Prayer is often an argument of laziness: "Lord, my temper gives me a vast deal of inconvenience, and it would be a great task for me to correct it; and wilt thou be pleased to correct it for me, that I may get along easier?" If prayer was answered under such circumstances, independent of action of natural laws, it would be paying a premium on indolence.
Henry Ward BeecherIt is part and parcel of every man's life to develop beauty in himself. All perfect things have in them an element of beauty.
Henry Ward BeecherAs plants take hold, not for the sake of staying, but only that they may climb higher, so it is with men. By every part of our nature we clasp things above us, one after another, not for the sake of remaining where we take hold, but that we may go higher.
Henry Ward BeecherLaw represents the effort of man to organize society; governments, the efforts of selfishness to overthrow liberty.
Henry Ward Beecher