Hosea Ballou Quotes

103 Sourced Quotes

The act of divine worship is the inestimable privilege of man, the only created being who bows in humility and adoration.

Hosea Ballou
It is better to be the builder of our own name than to be indebted by descent for the proudest gifts known to the books of heraldry.

Hosea Ballou
Never let your zeal outrun your charity. The former is but human, the latter is divine.

Hosea Ballou
Tears of joy, like summer raindrops, are pierced by sunbeams.

Hosea Ballou
Prosperity seems to be scarcely safe, unless it be mixed with a little adversity.

Hosea Ballou
Lenity has almost always wisdom and justice on its side.

Hosea Ballou
Faith, in order to be genuine and of any real value, must be the offspring of that divine love which Jesus manifested when He prayed for His enemies on the cross.

Hosea Ballou
True charity is spontaneous and finds its own occasion; it is never the offspring of importunity, nor of emulation.

Hosea Ballou
It is the nature of intellect to strive to improve in intellectual power.

Hosea Ballou
Man, being not only a religious, but also a social being, requires for the promotion of his rational happiness religious institutions, which, while they give a proper direction to devotion, at the same time make a wise, and profitable improvement of his social feelings.

Hosea Ballou
A mother's love, in a degree, sanctifies the most worthless offspring.

Hosea Ballou
Lay silently the injuries you receive upon the altar of oblivion.

Hosea Ballou
I have somewhere read that conscience not only sits as witness and judge within our bosoms, but also forms the prison of punishment.

Hosea Ballou
A religion which requires persecution to sustain it is of the devil's propagation.

Hosea Ballou
There is no immunity from the consequences of sin; punishment is swift and sure to one and all.

Hosea Ballou
Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul; and the heart of man knoweth none more fragrant.

Hosea Ballou
There is one inevitable criterion of judgment touching religious faith in doctrinal matters. Can you reduce it to practice? If not, have none of it.

Hosea Ballou
Idleness is emptiness; the tree in which the sap is stagnant, remains fruitless.

Hosea Ballou
Ministers who threaten death and destruction employ weapons of weakness. Argument and kindness are alone effectual, flavored by the principles of Divine love.

Hosea Ballou
All our possessions are as nothing compared to health, strength, and a clear conscience.

Hosea Ballou
There is no possible excuse for a guarded lie. Enthusiastic and impulsive people will sometimes falsify thoughtlessly, but equivocation is malice prepense.

Hosea Ballou
Unless we find repose within ourselves, it is vain to seek it elsewhere.

Hosea Ballou
Liberality should be tempered with judgment, not with profuseness.

Hosea Ballou
Theory, from whatever source, is not perfect until it is reduced to practice.

Hosea Ballou
Humanity, in the aggregate, is progressing, and philanthropy looks forward hopefully.

Hosea Ballou
Few things in this world trouble people more than poverty, or the fear of poverty; and indeed it is a sore affliction; but, like all other ills that flesh is heir to, it has its antidote, its reliable remedy. The judicious application of industry, prudence, and temperance is a certain cure.

Hosea Ballou
The experience of others adds to our knowledge, but not to our wisdom; that is dearer-bought.

Hosea Ballou
A wise Providence consoles our present afflictions by joys borrowed from the future.

Hosea Ballou
True sympathy is putting ourselves in another's place; and we are moved in proportion to the reality of our imagination.

Hosea Ballou
There is no better rule to try a doctrine by than the question, Is it merciful, or is it unmerciful? If its character is that of mercy, it has the image of Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life.

Hosea Ballou