Quotes from Tryon Edwards

Some men are born old, and some men never seem so. If we keep well and cheerful, we are always young and at last die in youth even when in years would count as old.

To possess money is very well; it may be a valuable servant; to be possessed by it is to be possessed by the devil, and one of the meanest and worst kind of devils.

Appreciation, whether of nature, or books, or art, or men, depends very much on temperament. What is beauty or genius or greatness to one, is far from being so to another.

The first evil choice or act is linked to the second; and each one to the one that follows, both by the tendency of our evil nature and by the power of habit, which holds us as by a destiny

True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us.

Never think that God's delays are God's denials. True prayer always receives what it asks, or something better.

All things are ordered by God, but His providence takes in our free agency, as well as His own sovereignty.

Conscience is merely our own judgment of the right or wrong of our actions, and so can never be a safe guide unless enlightened by the word of God.

Piety and morality are but the same spirit differently manifested. Piety is religion with its face toward God; morality is religion with its face toward the world.

True art is reverent imitation of God.

One of the great lessons the fall of the leaf teaches, is this: do your work well and then be ready to depart when God shall call.

Accuracy is the twin brother of honesty; inaccuracy is a near kin to falsehood.

Whatever our place allotted to us by Providence that for us is the post of honor and duty. God estimates us, not by the position we are in, but by the way in which we fill it.

There is often as much independence in not being led as in not being driven.

Thoroughly to teach another is the best way to learn for yourself.

Mystery is but another name for ignorance; if we were omniscient, all would be perfectly plain!

To be good, we must do good; and by doing good we take a sure means of being good, as the use and exercise of the muscles increase their power.

Any act often repeated soon forms a habit; and habit allowed, steady gains in strength, At first it may be but as a spider's web, easily broken through, but if not resisted it soon binds us with chains of steel.

Most controversies would soon be ended, if those engaged in them would first accurately define their terms, and then adhere to their definitions.

Anxiety is the poison of human life; the parent of many sins and of more miseries.

To rule one's anger is well; to prevent it is better.

Contemplation is to knowledge what digestion is to food - the way to get life out of it

We should be as careful of the books we read, as of the company we keep. The dead very often have more power than the living.

A holy life is not an ascetic, or gloomy or solitary life, but a life regulated by divine truth and faithful in Christian duty. It is living above the world while we are still in it.