William Penn Quotes

159 Sourced Quotes

True silence is the rest of the mind; it is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment.

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

William Penn
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. He that lives in Love lives in God, says the Beloved Disciple: And to be sure a Man can live no where better. It is most reasonable Men should value that Benefit, which is most durable. Now Tongues shall cease, and Prophecy fail, and Faith shall be consummated in Sight, and Hope in Enjoyment; but Love remains.

William Penn
Love is indeed heaven upon earth; since heaven above would not bo heaven without it; for where there is not love, there is fear; but, "Perfect love casteth out fear."

William Penn
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.

William Penn
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.

William Penn
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. Time is what we want most, but what, alas! we use worst; and for which God will certainly most strictly reckon with us, when Time shall be no more.

William Penn
It may be a green country town which will never be burnt and always be wholesome.
Of his planned city of Philadelphia

William Penn
True religion does not draw men out of the world but enables them to live better in it and excites their endeavors to mend it.

William Penn
It were Happy if we studied Nature more in natural Things; and acted according to Nature; whose rules are few, plain and most reasonable.

William Penn
If thou art clean and warm, it is sufficient, for more doth but rob the poor and please the wanton.

William Penn
Governments, like clocks, go from the motion men give them; and as governments are made and moved by men, so by them they are ruined too. Wherefore governments rather depend upon men, than men upon governments. Let men be good, and the government cannot be bad; if it be ill, they will cure it. But, if men be bad, let the government be never so good, they will endeavor to warp and spoil it to their turn.

William Penn
To do evil that good may come of it is for bunglers in politics as well as morals.

William Penn
Wit is a happy and striking way of expressing a thought.

William Penn
The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves.

William Penn
If thou wouldst conquer thy weakness, thou must never gratify it. No man is compelled to evil: his consent only makes it his. It is no sin to be tempted, but to be overcome.

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

William Penn
If we are but sure the end is right, we are too apt to gallop over all bounds to compass it; not considering the lawful ends may be very unlawfully attained.

William Penn
Justice is justly represented blind, because she sees no difference in the parties concerned. She has but one scale and weight, for rich and poor, great and small.

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

William Penn
It is profitable wisdom to know when we have done enough: Much time and pains are spared in not flattering ourselves against probabilities.

William Penn
A man, like a watch, is to be valued for his manner of going.

William Penn
Love labour: for if thou dost not want it for food, thou mayest for physique. It is wholesome for the body, and good for the mind. It prevents the fruits of idleness, which many times come of nothing to do, and leads many to do what is worse than nothing.

William Penn
Tis the glory of a man to vail to truth; as it is the mark of a good nature to be easily entreated.

William Penn
They that censure, should practice. Or else let them have the first stone, and the last too.

William Penn
The way, like the cross, is spiritual: that is an inward submission of the soul to the will of God, as it is manifested by the light of Christ in the consciences of men, though it be contrary to their own inclinations.

William Penn
Do what good thou canst unknown, and be not vain of what ought rather to be felt than seen.

William Penn
Some men do as much begrudge others a good name, as they want one themselves: and perhaps that is the reason of it.

William Penn
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.

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

William Penn