William Penn Quotes & Sayings

I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. — William Penn

Choose thy clothes by thine own eyes, not another's. — William Penn

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

You are Englishmen; mind your privileges, give not away your right. — William Penn

He that does good for good's sake seeks neither paradise nor reward, but he is sure of both in the end. — William Penn

Wit gives an edge to sense, and recommends it extremely. — William Penn

It would go a long way to caution and direct people in their use of the world that they would better studied and known in the creation of it. For how could man find the confidence to abuse it, while they should see the Great Creator stare them in the face, in all and every part thereof? — William Penn

Religion is the fear of God, and its demonstration good works; and faith is the root of both: For without faith we cannot please God; nor can we fear what we do not believe. — William Penn

O Lord, help me not to despise or oppose what I do not understand. — William Penn

It is certain that the most natural and human government is that of consent, for that binds freely, ... when men hold their liberty by true obedience to rules of their own making. — William Penn

Force may make hypocrites, but it can never make converts. — William Penn

To be like Christ is to be a Christian. — 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

They have a right to censure that have a heart to help. — William Penn

Haste makes work which caution prevents. — William Penn

Never marry but for love; but see that thou lov'st what is lovely. — William Penn

Five things are requisite to a good officer - ability, clean hands, despatch, patience, and impartiality. — 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

We are too apt to love praise, but not to deserve it. — William Penn

We are apt to love praise, but not deserve it. But if we would deserve it, we must love virtue more than that. — William Penn

Dislike what deserves it, but never hate: for that is of the nature of malice; which is almost ever to persons, not things, and is one of the blackest qualities sin begets in the soul. — 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 endeavour to warp and spoil it to their turn. — William Penn

It is the difference betwixt lust and love that this is fixed, that volatile. Love grows, lust wastes by enjoyment. — William Penn

It is the amends of a short and troublesome life, that doing good and suffering ill entitles man to a longer and better. — William Penn

The wisdom of nations lies in their proverbs, which are brief and pithy. Collect and learn them; they are notable measures of directions for human life; you have much in little; they save time in speaking; and upon occasion may be the fullest and safest answer. — William Penn

The unspoken word never defeats one. What one does not say does not have to be explained. — William Penn

To be innocent is to be not guilty; but to be virtuous is to overcome our evil inclinations. — William Penn

It is a coal from God's altar must kindle our fire; and without fire, true fire, no acceptable sacrifice. — William Penn

The Remedy often proves worse than the Disease. — 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

Between a Man and his Wife nothing ought to rule but Love. Authority is for Children and Servants; yet not without Sweetness. — William Penn

Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants. — William Penn

Death cannot kill that which does not die. — William Penn

If thou wouldn't conquer thy weakness thou must not gratify it. — William Penn

Eat ... to live, and do not live to eat. — William Penn

She is but half a wife that is not, nor is capable of being, a friend. — William Penn

Tis admirable to consider, how Powerful the Kings are, yet they move by the Breath of their People. — William Penn

Silence is Wisdom where Speaking is Folly. — 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

Man, being made reasonable, and so a thinking creature, there is nothing more worthy of his being than the right direction and employment of his thoughts; since upon this depends both his usefulness to the public, and his own present and future benefit in all respects. — William Penn

He that has more Knowledge than Judgment, is made for another Man's use more than his own. — William Penn

Kings in this world should imitate God, their mercy should be above their works. — William Penn

Men being born with a title to perfect freedom and uncontrolled enjoyment of all the rights and privileges of the law of nature ... no one can be put out of his estate and subjected to the political view of another, without his consent. — William Penn

Truth often suffers more by the heat of its defenders than the arguments of its opposers. — William Penn

The humble, meek, merciful, and just are everywhere of one religion; and when death has taken off the mask they will know one another, though the diverse liveries they wear here make them strangers. — William Penn

Oppression makes a poor country. — 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

We are inclined to call things by the wrong names. We call prosperity 'happiness', and adversity 'misery' eventhough adversity is the school of wisdom and often the way to eternal happiness. — 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

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

Be sure that religion cannot be right that a man is the worse for having. — 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. Love is indeed Heaven upon Earth; since Heaven above would not be Heaven without it: For where there is not Love; there is Fear: But perfect Love casts out Fear. Love is above all; and when it prevails in us all, we shall all be Lovely, and in Love with God and one with another. — William Penn

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

He that lives in love lives in God. — William Penn

It would be far better to be of no church than to be bitter of any. — William Penn

Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants. — William Penn

I will never do this, says one, yet does it: I am resolved to do this, says another; but flags upon second Thoughts: Or does it, tho' awkwardly, for his Word's sake: As if it were worse to break his Word, than to do amiss in keeping it. — William Penn

They that love beyond the world
cannot be separated by it.
Death cannot kill what never dies. — William Penn

Never chide with anger, but instruction. — William Penn

Religion is nothing else but love of God and man. — William Penn

Make few resolutions, but keep them strictly — William Penn

Where thou art Obliged to speak, be sure speak the Truth: For Equivocation is half way to Lying, as Lying, the whole way to Hell. — William Penn

That all persons living in this province, who confess and acknowledge the one Almighty and eternal God, to be the Creator, Upholder and Ruler of the world; and that hold themselves obliged in conscience to live peaceably and justly in civil society, shall, in no ways, be molested or prejudiced for their religious persuasion, or practice, in manners of faith and worship, nor shall they be compelled, at any time, to frequent or maintain any religious worship, place or ministry whatever. — William Penn

Let us see what love can do. — 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

Humility and knowledge in poor clothes excel pride and ignorance in costly attire. — William Penn

Sense shines with double lustre when set in humility. — 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

Death is but crossing the world, as friends do the seas; they live in one another still. — William Penn

All Excess is ill: But Drunkenness is of the worst Sort. It spoils Health, dismounts the Mind, and unmans Men: It reveals Secrets, is Quarrelsome, Lascivious, Impudent, Dangerous and Mad. In fine, he that is drunk is not a Man: Because he is so long void of Reason, that distinguishes a Man from a Beast. — William Penn

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

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

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

A man in business must put up many affronts if he loves his own quiet. — William Penn

Let us then try what love can do to mend a broken world. — William Penn

If we would mend the World, we should mend Ourselves; and teach our Children to be, not what we are, but what they should be. — William Penn

Naked Truth needs no shift. — William Penn

If thou rise with an Appetite, thou art sure never to sit down without one. — William Penn

No man is fit to command another that cannot command himself. — William Penn

Time is what we want most,but what we use worst. — William Penn

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

Though our Savior's passion is over, his compassion is not. — William Penn

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

For as men in battle are continually in the way of shot, so we, in this world, are ever within the reach of Temptation. — William Penn

The public must and will be served. — William Penn

A private Life is to be preferrd; the Honour and Gain of publick Posts, bearing no proportion with the Comfort of it. — William Penn

It is safer to learn than teach; and who conceals his opinion has nothing to answer for. — William Penn

He that lives to live forever, never fears dying. — William Penn

Patience and Diligence, like faith, remove mountains. — William Penn

For death is no more than turning us over from time to eternity. — 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

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

I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again. — William Penn

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

He who is taught to live upon little owes more to his father's wisdom than he who has a great deal left to him owes to his father's care. — William Penn

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