logo

Quotes from 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 him does to his father's care.
~ William Penn
Less judgment than wit is more sail than ballast.
~ William Penn
Much reading is an oppression of the mind, and extinguishes the natural candle, which is the reason of so many senseless scholars in the world.
~ William Penn
No pain, no palm no thorns, no throne no gall, no glory, no glory no cross, no crown.
~ William Penn
Passion is the mob of the man, that commits a riot upon his reason.
~ William Penn
There can be no friendship where there is no freedom. Friendship loves a free air, and will not be fenced up in straight and narrow enclosures.
~ William Penn
To do evil that good may come of it is for bunglers in politics as well as morals.
~ William Penn
Truth often suffers more by the heat of its defenders, than from the arguments of its opposers.
~ William Penn
Time is what we want most,but what we use worst.
~ William Penn
They have a Right to censure, that have a Heart to help: The rest is Cruelty, not Justice. (Frequently misquoted as "He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.")
~ William Penn
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.
~ William Penn
In all debates, let truth be thy aim, not victory, or an unjust interest.
~ William Penn
A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably
~ William Penn
Death is but crossing the world, as friends do the seas; they live in one another still. For they must needs be present, that love and live in that which is omnipresent. In this divine glass, they see face to face; and their converse is free as well as pure. This is the comfort of friends, that though they may be said to die, yet their friendship and society are, in the best sense, ever present, because immortal.
~ William Penn
Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants.
~ William Penn
Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood.
~ 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
Avoid popularity it has many snares and no real benefit.
~ William Penn
I know no religion that destroys courtesy, civility, and kindness.
~ William Penn
No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.
~ William Penn
Death is but crossing the world, as friends do the seas; they live in one another still.
~ William Penn
Let the people think they govern and they will be governed
~ William Penn
No man is fit to command another that cannot command himself.
~ William Penn
Let us try what love will do.
~ William Penn