William Penn Quotes

Never give out while there is hope; but hope not beyond reason, for that shows more desire than judgement.

Less judgment than wit is more sail than ballast. Yet it must be confessed that wit given an edge to sense, and recommends it extremely.

Passion is a sort of fever in the mind, which ever leaves us weaker than it found us.

Rarely promise, but, if lawful, constantly perform.

Dislike what deserves it, but never hate: for that is of the nature of malice; which is almost ever to persons, not things, and is one of the blackest qualities sin begets in the soul.

The only fountain in the wilderness of life, where man drinks of water totally unmixed with bitterness, is that which gushes for him in the calm and shady recess of domestic life.

It is admirable to consider how many millions of people come into, and go out of the world, ignorant of themselves and of the world they have lived in.

For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity.

O Lord, help me not to despise or oppose what I do not understand.

A good End cannot sanctify evil Means; nor must we ever do Evil, that Good may come of it.

He that does good for good's sake seeks neither paradise nor reward, but he is sure of both in the end.

For we put the power in the people.

All excess is ill; but drunkenness is of the worst sort. It spoils health, dismounts the mind, and unmans men. It reveals secrets, is quarrelsome, lascivious, impudent, dangerous, and mad.

Every stroke our fury strikes is sure to hit ourselves at last.

Clear therefore thy head, and rally, and manage thy thoughts rightly, and thou wilt save time, and see and do thy business well; for thy judgment will be distinct, thy mind free, and the faculties strong and regular.

It is safer to learn than teach; and who conceals his opinion has nothing to answer for.

Governments, like clocks, go from the motion men give them, and as governments are made and moved by men, so by them they are ruined too. Wherefore governments rather depend upon men, than men upon governments. Let men be good, and the government cannot be bad; if it be ill, they will cure it. But if men be bad, let the government be never so good, they will endeavour to warp and spoil it to their turn.

It would go a long way to caution and direct people in their use of the world that they would better studied and known in the creation of it. For how could man find the confidence to abuse it, while they should see the Great Creator stare them in the face, in all and every part thereof?

We need to stop arguing about Christ and start living like Christ.

The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves.

Where Example keeps pace with Authority, Power hardly fails to be obey'd.

To hazard much to get much has more of avarice than wisdom.

What man in his right mind would conspire his own hurt? Men are beside themselves when they transgress against their convictions.

They have a right to censure that have a heart to help.

Choose a friend as thou dost a wife, till death separate you.

A private Life is to be preferrd; the Honour and Gain of publick Posts, bearing no proportion with the Comfort of it.

If thou rise with an Appetite, thou art sure never to sit down without one.

Be sure that religion cannot be right that a man is the worse for having.

Force may make hypocrites, but it can never make converts.

The receipts of cookery are swelled to a volume; but a good stomach excels them all.

No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.

If thou wouldn't conquer thy weakness thou must not gratify it.

There is nothing of which we are apt to be so lavish as of time, and about which we ought to be more solicitous; since without it we can do nothing in this world.

There can be no Friendship where there is no Freedom.

To be furious in religion is to be irreligiously religious.

Between a man and his wife nothing ought to rule but love. Authority is for children and servants, yet not without sweetness.

We are too careless of posterity; not considering that as they are, so the next generation will be.

A Garden, an Elaboratory, a Work - house, Improvements and Breeding, are pleasant and Profitable Diversions to the Idle and Ingenious: For here they miss Ill Company, and converse with Nature and Art; whose Variety are equally grateful and instructing; and preserve a good Constitution of Body and Mind.

Religion itself is nothing else but Love to God and Man. He that lives in Love lives in God, says the Beloved Disciple: And to be sure a Man can live no where better.

Next to God, thy parents.

Many able Gardeners and Husbandmen are yet Ignorant of the Reason of their Calling; as most Artificers are of the Reason of their own Rules that govern their excellent Workmanship. But a Naturalist and Mechanick of this sort is Master of the Reason of both, and might be of the Practice too, if his Industry kept pace with his Speculation; which were every commendable; and without which he cannot be said to be a complete Naturalist or Mechanick.

If thou wouldst be happy, bring thy mind to thy condition, and have an indifferency for more than what is sufficient.

Only trust thyself, and another shall not betray thee.

To do evil that good may come of it is for bunglers in politics as well as morals.

Were the superfluities of a nation valued, and made a perpetual tax or benevolence, there would be more alms-houses than poor, schools than scholars, and enough to spare for government besides.

Haste makes work which caution prevents.

A good end cannot sanctify evil means; nor must we ever do evil, that good may come of it... It is as great presumption to send our passions upon God's errands, as to palliate them with God's name... We are too ready to retailiate, rather than forgive, or gain by love and information. And yet we could hurt no man that we believe loves us. Let us try then what Love will do: for if men did once see we love them, we should soon find they would not harm us. Force may subdue, but Love gains: and he that forgives first, wins the laurel.

No man is fit to command another that cannot command himself.