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The country life is to be preferred, for there we see the works of God; but in cities little else but the works of men. And the one makes a better subject for contemplation than the other.
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Love grows. Lust wastes by Enjoyment, and the Reason is, that one springs from an Union of Souls, and the other from an Union of Sense.
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There is nothing of which we are apt to be so lavish as of time, and about which we ought to be more solicitous; since without it we can do nothing in this world.
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Between a Man and his Wife nothing ought to rule but Love. Believe nothing against another but on good authority; and never report what may hurt another, unless it be a greater hurt to some other to conceal it.
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Never marry but for love; but see that thou lov'st what is lovely.
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The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles.
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The tallest Trees are most in the Power of the Winds, and Ambitious Men of the Blasts of Fortune.
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Though death be a dark passage; it leads to immortality, and that is recompense enough for suffering of it. And yet faith lights us, even through the grave....And this is the comfort of the good, and the grave cannot hold them, and they live as they die. For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity.
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Nothing shows our weakness more than to be so sharp-sighted at spying other men's faults, and so purblind about our own.
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Truth often suffers more by the heat of its defenders than the arguments of its opposers.
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I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.
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He that does good for good's sake seeks neither paradise nor reward, but he is sure of both in the end.
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To be furious in religion is to be irreligiously religious.
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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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Did we believe a final Reckoning and Judgment; or did we think enough of what we do believe, we would allow more Love in Religion than we do; since Religion it self is nothing else but Love to God and Man. Love is indeed Heaven upon Earth; since Heaven above would not be Heaven without it: For where there is not Love; there is Fear: But perfect Love casts out Fear. Love is above all; and when it prevails in us all, we shall all be Lovely, and in Love with God and one with another.
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It is wise not to seek a secret, and honest not to reveal one.
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Sense shines with a double luster when it is set in humility. An able yet humble man is a jewel worth a kingdom.
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For disappointments, that come not by our own folly, they are the trials or corrections of Heaven: and it is our own fault, if they prove not our advantage.
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Where Example keeps pace with Authority, Power hardly fails to be obey'd.
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He who gives to the poor, lends to the Lord. But it may be said, not improperly, the Lord lends to us to give to the poor.
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It would be far better to be of no church than to be bitter of any.
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They that Marry for Money cannot have the true Satisfaction of Marriage; the requisite Means being wanting.
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Where thou art Obliged to speak, be sure speak the Truth: For Equivocation is half way to Lying, as Lying, the whole way to Hell.
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That which the people called Quakers lay down as a main fundamental in religion is this- That God, through Christ, hath placed a principle in every man, to inform him of his duty, and to enable him to do it; and that those that live up to this principle are the people of God, and those that live in disobedience to it, are not God's people, whatever name they may bear, or profession they may make of religion. This is their ancient, first, and standing testimony: with this they began, and this they bore, and do bear to the world.