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About this quote

What does it mean?
Consciousness moves in an alternating rhythm of focus and rest.
In plain terms
Your mind moves between busy times and quiet times.
What can you take from it?
Expect your mind to alternate between focus and rest.

Where it applies

  • managing focus
  • understanding mind

Putting it to work

  • work with mental rhythms
  • rest effectively

Questions to consider

  • How does your mind move?
  • Do you rest enough?

Another view

It oversimplifies the complex flow of thought.

More from William James

  1. Consciousness, then, does not appear to itself chopped up in bits...A 'river' or a 'stream' are the metaphors by which it is most naturally described. In talki…

    Permalink to quote #20
  2. As the brain-changes are continuous, so do all these consciousnesses melt into each other like dissolving views. Properly they are but one protracted conscious…

    Permalink to quote #22
  3. The total possible consciousness may be split into parts which co-exist but mutually ignore each other.

    Permalink to quote #19

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