William Penn Quotes
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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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If a civil word or two will render a man happy, he must be a wretch indeed who will not tell them to him.
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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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Knowledge is the treasure of a wise man.
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Cunning to wise, is as an Ape to a Man.
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False-dealing travels a short road, and surely detected.
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Levity of behavior, always a weakness, is far more unbecoming in a woman than a man.
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Five things are requisite to a good officer — ability, clean hands, despatch, patience, and impartiality.
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To hazard much to get much has more of avarice than wisdom.
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God is better served in resisting a temptation to evil than in many formal prayers.
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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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No religion is better than an unnatural one.
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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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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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Where judgment has wit to express it, there's the best orator.
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Hasty resolutions are of the nature of vows, and to be equally avoided.
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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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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 smaller the drink, the clearer the head, and the cooler the blood.
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If thou wouldst be happy, bring thy mind to thy condition, and have an indifferency for more than what is sufficient.
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Religion is nothing else but love of God and man.
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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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Do good with what thou hast, or it will do thee no good.
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A true friend freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably.