Quotes from John Lancaster Spalding

Passion is begotten of passion, and it easily happens, as with the children of great men, that the base is the offspring of the noble.

We may outgrow the things of children, without acquiring sense and relish for those which become a man.

To learn the worth of a man's religion, do business with him.

When guests enter the room their entertainers rise to receive them; and in all meetings men should ascend into their higher selves, imparting to one another only the best they know and love.

Whom little things occupy and keep busy, are little men.

Inferior thinking and writing will make a name for a man among inferior people, who in all ages and countries, are the majority.

If we are disappointed that men give little heed to what we utter is it for their sake or our own?

Unless we consent to lack the common things which men call success, we shall hardly become heroes or saints, philosophers or poets.

The common man is impelled and controlled by interests; the superior, by ideas.

If ancient descent could confer nobility, the lower forms of life would possess it in a greater degree than man.

Liberty is more precious than money or office; and we should be vigilant lest we purchase wealth or place at the price of inner freedom.

If thou need money, get it in an honest way by keeping books, if thou wilt, but not by writing books.

Thy money, thy office, thy reputation are nothing; put away these phantom clothings, and stand like an athlete stripped for the battle.

Women are aristocrats, and it is always the mother who makes us feel that we belong to the better sort.

In giving us dominion over the animal kingdom God has signified His will that we subdue the beast within ourselves.

It is a common error to imagine that to be stirring and voluble in a worthy cause is to be good and to do good.

The highest courage is to dare to appear to be what one is

What we enjoy, not what we possess, is ours, and in labouring for the possession of many things, we lose the power to enjoy the best.

Be watchful lest thou lose the power of desiring and loving what appeals to the soul this is the miser's curse this the chain and ball the sensualist drags.

The power of free will is developed and confirmed by increasing the number of worthy motives which influence conduct.

States of soul rightly expressed, as the poet expresses them in moments of pure inspiration, retain forever the power of creating like states. It is this that makes genuine literature a vital force.

They who can no longer unlearn have lost the power to learn.

As our power over others increases, we become less free; for to retain it, we must make ourselves its servants.

He who leaves school, knowing little, but with a longing for knowledge, will go farther than one who quits, knowing many things, but not caring to learn more.