From this starting point, the quote also explains why extreme pressure sometimes produces extraordinary performance. A person who feels average in daily life may become decisive in an accident, a war, or a family emergency because necessity narrows attention and silences trivial doubts. What seemed impossible suddenly becomes required, and therefore achievable.
Modern psychology supports this intuition through research on stress responses. While chronic stress can be damaging, acute stress can sharpen focus and mobilize the body for action. Thus, James’s insight remains persuasive: under urgent conditions, human beings often discover that their practical and emotional resources are far larger than they had imagined. [...]
