Quotes from Hosea Ballou

True sympathy is putting ourselves in another's place; and we are moved in proportion to the reality of our imagination.

Attempt to teach the young but little at a time; this will be easier to impart, easier to receive, and surer to be retained.

Faith, in order to be genuine and of any real value, must be the offspring of that divine love which Jesus manifested when He prayed for His enemies on the cross.

Energy, like the biblical grain of the mustard-seed, will remove mountains.

Idleness is emptiness; the tree in which the sap is stagnant, remains fruitless.

It is vain to trust in wrong; it is like erecting a building upon a frail foundation, and which will directly be sure to topple over.

Ministers who threaten death and destruction employ weapons of weakness. Argument and kindness are alone effectual, flavored by the principles of Divine love.

A mother's love, in a degree, sanctifies the most worthless offspring.

There is no such things as 'best' in the world of individuals.

Those who commit injustice bear the greatest burden.

Not the least misfortune in a prominent falsehood is the fact that tradition is apt to repeat it for truth.

Error is always more busy than truth.

It is a glorious occupation, vivifying and self-sustaining in its nature, to struggle with ignorance, and discover to the inquiring minds of the masses the clear cerulean blue of heavenly truth.

The law of heaven is love.

That kind of discipline whose pungent severity is in the manifestations of paternal love, compassion, and tenderness is the most sure of its object.

Never let your zeal outrun your charity. The former is but human, the latter is divine.

Disease is the retribution of outraged Nature.

Energy, even like the Biblical grain of mustard-seed, will move mountains.

Hatred is self-punishment.

Suspicion is far more apt to be wrong than right; oftener unjust than just. It is no friend to virtue, and always an enemy to happiness.

A good smile is the sunshine of wisdom.

The experience of others adds to our knowledge, but not to our wisdom; that is dearer bought.

Folly is like the growth of weeds, always luxurious and spontaneous; wisdom, like flowers, requires cultivation.

To talk of luck and chance only shows how little we really know of the laws which govern cause and effect.