Kevin Stilley

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April 4, 2012 by kevinstilley

William James – select quotes

Every great institution is perforce a means of corruption.
~ William James, in a letter to William M. Salter on September 11, 1899

Nature in her unfathomable designs has mixed us of clay and flame, of brain and mind, that the two things hang indubitably together and determine each other’s being, but how or why, no mortal may ever know.”
– in Principles of Psychology, chapter 6

The hell to be endured hereafter . . . is no worse than the hell we make for ourselves in this world by habitually fashioning our characters in the wrong way. Could the young but realize how soon they will become mere walking bundles of habits, they would give more heed to their conduct while in the plastic state. We are spinning our own fates, good or evil, and never to be none. The drunken Rip van Winkle in Jefferson’s play excuses himself for every fresh dereliction by saying, ‘I won’t count this time!’ Well, we may not count it, and a kind Heaven may not count it, but it is being counted none the less. Down among his nerve-ends and fibers the molecules are counting it, registering it, and storing it up to be used against him when the next temptation comes.”
~ in Talks to Teachers on Psychology and to Students on Some of Life’s Ideals, page 77

Genius means little more than the faculty of perceiving in an unhabitual way.

Human beings , by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.

The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook.

The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.

When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice.

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William James

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Filed Under: Blog, Philosophy, Quotes Tagged With: Philosophy, psychology, quotations, Quotes, William James, wisdom

April 19, 2009 by kevinstilley

Mental Health Certificate

creativity-mental-health

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The following comes from Madeleine L’Engle, in  A Circle of Quiet (NY: Harper, 1972), page 54:

That night during a wakeful period I thought about all the people in history, literature, art, whom I most admire:  Mozart, Shakespeare, Homer, El Greco, St. John, Chekhov, Gregory of Nyssa, Dostoevsky, Emily Bronte:  not one of them would qualify for a mental-health certificate.  It’s been a small game with me this summer to ask, “Do you know anybody you really admire, who has really been important to the world in a creative way, who would qualify for a mental-health certificate?”  So far nobody has come up with one.

I took L’Engle’s challenge.  And, my list is pretty short…

Other than Jesus, me and you, I don’t know who else would qualify to appear on the list.  And, I ‘m not that sure about you.

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Filed Under: Blog, Front Page Tagged With: creativity, genius, mental health, psychology

July 29, 2008 by kevinstilley

My Husband’s Moods

My husband recently published his thoughts on the book My Pursuit of a Good Mood. I am anxious to read the book and compare my own reflections on it with his. Check out his YouTube review below and then order in FREE COPY of the book for yourself.

For more of my husband’s book reviews go to KevinStilley.com.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: book reviews, Free Books, mental illness, psychology, self help

June 6, 2008 by kevinstilley

Erich Fromm – Select Quotes

Erich FrommDostoevsky said, “If there is no God, then anything is possible.”  I would say that if there is no love, nothing is possible.  Man absolutely cannot live by himself.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Anthropology, Blog, brain, Erich Fromm, love, mind, Philosophy, psychology, quips, Quotes, relationships, sociology, therapy, wisdom

November 6, 2007 by kevinstilley

Flat tire?

How many psychologists does it take to change a flat tire?

Only one, but it has to really want to change.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: automobile, Blog, Humor, psychology

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