Quotes from John Tillotson

When men live as if there were no God, it becomes expedient for them that there should be none.

There is no man that is knowingly wicked but is guilty to himself; and there is no man that carries guilt about him but he receives a sting in his soul.

The true ground of most men's prejudice against the Christian doctrine is because they have no mind to obey it.

Every man hath greater assurance that God is good and just than he can have of any subtle speculations about predestination and the decrees of God.

There is no readier way for a man to bring his own worth into question than by endeavoring to detract from the worth of other men.

The little and short sayings of nice And excellent men are of great value, like the dust of gold, or the least sparks of diamonds.

If God were not a necessary Being of Himself, He might almost seem to be made for the use and benefit of men.

Men sunk in the greatest darkness imaginable retain some sense and awe of the Deity.

A little wit and a great deal of ill-nature will furnish a man for satire; but the greatest instance of wit is to commend well.

Great is the advantage of patience.

There are two restraints which God has laid upon human nature, shame and fear; shame is the weaker, and has place only in those in whom there are some reminders of virtue.

Fear is that passion which hath the greatest power over us, and by which God and His laws take the surest hold of us.

And as for Pleasure, there is little in this World that is true and sincere, besides the Pleasure of doing our Duty, and of doing good.

They who are in the highest places, and have the most power, have the least liberty, because they are the most observed.

A good word is an easy obligation; but not to speak ill requires only our silence, which costs us nothing.

The art of using deceit and cunning grow continually weaker and less effective to the user.

Next to the wicked lives of men, nothing is so great a disparagement and weakening to religion as the divisions of Christians.

If people would but provide for eternity with the same solicitude and real care as they do for this life, they could not fail of heaven.

Integrity gains strength by use.

If our souls be immortal, this makes amends for the frailties of life and the sufferings of this state.

Of all parts of wisdom, the practice is the best. Socrates was esteemed the wisest man of his time because he turned his acquired knowledge into morality, and aimed at goodness more than greatness.

It is hard to personate and act a part long; for where Truth is not the bottom, Nature will always be endeavoring to return, and will peep and betray herself one time or other.

The short sayings of the wise and good men are of great value, like the dust of gold, or the sparks of diamonds.

A good word is an easy obligation; but not to speak ill, requires only our silence, which costs nothing.