William Penn

To be furious in religion is to be irreligiously religious.

To have striven, to have made the effort, to have been true to certain ideals – this alone is worth the struggle.

Any government is free to the people under it (whatever be the frame) where the law rules, and the people are a party to those laws, and more than this is tyranny, oligarchy, or confusion.

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.

Some men do as much begrudge others a good name, as they want one themselves: and perhaps that is the reason of it.

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.

Society is a masked ball, where every one hides his real character, and reveals it by hiding.

So far as a person thinks; they are free.

You. too, can determine what you want. You can decide on your major objectives, targets, aims, and destination.

An honest man is always a child.

Nature makes us poor only when we want necessaries, but custom gives the name of poverty to the want of superfluities.

Say what you have to say and first time you come to a sentence with a grammatical ending; sit down.

Without frugality none can be rich, and with it very few would be poor.

Sir, you have but two topics, yourself and me. I am sick of both.

People usually think according to their inclinations, speak according to their learning and ingrained opinions, but generally act according to custom.

Nothing is more hopeless than a scheme of merriment.

Always two there are, no more, no less. A master and an apprentice.

When you discover your mission, you will feel its demand. It will fill you with enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it.

I’m only a beer teetotaler, not a champagne teetotaler.

While fools shun one set of faults they run into the opposite one.

Talent is commonly developed at the expense of character.