Psychology is the science of the act of experiencing, and deals with the whole system of such acts as they make up mental life.

It may be added, to prevent misunderstanding, that when I speak of contemplated objects in this last phrase as objects of contemplation, the act of contemplation itself is of course an enjoyment.

Desire then is the invasion of the whole self by the wish, which, as it invades, sets going more and more of the psychical processes; but at the same time, so long as it remains desire, does not succeed in getting possession of the self.

We cannot therefore say that mental acts contain a cognitive as well as a conative element.

Curiosity begins as an act of tearing to pieces or analysis.

But though cognition is not an element of mental action, nor even in any real sense of the word an aspect of it, the distinction of cognition and conation has if properly defined a definite value.

Mental life is indeed practical through and through. It begins in practice and it ends in practice.