William Penn Quotes
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For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity.
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Silence is Wisdom where Speaking is Folly.
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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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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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Wit gives an edge to sense, and recommends it extremely.
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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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To have religion upon authority, and not upon conviction, is like a finger-watch, to be set forwards or backwards, as he pleases that has it in keeping.
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If you protect a man from folly, you will soon have a nation of fools.
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The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves.
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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.
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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.
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False-dealing travels a short road, and surely detected.
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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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Excess in apparel is another costly folly. The very trimming of the vain world would clothe all the naked ones.
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There is a truth and beauty in rhetoric; but it oftener serves ill turns than good ones.
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They that love beyond the world cannot be separated by it. Death cannot kill what never dies.
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Covetousness is the greatest of monsters, as well as the root of all evil.
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Hasty resolutions are of the nature of vows, and to be equally avoided.
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It is profitable wisdom to know when we have done enough: Much time and pains are spared in not flattering ourselves against probabilities.
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God is better served in resisting a temptation to evil than in many formal prayers.
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No religion is better than an unnatural one.
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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.
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Men not living to what they know, cannot blame God, that they know no more.