# William James on Human Potential

> The capacity of the strenuous mood lies so deep down among our natural human possibilities

— William James


The capacity of the strenuous mood lies so deep down among our natural human possibilities that even if there were no metaphysical or traditional grounds for believing in a God, men would postulate one simply as a pretext for living hard, and getting out of the game of existence its keenest possibilities of zest.

**Tags:** non-mormons, pragmatism, faith, human potential