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About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker reflects that our actions, good or bad, leave lasting marks and cannot be erased scientifically.
In plain terms
Every action leaves a small scar that persists.
What can you take from it?
Our deeds have lasting impact; act responsibly.

Where it applies

  • personal decisions
  • social policy

Putting it to work

  • consider long‑term effects
  • cultivate virtue

Questions to consider

  • How do small actions accumulate?
  • Can we truly erase past deeds?

Another view

The claim of scientific literalness may be overstated.

More from William James

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  3. Keep the faculty of effort alive in you by a little gratuitous exercise every day. That is, be systematically ascetic or heroic in little unnecessary points, d…

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