William James

"What do believers in the Absolute mean by saving that their belief affords them comfort? They mean that since in the Absolute finite evil is ‘overruled’ already, we may, therefore, whenever we wish, treat the temporal as if it were potentially the eternal, be sure that we can trust its outcome, and, without sin, dismiss our fear and drop the worry of our finite responsibility. In short, they mean that we have a right ever and anon to take a moral holiday, to let the world wag in its own way, feeling that its issues are in better hands than ours and are none of our business."

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Source: William James (2016). “William James: Essays and Lectures”, p.275, Routledge

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William James

William James

Philosopher, Psychologist

William James was a pioneering American philosopher and psychologist, known for his work on pragmatism and the psychology of belief.

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