Chance Quote by William James
“Every time a resolve or a fine glow of feeling evaporates without bearing practical fruit is worse than a chance lost; it works to hinder future resolutions and emotions from taking the normal path of discharge. There is no more contemptible type of human character than that of the nerveless sentimentalist and dreamer, who spends his life in a weltering sea of sensibility and emotion, but who never does a manly concrete deed.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: The Will to Believe, 1895
Sentimentalism without action is contemptible; it blocks future resolve and emotion.
In simple terms: Dreamers who never act are contemptible.
Key Takeaway
Act on feelings, not just sentiment.
Themes
action
sentiment
character
resolve
Mood
critical
motivational
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal goal setting
- leadership training
- creative projects
- emotional regulation
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
moral philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions can turn feeling into results?
- How to avoid being a “nerveless sentimentalist”?
A Different Perspective
Risk of undervaluing reflection.
![“Very often, those who express concern about (or even interest in) the conditions in which farmed animals are raised are disregarded as sentimentalists. But it’s worth taking a step back to ask who is the sentimentalist and who is the realist. […] Two friends are ordering lunch. One says, “I’m in…” quote by Jonathon Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/61d/jonathon-safran-foer-63650_sentimentalism_very-often-those-who-express-concern-abo_202760.jpg)
