John Lancaster Spalding Quotes

We are made ridiculous less by our defects than by the affectation of qualities which are not ours.

If we attempt to sink the soul in matter, its light is quenched.

The world is a mirror into which we look, and see our own image.

If I am not pleased with myself, but should wish to be other than I am, why should I think highly of the influences which have made me what I am?

In the world of thought a man's rank is determined, not by his average work, but by his highest achievement.

We may outgrow the things of children, without acquiring sense and relish for those which become a man.

Liberty is more precious than money or office; and we should be vigilant lest we purchase wealth or place at the price of inner freedom.

Nothing requires so little mental effort as to narrate or follow a story. Hence everybody tells stories and the readers of stories outnumber all others.

To learn the worth of a man's religion, do business with him.

As the visit of one we love makes the whole day pleasant, so is it illumined and made fair by a brave and beautiful thought.

A hobby is the result of a distorted view of things. It is putting a planet in the place of a sun.

As children must have the hooping cough, the college youth must pass through the stage of conceit in which he holds in slight esteem the wisdom of the best.

Exercise of body and exercise of mind are supplementary, and both may be made recreative and educative.

Be watchful lest thou lose the power of desiring and loving what appeals to the soul this is the miser's curse this the chain and ball the sensualist drags.

Folly will run its course and it is the part of wisdom not to take it too seriously.

To think profoundly, to seek and speak truth, to love justice and denounce wrong is to draw upon one's self the ill will of many.

We shrink from the contemplation of our dead bodies, forgetting that when dead they are no longer ours, and concern us as little as the hairs that have fallen from our heads.

The ploughman knows how many acres he shall upturn from dawn to sunset: but the thinker knows not what a day may bring forth.

There are few things it is more important to learn than how to live on little and be therewith content: for the less we need what is without, the more leisure have we to live within.

The power of free will is developed and confirmed by increasing the number of worthy motives which influence conduct.

States of soul rightly expressed, as the poet expresses them in moments of pure inspiration, retain forever the power of creating like states. It is this that makes genuine literature a vital force.

When guests enter the room their entertainers rise to receive them; and in all meetings men should ascend into their higher selves, imparting to one another only the best they know and love.

Whom little things occupy and keep busy, are little men.

Work, mental or manual, is the means whereby attention is compelled, it is the instrument of all knowledge and virtue, the root whence all excellence springs.

They who can no longer unlearn have lost the power to learn.

Make thyself perfect; others, happy.

If thou wouldst be implacable, be so with thyself.

As our power over others increases, we become less free; for to retain it, we must make ourselves its servants.

If thou need money, get it in an honest way by keeping books, if thou wilt, but not by writing books.

When we have attained success, we see how inferior it is to the hope, yearning and enthusiasm with which we started forth in life's morning.

Insight makes argument ridiculous.

Contradiction is the salt which keeps truth from corruption

Worry, whatever its source, weakens, takes away courage, and shortens life.

Do definite good; first of all to yourself, then to definite persons.

If all were gentle and contented as sheep, all would be as feeble and helpless.

Leave each one his touch of folly; it helps to lighten life's burden which, if he could see himself as he is, might be too heavy to carry.

Agitators and declaimers may heat the blood, but they do not illumine the mind.

It is the business of the teacher ... to fortify reason and to make conscience sovereign.

One may speak Latin and have but the mind of a peasant.

Inferior thinking and writing will make a name for a man among inferior people, who in all ages and countries, are the majority.

There is some lack either of sense or of character in one who becomes involved in difficulties with the worthless or the vicious.

It is unpleasant to turn back, though it be to take the right way.

The writers who accomplish most are those who compel thought on the highest and most profoundly interesting subjects.

If thou wouldst be interesting, keep thy personality in the background, and be great and strong in and through thy subject.

If there are but few who interest thee, why shouldst thou be disappointed if but few find thee interesting?

The will the one thing it is most important to educate we neglect.

Those subjects have the greatest educational value, which are richest in incentives to the noblest self-activity.

The doctrine of the utter vanity of life is a doctrine of despair, and life is hope.

The important thing is how we know, not what or how much.

Thy money, thy office, thy reputation are nothing; put away these phantom clothings, and stand like an athlete stripped for the battle.