Quotes from William Bradford

Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation.

Being thus arrived in a good harbor, and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of Heaven, who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof, again to set their feet on the firm and stable earth, their proper element.

So they committed themselves to the will of God and resolved to proceed.

But it pleased God to visit us then with death daily, and with so general a disease that the living were scarce able to bury the dead.

They knew they were pilgrims.

And for the season it was winter, and they that know the winters of that country know them to be sharp and violent, and subject to cruel and fierce storms.

All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and both must be enterprised and overcome with answerable courage.

Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many...

Nevertheless, to keep a good conscience, and walk in such a way as God has prescribed in his word, is a thing which I must prefer before you all, and above life itself.

The failure of this experiment of communal service, which was tried for several years, and by good and honest men proves the emptiness of the theory of Plato and other ancients, applauded by some of later times, — that the taking away of private property, and the possession of it in community, by a commonwealth, would make a state happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God.

That with their miseries they opened a way to these new lands; and after these hardships, with what ease other men came to inhabit them,

When this calamity fell among the passengers who were to be left here to settle, they were hurried ashore and made to drink water, so that the sailors might have the more beer and when one sufferer in his sickness desired but a small can of beer, it was answered that if he were their own father he should have none. Then the disease began to seize the sailors also, so that almost half of the crew died

in a word, [they] did all the homely and necessary offices for them which dainty and queasy stomachs cannot endure to hear named; and all this willingly and cheerfully, without any grudging in the least, showing herein their true love unto their friends and brethren. A rare example and worthy to be remembered.

First I will unfold the causes that led to the foundation of the New Plymouth Settlement, and the motives of those concerned in it. In order that I may give an accurate account of the project, I must begin at the very root and rise of it; and this I shall endeavour to do in a plain style and with singular regard to the truth, — at least as near as my slender judgment can attain to it.

But it pleased God to visit us then with death daily, and with so general a disease that the living were scarce able to bury the dead.

Behold, now, another providence of God. A ship comes into the harbor.

We could not now take time for further search or consideration, our victuals being much spent, especially our beer.

The loss of...honest and industrious men's lives cannot be valued at any price.

All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and both must be enterprised and overcome with answerable courage.

Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness.