William Penn

Only trust thyself, and another shall not betray thee.

God is better served in resisting a Temptation to Evil, than in many formal Prayers.

I will never do this, says one, yet does it: I am resolved to do this, says another; but flags upon second Thoughts: Or does it, tho’ awkwardly, for his Word’s sake: As if it were worse to break his Word, than to do amiss in keeping it.

Believe nothing against another but on good authority; and never report what may hurt another, unless it be a greater hurt to some other to conceal it.

In marriage do thou be wise: prefer the person before money, virtue before beauty, the mind before the body; then thou hast a wife, a friend, a companion, a second self.

Seek not to be Rich, but Happy. The one lies in Bags, the other in Content: which Wealth can never give.

Find enough clever things to say, and you’re a Prime Minister; write them down and you’re a Shakespeare.

If you learn to practice love, compassion, joy, and equanimity, you will know how to heal the illnesses of anger, sorrow, insecurity, sadness, hatred, loneliness, and unhealthy attachments.

She has lost the art of conversation, but not, unfortunately, the power of speech.

It is better to risk saving a guilty person than to condemn an innocent one.

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.

He that has given today may, if he so please, take away tomorrow.

There is a great deal of unmapped country within us which would have to be taken into account in an explanation of our gusts and storms.

Those who cannot tell what they desire or expect, still sigh and struggle with indefinite thoughts and vast wishes.

The little may contrast with the great, in painting, but cannot be said to be contrary to it. Oppositions of colors contrast; but there are also colors contrary to each other, that is, which produce an ill effect because they shock the eye when brought very near it.

Humility and knowledge in poor clothes excel pride and ignorance in costly attire.

Physically there is nothing to distinguish human society from the farm-yard except that children are more troublesome and costly than chickens and calves and that men and women are not so completely enslaved as farm stock.

Be not simply good – be good for something.

It is not enough to conquer; one must learn to seduce.

It requires a great deal of boldness and a great deal of caution to make a great fortune, and when you have it, it requires ten times as much skill to keep it.

Who ever is out of patience is out of possession of their soul.