Quotes from Hosea Ballou

Education commences at the mother's knee and every word spoken within the hearsay of little children tends towards the formation of character.

Theories are always very thin and insubstantial, experience only is tangible.

There is one sure criterion of judgment as to religious faith in doctrinal matters; can you reduce it to practice? If not, have none of it.

There is one inevitable criterion of judgment touching religious faith ... Can you reduce it to practice? If not have none of it.

Suspicion is far more to be wrong than right; more often unjust than just. It is...always an enemy to happiness.

Moderation is the key to lasting enjoyment.

The oppression of any people for opinion's sake has rarely had any other effect than to fix those opinions deeper, and render them more important.

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

Real happiness is cheap enough, yet how dearly we pay for its counterfeit.

It is easy to be beautiful; it is difficult to appear so.