William James, inspiration, stoic acceptance, intuitive knowledge, and atavistic intuition

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William James quote: "If there were such a thing as inspiration from a higher realm, it might well be that the neurotic temperament would furnish the chief condition of the requisite receptivity."

William James sees non-suicidal people as having two basic outlooks: stoic acceptance, or enthusiastic gladness.

A man will strive for a labeled phenomenon while knowing nothing more about it than the fact that others desire it.

To say that 'intuitive knowledge' is atavistic is an undefendable observation and value judgment. Intuition may have been more accessible historically, but certainly not more important. If it is atavistic, we should be grateful.

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These selected fragments are excerpted from unpublished writings by Jack Haas; selections from the notebooks 1990-2005.