John Lancaster Spalding Quotes
-
The doubt of an earnest, thoughtful, patient and laborious mind is worthy of respect. In such doubt may be found indeed more faith than in half the creeds.
-
Dislike of another’s opinions and beliefs neither justifies our own nor makes us more certain of them: and to transfer the repugnance to the person himself is a mark of a vulgar mind.
-
A gentleman does not appear to know more or to be more than those with whom he is thrown into company.
-
God has not made a world which suits all; how shall a sane man expect to please all?
-
They who no longer believe in principles still proclaim them, to conceal, both from themselves and others, the selfishness of the motives by which they are dominated.
-
If thou canst not hold the golden mean, say and do too little rather than too much.
-
If thou wouldst help others deal with them as though they were what they should be
-
The study of law is valuable as a mental discipline, but the practice of pleading tends to make one petty, formal, and insincere. To be driven to look to legality rather than to equity blurs the view of truth and justice.
-
To think of education as a means of preserving institutions however excellent, is to have a superficial notion of its end and purpose, which is to mould and fashion men who are more than institutions, who create, outgrow, and re-create them.
-
If we are disappointed that men give little heed to what we utter is it for their sake or our own?
-
It is not worth while to consider whether a truth be useful-it is enough that it is a truth.
-
Love finds us young and keeps us so: immortal himself, he permits not age to enter the hearts where he reigns.
-
If thou hast sought happiness and missed it, but hast found wisdom instead, thou art fortunate.
-
Mercenary is whoever thinks less of his work than of the money he receives for doing it; and social conditions which impose tasks that make this inevitable are barbarous.
-
Let not what thou canst not prevent, though it be the ruin of thy home or country, draw thee from thy proper work.
-
Liberty is more precious than money or office; and we should be vigilant lest we purchase wealth or place at the price of inner freedom.
-
If our opinions rest upon solid ground, those who attack them do not make us angry, but themselves ridiculous.
-
Have as little suspicion as possible and conceal that.
-
Thy money, thy office, thy reputation are nothing; put away these phantom clothings, and stand like an athlete stripped for the battle.
-
No sooner does a divine gift reveal itself in youth or maid than its market value becomes the decisive consideration, and the poor young creatures are offered for sale, as we might sell angels who had strayed among us.
-
The aim of education is to strengthen and multiply the powers and activities of the mind rather than to increase its possessions.
-
The teacher does best, not when he explains, but when he impels his pupils to seek themselves the explanation.
-
States of soul rightly expressed, as the poet expresses them in moments of pure inspiration, retain forever the power of creating like states. It is this that makes genuine literature a vital force.
-
The test of the worth of a school is not the amount of knowledge it imparts, but the self-activity it calls forth.