William Penn Quotes

Neither despise nor oppose what thou dost not understand.

A true friend freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably.

It is a coal from God's altar must kindle our fire; and without fire, true fire, no acceptable sacrifice.

Eat... to live, and do not live to eat.

To be a man's own fool is bad enough, but the vain man is everybody's.

If thou wouldst rule well, thou must rule for God, and to do that, thou must be ruled by him. Those who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants.

Patience and Diligence, like faith, remove mountains.

Make few resolutions, but keep them strictly

Perfect love casteth out fear.

Interest has the security, though not the virtue of a principle. As the world goes, it is the surest side; for men daily leave both relations and religion to follow it.

Let us try what love will do.

Sense shines with a double luster when it is set in humility. An able yet humble man is a jewel worth a kingdom.

Charity is ... a universal remedy against discord, and an holy cement for mankind.

Friendship is the union of spirits.

Some are so very studious of learning what was done by the ancients that they know not how to live with the moderns.

We are told truly that meekness and modesty are the rich and charming garments of the soul. The less showy our outward attire is, the more distinctly and brilliantly does the beauty of these inner garments shine.

Experience is a safe guide.

It is certain that the most natural and human government is that of consent, for that binds freely, ... when men hold their liberty by true obedience to rules of their own making.

This is the Comfort of Friends, that though they may be said to Die, yet their Friendship and Society are, in the best Sense, ever present, because Immortal

Love is the hardest lesson in Christianity; but, for that reason, it should be most our care to learn it.

'Tis no sin to be tempted, but to be overcome.

Let us see what love can do.

The Remedy often proves worse than the Disease.

I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do ... let me do it now.

Content not thyself that thou art virtuous in the general; for one link being wanting, the chain is defective.

The tallest Trees are most in the Power of the Winds, and Ambitious Men of the Blasts of Fortune.

Man, being made reasonable, and so a thinking creature, there is nothing more worthy of his being than the right direction and employment of his thoughts; since upon this depends both his usefulness to the public, and his own present and future benefit in all respects.

In marriage do thou be wise: prefer the person before money, virtue before beauty, the mind before the body; then thou hast a wife, a friend, a companion, a second self.

That all persons living in this province, who confess and acknowledge the one Almighty and eternal God, to be the Creator, Upholder and Ruler of the world; and that hold themselves obliged in conscience to live peaceably and justly in civil society, shall, in no ways, be molested or prejudiced for their religious persuasion, or practice, in manners of faith and worship, nor shall they be compelled, at any time, to frequent or maintain any religious worship, place or ministry whatever.

Religion is nothing else but love of God and man.

No religion is better than an unnatural one.

Hasty resolutions are of the nature of vows, and to be equally avoided.

It were happy if we studied nature more in natural things; and acted according to nature, whose rules are few, plain, and most reasonable.

I have sometimes thought that people are, in a sort, happy, that nothing can put out of countenance with themselves, though they neither have nor merit other people's.

If we would mend the World, we should mend Ourselves; and teach our Children to be, not what we are, but what they should be.

Though our Savior's passion is over, his compassion is not.

Death cannot kill that which does not die.

Men not living to what they know, cannot blame God, that they know no more.

Do good with what thou hast, or it will do thee no good.

Religion is the fear of God, and its demonstration good works; and faith is the root of both: For without faith we cannot please God; nor can we fear what we do not believe.

If thou thinkest twice before thou speakest once, thou wilt speak twice the better for it.

Did we believe a final Reckoning and Judgment; or did we think enough of what we do believe, we would allow more Love in Religion than we do; since Religion it self is nothing else but Love to God and Man. Love is indeed Heaven upon Earth; since Heaven above would not be Heaven without it: For where there is not Love; there is Fear: But perfect Love casts out Fear. Love is above all; and when it prevails in us all, we shall all be Lovely, and in Love with God and one with another.

We have a call to do good, as often as we have the power and occasion.

Men are generally more careful of the breed of their horses and dogs than of their children.

But make not more business necessary than is so; and rather lessen than augment work for thyself.

Much reading is an oppression of the mind, and extinguishes the natural candle, which is the reason of so many senseless scholars in the world.

I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.

Not to be provok'd is best: But if mov'd, never correct till the fume is spent; for every stroke our fury strikes, is sure to hit our selves at last.