Quotes from John Lancaster Spalding

The more we live with what we imagine others think of us, the less we live with truth.

As a brave man goes into fire or flood or pestilence to save a human life, so a generous mind follows after truth and love, and is not frightened from the pursuit by danger or toil or obloquy.

To think profoundly, to seek and speak truth, to love justice and denounce wrong is to draw upon one's self the ill will of many.

Contradiction is the salt which keeps truth from corruption

We are not masters of the truth which is borne in upon us: it overpowers us.

There are faults which show heart and win hearts, while the virtue in which there is no love, repels.

Faith, like love, unites; opinion, like hate, separates.

To cultivate the memory we should confide to it only what we understand and love: the rest is a useless burden; for simply to know by rote is not to know at all.

Altruism is a barbarism. Love is the word.

As we can not love what is hateful, let us accustom ourselves neither to think nor to speak of disagreeable things and persons.

As the visit of one we love makes the whole day pleasant, so is it illumined and made fair by a brave and beautiful thought.

When we know and love the best we are content to lack the approval of the many.

In education, as in religion and love, compulsion thwarts the purpose for which it is employed.

If all were gentle and contented as sheep, all would be as feeble and helpless.

What we love to do we find time to do.

As children must have the hooping cough, the college youth must pass through the stage of conceit in which he holds in slight esteem the wisdom of the best.

Folly will run its course and it is the part of wisdom not to take it too seriously.

If thy words are wise, they will not seem so to the foolish: if they are deep the shallow will not appreciate them. Think not highly of thyself, then, when thou art praised by many.

In the world of thought a man's rank is determined, not by his average work, but by his highest achievement.

Work, mental or manual, is the means whereby attention is compelled, it is the instrument of all knowledge and virtue, the root whence all excellence springs.

When we have not the strength or the courage to grasp a new truth, we persuade ourselves that it is not a truth at all.

The lover of education labors first of all to educate himself.

Where it is the chief aim to teach many things, little education is given or received.

Your faith is what you believe not what you know.