Isaac Watts Quotes

For Satan always finds some mischief still for idle hands to do.

To God the Father, God the Son, And God the Spirit, Three in One, Be honour, praise, and glory given By all on earth, and all in heaven.

It is not to be expected that we should love God supremely if we have not known him to be more desirable than all other things.

In Job and the Psalms we shall find more sublime ideas, more elevated language, than in any of the heathen versifiers of Greece or Rome.

Logic helps us to strip off the outward disguise of things, and to behold and judge of them in their own nature.

The tall, the wise, the reverend head Must lie as low as ours.

The passions are the gales of life; and it is religion only that can prevent them from rising into a tempest.

Among all the accomplishments of youth there is none preferable to a decent and agreeable behavior among men, a modest freedom of speech, a soft and elegant manner of address, a graceful and lovely deportment, a cheerful gravity and good-humor, with a mind appearing ever serene under the ruffling accidents of human life.

Roses grow on thorns and honey wears a sting.

Whatever brawls disturb the street, There should be peace at home.

Learning to trust is one of life's most difficult tasks.

Acquaint yourself with your own ignorance.

Dear Lord. I give myself away. I've nothing else to give.

So, when a raging fever burns, We shift from side to side by turns; And 't is a poor relief we gain To change the place, but keep the pain.

Learn good-humor, never to oppose without just reason; abate some degree of pride and moroseness.

What bliss will fill the ransomed souls, when they in glory dwell, to see the sinner as he rolls, in quenchless flames of hell.

Academical disputation gives vigor and briskness to the mind thus exercised, and relieves the languor of private study and meditation.

Affect not little shifts and subterfuges to avoid the force of an argument.

Birds in their little nests agree; And 'tis a shameful sight When children of one family Fall out, and chide, and fight.

Some persons believe everything that their kindred, their parents, and their tutors believe. The veneration and the love which they have for their ancestors incline them to swallow down all their opinions at once, without examining what truth or falsehood there is in them. Men take their principles by inheritance, and defend them as they would their estates, because they are born heirs to them.

When a false argument puts on the appearance of a true one, then it is properly called a sophism or fallacy.

Hush! my dear, lie still and slumber, Holy angels guard thy bed! Heavenly blessing without number Gently falling on thy head.

No science is speedily learned by the noblest genius without tuition.

He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove, the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love.

Let dogs delight to bark and bite, for God hath made them so.

There is a land of pure delight, Where saints immortal reign; Infinite day excludes the night, And pleasures banish pain.

In books, or work, or healthful play.

Poesy and oratory omit things not essential, and insert little beautiful digressions, in order to place everything in the most effective light.

When two or three sciences are pursued at the same time if one of them be dry, as logic, let another be more entertaining, to secure the mind from weariness.

It was a saying of the ancients, "Truth lies in a well;" and to carry on this metaphor, we may justly say that logic does supply us with steps, whereby we may go down to reach the water.

To be angry about trifles is mean and childish; to rage and be furious is brutish; and to maintain perpetual wrath is akin to the practice and temper of devils; but to prevent and suppress rising resentment is wise and glorious, is manly and divine.

Every one of his opinions appears to himself to be written with sunbeams.

Everyday is a birthday; every moment of it is new to us; we are born again, renewed for fresh work and endeavor.

Speak softly. It is far better to rule by love than fear.Speak softly. Let no harsh words mar the good we may do here.

In common discourse we denominate persons and things according to the major part of their character; he is to be called a wise man who has but few follies.

Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small: Love so amazing, so divine Demands my soul, my life, my all.

There's no repentance in the grave.

There is a dreadful Hell, And everlasting pains; There sinners must with devils dwell In darkness, fire, and chains.

Tis the voice of the sluggard I heard him complain,You have wak'd me too soon, I must slumber again.

Fancy and humour, early and constantly indulged in, may expect an old age overrun with follies.

What's amiss I'll strive to mend,And endure what can't be mended.

A dogmatical spirit inclines a man to be censorious of his neighbors. Every one of his opinions appears to him written, as it were, with sunbeams, and he grows angry that his neighbors do not see it in the same light. He is tempted to disdain his correspondents as men of low and dark understandings because they do not believe what he does.

Nothing tends so much to enlarge the mind as traveling.

Talking over the things which you have read with your companions fixes them on the mind.

I have been there, and still would go; 'T is like a little heaven below.

The stars, that in their courses roll, Have much instruction given; But Thy good Word informs my soul How I may climb to Heaven.

As a man may be eating all day, and for want of digestion is never nourished, so these endless readers may cram themselves in vain with intellectual food.

Love is amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.