Quotes from John Brown

Symptoms are the body's mother tongue; signs are in a foreign language.

The intent and not the deed Is in our power; and, therefore, who dares greatly Does greatly.

Holiness does not consist in mystic speculations, enthusiastic fervours, or uncommanded austerities; it consists in thinking as God thinks, and willing as God wills.

I am gaining in health slowly, and am quite cheerful in view of my approaching end, - being fully persuaded that I am worth inconceivably more to hang than any other purpose.

Be mild with the mild, shrewd with the crafty, confiding to the honest, rough to the ruffian, and a thunderbolt to the liar. But in all this, never be unmindful of your own dignity.

I will answer anything I can with honor, but not about others.

Symptoms are the body's mother tongue; signs are in a foreign language.

It is not a case we are treating; it is a living, palpitating, alas, too often suffering fellow creature.

Had I so interfered in behalf of the rich, the powerful, the intelligent, the so-called great, or in behalf of any of their friends… every man in this court would have deemed it an act worthy of reward rather than punishment.

This is a beautiful country.

Be mild with the mild, shrewd with the crafty, confiding to the honest, rough to the ruffian, and a thunderbolt to the liar. But in all this, never be unmindful of your own dignity.

Here, before God, in the presence of these witnesses, from this time, I consecrate my life to the destruction of slavery!

I am quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood. I had, as I now think vainly, flattered myself that without very much bloodshed it might be done.

These men are all talk; What is needed is action - action!

The United States is a place where the men govern, but the women rule.

It is not a case we are treating; it is a living, palpitating, alas, too often suffering fellow creature.

There is a shrine in the temple of age, where lie forever embalmed the memories of such as have deserved well of their country and their race.

I don't think the people of the slave states will ever consider the subject of slavery in its true light till some other argument is resorted to other than moral persuasion.

I think every family should have a dog; it is like having a perpetual baby; it is the plaything and crony of the whole house. It keeps them all young.

Now let us thank th' eternal power, convinced That Heaven but tries our virtue by affliction: That oft the cloud that wraps the present hour Serves but to brighten all our future days.