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The individual, so far as he suffers from his wrongness and criticizes it, is to that extent consciously beyond it, and in at least possible touch with something higher, if anything higher exist. Along with the wrong part there is thus a better part of him, even though it may be but a most helpless germ. With which part he should identify his real being is by no means obvious at this stage; but when stage 2 (the stage of solution or salvation) arrives, the man identifies his real being with the germinal higher part of himself; and does so in the following way. He becomes conscious that this higher part is coterminous and continuous with a more of the same quality, which is operative in the universe outside of him, and which he can keep in working touch with, and in a fashion get on board of and save himself when all his lower being has gone to pieces in the wreck.

William James#85

ConsciousnessMoralitySelfChangeInner lifeSalvation

About this quote

What does it mean?
Self-criticism indicates a higher part of the self that can connect with a universal force for salvation.
In plain terms
When you know you are wrong, a better part of you is awake and can save you by connecting to something bigger.
What can you take from it?
Trust the inner voice that criticizes your lower impulses.

Where it applies

  • moral struggle
  • self-improvement
  • crisis

Putting it to work

  • identify higher values
  • act on conscience

Questions to consider

  • Where is your higher part?
  • How do you connect to it?

Another view

It assumes a higher force exists without proving it.

More from William James

  1. Religion must be considered vindicated in a certain way from the attacks of her critics. It would seem that she cannot be a mere anachronism and survival, but …

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  2. This thoroughly 'pragmatic' view of religion has usually been taken as a matter of course by common men. They have interpolated divine miracles into the field …

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  3. Both thought and feeling are determinants of conduct, and the same conduct may be determined either by feeling or by thought. When we survey the whole field of…

    Permalink to quote #83

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