, so is the way.” ~ Alan Cohen

The pessimist sees the glass half empty; the optimist sees the glass half full. Who is right?

Two halves make a whole. The realist would agree that the glass is both half empty and half full. Hence, the pessimist and optimist are both ‘right.’ The difference lies in what they pay attention to.

Should we focus on the good or the bad in people, the bright side or the dark side of a situation, the cloud or its silver lining?

Philosophizing might satisfy one’s intellectual hunger, but not quench one’s physical thirst.

Be it half empty or half full, the pragmatist would simply drink and refill the glass.

“It is astonishing to see how many philosophical disputes collapse into insignificance the moment you subject them to this simple test of tracing a concrete consequence.”
~ William James, Pragmatism

Kenny Toh

Tag: william james

Intention, Action, Impact

Pessimist, Optimist, Pragmatist