William Penn Quotes
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Neither great nor good things were ever attained without loss and hardships. Those that would reap and not labour, must faint with the wind, and perish in disappointments; but an hair of my head shall not fall, without the providence of my Father that is over all.
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Much reading is an oppression of the mind, and extinguishes the natural candle, which is the reason of so many senseless scholars in the world.
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Anything less than full justice is cruelty.
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To be innocent is to be not guilty; but to be virtuous is to overcome our evil inclinations.
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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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There is a troublesome humor some men have, that if they may not lead, they will not follow; but had rather a thing were never done, than not done their own way, tho' other ways very desirable.
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Death is but crossing the world, as friends do the seas; they live in one another still.
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Less judgment than wit is more sail than ballast.
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We have a call to do good, as often as we have the power and occasion.
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You are now fixed at the mercy of no governor that comes to make his fortune great; you shall be governed by laws of your own making and live a free, and if you will, a sober and industrious life. I shall not usurp the right of any, or oppress his person. God has furnished me with a better resolution and has given me his grace to keep it.
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If thy debtor be honest and capable, thou hast thy money again, if not with increase, with praise; if he prove insolvent, don't ruin him to get that which it will not ruin thee to lose, for thou art but a steward.
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Death cannot kill what never dies.
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The humble, meek, merciful, and just are everywhere of one religion; and when death has taken off the mask they will know one another, though the diverse liveries they wear here make them strangers.
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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.
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Let us see what love can do.
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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.
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A vain man is a nauseous creature: he is so full of himself that he has no room for anything else, be it never so good or deserving.
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There can be no friendship where there is no freedom. Friendship loves a free air, and will not be fenced up in straight and narrow enclosures.
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Let us try what love will do.
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Neither despise nor oppose what thou dost not understand.
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If thou wouldst rule well, thou must rule for God, and to do that, thou must be ruled by him. Those who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants.
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Never chide with anger, but instruction.
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Oppression makes a poor country.
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Force may subdue, but love gains, and he that forgives first wins the laurel.