Hosea Ballou Quotes

103 Sourced Quotes

Envy may justly be called "the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity;" it is the most acid fruit that grows on the stock of sin, a fluid so subtle that nothing but the fire of divine love can purge it from the soul.

Hosea Ballou
Obedience, as it regards the social relations, the rules of society, and the laws of nature and nature's God, should commence at the cradle and end only at the tomb.

Hosea Ballou
Reproof, especially as it relates to children, administered in all gentleness, will render the culprit not afraid, but ashamed to repeat the offence.

Hosea Ballou
Duty itself is supreme delight when love is the inducement and labor. By such a principle the ignorant are enlightened, the hard-hearted softened, the disobedient reformed, and the faithful encouraged.

Hosea Ballou
Has not God borne with you these many years? Be ye tolerant to others.

Hosea Ballou
Servility is disgusting to a truly noble character, and engenders only contempt.

Hosea Ballou
It is what we give up, not what we lay up, that adds to our lasting store.

Hosea Ballou
None but the guilty know the withering pains of repentance.

Hosea Ballou
It is a glorious occupation, vivifying and self-sustaining in its nature, to struggle with ignorance, and discover to the inquiring minds of the masses the clear cerulean blue of heavenly truth.

Hosea Ballou
Attempt to teach the young but little at a time; this will be easier to impart, easier to receive, and surer to be retained.

Hosea Ballou
Education commences at the mother's knee, and every word spoken within the hearsay of little children tends towards the formation of character.

Hosea Ballou
As the sun's rays will irradiate even the murky pool, and make its stagnant waters to shine like silver, so doth God's goodness and tender mercy, towards the greatest sinner, and the blackest heart, make his own image visible there!

Hosea Ballou
It is my humble prayer that I may be of some use in my day and generation.

Hosea Ballou
The goodness of God to mankind is no less evinced in the chastisement with which He corrects His children than in the smiles of His providence; for the Lord will not cast off forever, but though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.

Hosea Ballou
The eye is the inlet to the soul, and it is well to beware of him whose visual organs avoid your honest regard.

Hosea Ballou
With regard to manner, be careful to speak in a soft, tender, kind and loving way. Even when you have occasion to rebuke, be careful to do it with manifest kindness. The effect will be incalculably better.

Hosea Ballou
Embark in no enterprise which you cannot submit to the test of prayer.

Hosea Ballou
The severest punishment suffered by a sensitive mind, for injury inflicted upon another, is the consciousness of having done it.

Hosea Ballou
How quickly a truly benevolent act is repaid by the consciousness of having done it!

Hosea Ballou
Of all the ingenious mistakes into which erring man has fallen, perhaps none have been so pernicious in their consequences, or have brought so many evils into the world, as the popular opinion that the way of the transgressor is pleasant and easy.

Hosea Ballou
How can there be pride in a contrite heart? Humility is the earliest fruit of religion.

Hosea Ballou
You cannot judge by outward appearances; the soul is only transparent to its Maker.

Hosea Ballou
Not the least misfortune in a prominent falsehood is the fact that tradition is apt to repeat it for truth.

Hosea Ballou
Remember, when incited to slander, that it is only he among you who is without sin that may cast the first stone.

Hosea Ballou
Be more careful of your conscience than of your estate. The latter can be bought and sold; the former never.

Hosea Ballou
If gratitude is due from children to their earthly parents, how much more is the gratitude of the great family of man due to our Father in heaven!

Hosea Ballou
That kind of discipline whose pungent severity is in the manifestations of paternal love, compassion, and tenderness is the most sure of its object.

Hosea Ballou
Too many people embrace religion from the same motives that they take a companion in wedlock, not from true love of the person, but because of a large dowry.

Hosea Ballou
Thy attributes, how endearing! how parental! all loving, all forgiving.

Hosea Ballou
It is but a step from companionship to slavery when one associates with vice.

Hosea Ballou