William Penn Quotes

Fidelity has enfranchised slaves, and adopted servants to be sons

Government seems to me to be a part of religion itself — a thing sacred in its institutions and ends.

Liberty without obedience is confusion, and obedience without liberty is slavery.

Amuse not thy self therefore with the numerous Opinions of the World, nor value thy self upon verbal Orthodoxy, Philosophy, or thy Skill in Tongues, or Knowledge of the Fathers; (too much the Business and Vanity of the World). But in this rejoyce, That thou knowest God, that is the Lord, who exerciseth loving Kindness, and Judgment; and Righteousness in the Earth.

A good end cannot sanctify evil means; nor must we ever do evil that good may come of it.

True godliness doesn’t turn us out of the world, but enables us to live better in it, and excites our endeavors to mend it... Christians should keep the helm and guide the vessel to its port; not meanly steal out at the stern of the world and leave those that are in it without a pilot to be driven by the fury of evil times upon the rock or sand of ruin.

Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.

Justice is the insurance which we have on our lives and property. Obedience is the premium which we pay for it.

Children had rather be making of Tools and Instruments of Play; Shaping, Drawing, Framing, and Building, &c. than getting some Rules of Propriety of Speech by Heart: And those also would follow with more Judgment, and less Trouble and Time.

Smrť, to je len prechod do iného sveta, ako keď nám priatelia odídu za more. Naďalej žijú v srdci toho druhého, lebo v ňom ostávajú tí, čo žijú a milujú vo večnosti. Pri tomto božskom pohľade s nimi stojíme tvárou v tvár a naše rozhovory sú slobodné a čisté. V tom je útecha priateľstva - i keď sú priatelia mŕtvi, ich priateľstvo a spoločnosť nás budú sprevádzať navždy, lebo sú nesmrteľné.

Nothing does Reason more Right, than the Coolness of those that offer it: for Truth often suffers more by the heat of its defenders than from the arguments of its opposers.

They must first judge themselves, that presume to censure others: And such will not be apt to overshoot the Mark. We are too ready to retaliate, rather than forgive, or gain by Love and Information. And yet we could hurt no Man that we believe loves us. Let us then try what Love will do: For if Men did once see we Love them, we should soon find they would not harm us. Force may subdue, but Love gains: And he that forgives first, wins the [Laurel]. If I am even with my Enemy, the Debt is paid; but if I forgive it, I oblige him for ever. [From Fruits of Solitude, 1693]

Never marry but for love; but see that thou lovest what is lovely.

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.

Be humble. It becomes a creature, a depending and borrowed being, that lives not of itself, but breathes in another's air with another's breath, and is accountable for every moment of time and can call nothing its own, but is absolutely a tenant at will of the great Lord of heaven and earth.