--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest discovery of any generation…" description: "\"“The greatest discovery of any generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering the attitudes of their minds.”\" — Albert Schweitzer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/albert-schweitzer-701_psychology_the-greatest-discovery-of-any-generation_133618.jpg" --- # The greatest discovery of any generation is that human… ![“The greatest discovery of any generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering the attitudes of their minds.” quote by Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/albert-schweitzer-701_psychology_the-greatest-discovery-of-any-generation_133618.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/albert-schweitzer-701_psychology_the-greatest-discovery-of-any-generation_133618.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/albert-schweitzer-701_psychology_the-greatest-discovery-of-any-generation_133618.jpg) > ““The greatest discovery of any generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering the attitudes of their minds.”” [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Changing mental attitudes reshapes personal destiny, highlighting mindset's power over circumstances. **In simple terms:** Mindset changes life. Key Takeaway Cultivate positive attitudes. Themes mindset personal growth agency Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - career change - health habits - relationship building - education - spiritual practice Key Concepts psychology self‑help Questions to Reflect On - What beliefs hold you back? - How can you reframe challenges? A Different Perspective Attitude shifts may be limited by external constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Altering Attitudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altering-attitudes-673298/) [Attitudes Minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitudes-minds-666565/) [Beings Alter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beings-alter-673299/) [Generation Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation-human-363634/) [Lives Altering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-altering-673300/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/the-greatest-discovery-of-my-generation-is-that-human-beings-can/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [Human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/human-beings-can-alter-their-lives-by-altering-their-attitudes-of-mind/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“All human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/all-human-beings-can-alter-their-lives-by-altering-their-attitudes/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [“The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jones/the-greatest-discovery-of-my-generation-is-that-a-human-being-can-2/) [William Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jones/) > [The greatest discovery of my generation is that human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of his mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/the-greatest-discovery-of-my-generation-is-that-human-being-can-alter/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/the-greatest-discovery-of-my-generation-is-that-a-human-being-can-3/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their life. —William James”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleatha-romig/human-beings-by-changing-the-inner-attitudes-of-their-minds-can-2/) [Aleatha Romig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleatha-romig/) > [“Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/human-beings-by-changing-the-inner-attitudes-of-their-minds-can/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [By altering our attitudes we can alter our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/by-altering-our-attitudes-we-can-alter-our-lives/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [I understand that space travel and expansion is just as much about altering ourselves, our attitudes, our social structures, our very biology, as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/i-understand-that-space-travel-and-expansion-is-just-as-much-about/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [“The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human can alter his life by altering his attitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/the-greatest-discovery-of-any-generation-is-that-a-human-can-alter/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [I think, and I've thought this for a long time, that we live, roughly speaking, in the last generation of human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitfield-diffie/i-think-and-i-ve-thought-this-for-a-long-time-that-we-live-roughly/) [Whitfield Diffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitfield-diffie/) > [We are the first generation of human beings to have substantial insights into the origin of our cosmos and of human life in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-peacocke/we-are-the-first-generation-of-human-beings-to-have-substantial/) [Arthur Peacocke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-peacocke/) > [“We in the West are the first generation in human history in which the mass of the population has to deliberately exercise to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-agus/we-in-the-west-are-the-first-generation-in-human-history-in-which-the/) [David B. Agus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-agus/) > [The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can change his life by changing his attitude of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/the-greatest-discovery-of-my-generation-is-that-a-human-being-can/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) ## More by Albert Schweitzer > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Because I have confidence in the power of truth, and of the spirit, I have confidence in the future of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/because-i-have-confidence-in-the-power-of-truth-and-of-the-spirit-i/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Man's ethics must not end with man, but should extend to the universe. He must regain the consciousness of the great Chain of Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/man-s-ethics-must-not-end-with-man-but-should-extend-to-the-universe/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Sincerity is the foundation of the spiritual life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/sincerity-is-the-foundation-of-the-spiritual-life/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I am life that wants to live, in the midst of life that wants to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-am-life-that-wants-to-live-in-the-midst-of-life-that-wants-to-live/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“ Bauer 's 'Criticism of the Gospel History' is worth a good dozen Lives of Jesus, because his work, as we are only now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/bauer-s-criticism-of-the-gospel-history-is-worth-a-good-dozen-lives/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is in its unqualified form extended responsibility to everything that has life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-in-its-unqualified-form-extended-responsibility-to/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The only way out of today's misery is for people to become worthy of each other's trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-only-way-out-of-today-s-misery-is-for-people-to-become-worthy-of/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [When we observe contemporary society one thing strikes us. 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