Hosea Ballou Quotes

How white are the fair robes of Charity as she walketh amid the lowly habitations of the poor!

Of all the ingenious mistakes into which erring man has fallen, perhaps none have been so pernicious in their consequences, or have brought so many evils into the world, as the popular opinion that the way of the transgressor is pleasant and easy.

Experience is retrospect knowledge.

A good smile is the sunshine of wisdom.

The goodness of God to mankind is no less evinced in the chastisement with which He corrects His children than in the smiles of His providence; for the Lord will not cast off forever, but though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.

I have somewhere read that conscience not only sits as witness and judge within our bosoms, but also forms the prison of punishment.

Too many people embrace religion from the same motives that they take a companion in wedlock, not from true love of the person, but because of a large dowry.

There is nothing that needs to be said in an unkind manner.

Not the least misfortune in a prominent falsehood is the fact that tradition is apt to repeat it for truth.

Reproof, especially as it relates to children, administered in all gentleness, will render the culprit not afraid, but ashamed to repeat the offence.

Self-respect is the best of all.

Prosperity seems to be scarcely safe, unless it be mixed with a little adversity.

Exaggeration is a blood relation to falsehood and nearly as blamable.

Error is always more busy than truth.

Theory, from whatever source, is not perfect until it is reduced to practice.

A true religious instinct never deprived man of one single joy; mournful faces and a sombre aspect are the conventional affectations of the weak-minded.