William Penn Quotes (116 Quotes)

He who is taught to live upon little owes more to his father's wisdom than he who has a great deal left him does to his father's care.

Do what good thou canst unknown, and be not vain of what ought rather to be felt than seen

Knowledge is the treasure of a wise man.

Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood.

Friendship . . . is an Union of Spirits, a Marriage of Hearts, and the Bond thereof Vertue.

Much reading is an oppression of the mind, and extinguishes the natural candle, which is the reason of so many senseless scholars in the world.

My prison shall be my grave before I will budge a jot for I owe my conscience to no mortal man.

We meet on the broad pathway of good faith and good will no advantage shall be taken on either side, but all shall be openness and love. I will not call you children, -- for parents sometimes chide their children too severely nor brothers only, -- for brothers differ. The friendship between me and you I will not compare to a chain for that the rains might rust, or the falling tree might break. We are the same as if one man's body were to be divided into two parts, we are all one flesh and blood.

All excess is ill, but drunkenness is of the worst sort. It spoils health, dismounts the mind, and unmans men. It reveals secrets, is quarrelsome, lascivious, impudent, dangerous and bad.

He that lives to forever, never fears dying.

It is the amends of a short and troublesome life, that doing good and suffering ill entitles man to a longer and better

There can be no friendship where there is no freedom. Friendship loves a free air, and will not be fenced up in straight and narrow enclosures.

Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.

It is a profitable Wisdom to know when we have done enough Much time and Pains are spared, in not flattering our selves against Probabilities.

The wisdom of nations lies in their proverbs, which are brief and pithy. Collect and learn them they are notable measures of directions for human life you have much in little they save time in speaking and upon occasion may be the fullest and safest answer.

They that love beyond the world cannot be separated by it. Death cannot kill what never dies, nor can spirits ever be divided that love and live in the same divine principle.