Lecture VI: The Value of Saintliness
William James
James challenges the notion that fulfillment brings lasting contentment. History supports him: during periods of prosperity, societies often produce more expressions of dissatisfaction and existential angst. The Jews of Solomon's time, surrounded by wealth and power, voiced more despair than during their trials in captivity. This suggests that true inspiration arises from necessity and adversity, not the comforts of triumph.