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About this quote

What does it mean?
James warns that ending war requires replacing deep-seated military feelings with better ideals.
In plain terms
To stop war, we need better ideals to replace military pride.
What can you take from it?
Replace military ideals with better substitutes to end war.

Where it applies

  • peace advocacy
  • political change
  • social reform

Putting it to work

  • replace military ideals
  • offer new substitutes

Questions to consider

  • What substitutes for war exist?
  • Can ideals really change feelings?

Another view

New ideals might not match the power of old ones.

More from William James

  1. The ideal power with which we feel ourselves in connection, the 'God' of ordinary men, is, both by ordinary men and by philosophers, endowed with certain of th…

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  2. In modern eyes, precious though wars may be they must not be waged solely for the sake of the ideal harvest. Only when forced upon one, is a war now thought pe…

    Permalink to quote #89
  3. 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 …

    Permalink to quote #86

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