William Penn Quotes
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Levity of behavior, always a weakness, is far more unbecoming in a woman than a man.
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A good end cannot sanctify evil means; nor must we ever do evil that good may come of it. We are too ready to retaliate, rather than forgive, or gain by love and information. And yet we could hurt no man that we believe loves us. Let us, then, try what love will do: for if men do once see that 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.
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Five things are requisite to a good officer — ability, clean hands, despatch, patience, and impartiality.
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True Godliness doesn't turn men out of the world, but enables them to live better in it, and excites their endeavors to mend it. ...We have nothing that we can call our own; no, not our selves: for we are all but Tenants, and at Will, too, of the great Lord of our selves, and the rest of this great farm, the World that we live upon.
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Show is not substance; realities govern wise men.
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If you protect a man from folly, you will soon have a nation of fools.
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God is better served in resisting a temptation to evil than in many formal prayers.
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Avoid flatterers, for they are thieves in disguise.
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Where judgment has wit to express it, there's the best orator.
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No religion is better than an unnatural one.
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Hasty resolutions are of the nature of vows, and to be equally avoided.
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For nothing reaches the heart but what is from the heart, or pierces the conscience but what comes from a living conscience
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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?
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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.
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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.
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We are too careless of posterity; not considering that as they are, so the next generation will be.
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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.
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The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves.
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The smaller the drink, the clearer the head, and the cooler the blood.
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Passion is a sort of fever in the mind, which ever leaves us weaker than it found us.
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Justice is the insurance which we have on our lives and property. Obedience is the premium which we pay for it.
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It is not only a troublesome but slavish to be nice [fastidious].
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Religion is nothing else but love of God and man.
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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.