William Penn Quotes

Never give out while there is hope; but hope not beyond reason, for that shows more desire than judgement.

Knowledge is the treasure of a wise man.

False-dealing travels a short road, and surely detected.

In the rush and noise of life, as you have intervals, step home within yourselves and be still. Wait upon God, and feel His good presence; this will carry you evenly through your day's business.

The truest end of life is to know the life that never ends.

I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do ... let me do it now.

A jealous man only sees his own spectrum when he looks upon other men, and gives his character in theirs.

God is better served in resisting a temptation to evil than in many formal prayers.

Love labor: for if thou dost not want it for food, thou mayest for physic. It is wholesome for thy body and good for thy mind.

True godliness does not turn men out of the world, but enables them to live better in it and excites their endeavors to mend it.

If you protect a man from folly, you will soon have a nation of fools.

Only trust thyself, and another shall not betray thee.

Let the people think they govern and they will be governed.

Perfect love casteth out fear.

Never despise what you don't understand.

Love is the hardest lesson in Christianity; but, for that reason, it should be most our care to learn it.

A wise neuter joins with neither, but uses both as his honest interest leads him.

Friendship is the union of spirits.

And he that is taught to live upon little, owes more to his father's wisdom, than he that has a great deal left him, does to his father's care.

Were the superfluities of a nation valued, and made a perpetual tax or benevolence, there would be more alms-houses than poor, schools than scholars, and enough to spare for government besides.

Be sure that religion cannot be right that a man is the worse for having.

Nor must we always be neutral where our neighbors are concerned: for tho' meddling is a fault, helping is a duty.

He that lives in love lives in God.

Inquiry is human; blind obedience brutal. Truth never loses by the one but often suffers by the other.

Where charity keeps pace with gain, industry is blessed.

People are more afraid of the laws of Man than of God, because their punishment seems to be nearest.

Death then, being the way and condition of life, we cannot love to live if we cannot bear to die.

Do good with what thou hast, or it will do thee no good.

The smaller the drink, the clearer the head, and the cooler the blood.

Kings in this world should imitate God, their mercy should be above their works.

Love grows, lust wastes by enjoyment.

Where Example keeps pace with Authority, Power hardly fails to be obey'd.

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.

Sense shines with a double luster when it is set in humility. An able yet humble man is a jewel worth a kingdom.

For though Death be a dark passage, it leads to immortality, and that is recompence enough for suffering of it.

I shall pass through life but once. Let me show kindness now, as I shall not pass this way again.

We need to stop arguing about Christ and start living like Christ.

Religion itself is nothing else but Love to God and Man. He that lives in Love lives in God, says the Beloved Disciple: And to be sure a Man can live no where better.

We have a call to do good, as often as we have the power and occasion.

He that has more Knowledge than Judgment, is made for another Man's use more than his own.

Children, Fear God; that is to say, have an holy awe upon your minds to avoid that which is evil, and a strict care to embrace and do that which is good.

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.

It would be far better to be of no church than to be bitter of any.

I know no religion that destroys courtesy, civility, and kindness.

We are too careless of posterity; not considering that as they are, so the next generation will be.

Next to God, thy parents.

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.

If thou wouldn't conquer thy weakness thou must not gratify it.

Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood.

We are apt to be very pert at censuring others, where we will not endure advice.