William Penn Quotes

159 Sourced Quotes

What man in his right mind would conspire his own hurt? Men are beside themselves when they transgress against their convictions.

William Penn
A vain man is a nauseous creature: he is so full of himself that he has no room for anything else, be it never so good or deserving.

William Penn
Disappointments that aren't a result of our own foolishness are a testing of our faith or a correction from heaven, and it is our own fault if these disappointments don't work for our own good.

William Penn
There is a truth and beauty in rhetoric; but it oftener serves ill turns than good ones.

William Penn
Wherefore, brethren, let us be careful neither to out-go our guide, nor yet loiter behind him; since he that makes haste, may miss his way, and he that stays behind, lose his guide.

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

William Penn
Inquire often, but judge rarely, and thou wilt not often be mistaken.

William Penn
Many able Gardeners and Husbandmen are yet Ignorant of the Reason of their Calling; as most Artificers are of the Reason of their own Rules that govern their excellent Workmanship. But a Naturalist and Mechanick of this sort is Master of the Reason of both, and might be of the Practice too, if his Industry kept pace with his Speculation; which were every commendable; and without which he cannot be said to be a complete Naturalist or Mechanick.

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

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

William Penn
They that Marry for Money cannot have the true Satisfaction of Marriage; the requisite Means being wanting.

William Penn
He who gives to the poor, lends to the Lord. But it may be said, not improperly, the Lord lends to us to give to the poor.

William Penn
Men not living to what they know, cannot blame God, that they know no more.

William Penn
Content not thyself that thou art virtuous in the general; for one link being wanting, the chain is defective.

William Penn
Nothing shows our weakness more than to be so sharp-sighted at spying other men's faults, and so purblind about our own.

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

William Penn
For nothing reaches the heart but what is from the heart, or pierces the conscience but what comes from a living conscience

William Penn
But make not more business necessary than is so; and rather lessen than augment work for thyself.

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

William Penn
Let us, then, try what love will do, for if people once see we love them, we should soon find that they would not harm us.... force may subdue, but love gains; and they who forgive first, win the laurel.

William Penn
Excess in apparel is another costly folly. The very trimming of the vain world would clothe all the naked ones.

William Penn
Covetousness is the greatest of monsters, as well as the root of all evil.

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

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

William Penn
There is a troublesome humor some men have, that if they may not lead, they will not follow; but had rather a thing were never done, than not done their own way, tho' other ways very desirable.

William Penn
By liberty of conscience, we understand not only a mere liberty of the mind, in believing or disbelieving this or that principle or doctrine; but the exercise of ourselves in a visible way of worship, upon our believing it to be indispensably required at our hands, that if we neglect it for fear of favor of any mortal man, we sin and incur divine wrath.

William Penn
If thou wouldst be happy, bring thy mind to thy condition, and have an indifferency for more than what is sufficient.

William Penn
If it be an evil to judge rashly or untruly any single man, how much a greater sin it is to condemn a whole people.

William Penn
Where judgment has wit to express it, there's the best orator.

William Penn
The usefullest truths are plainest; and while we keep to them, our differences cannot rise high.

William Penn