William Penn

No man is fit to command another that cannot command himself.

They must first judge themselves, that presume to censure others: And such will not be apt to overshoot the Mark. We are too ready to retaliate, rather than forgive, or gain by Love and Information. And yet we could hurt no Man that we believe loves us. Let us then try what Love will do: For if Men did once see we Love them, we should soon find they would not harm us. Force may subdue, but Love gains: And he that forgives first, wins the [Laurel]. If I am even with my Enemy, the Debt is paid; but if I forgive it, I oblige him for ever.

A wise neuter joins with neither, but uses both as his honest interest leads him.

Death then, being the way and condition of life, we cannot love to live if we cannot bear to die.

Right is right even if everyone is against it and wrong is wrong even if everyone is for it.

Be humble. It becomes a creature, a depending and borrowed being, that lives not of itself, but breathes in another’s air with another’s breath, and is accountable for every moment of time and can call nothing its own, but is absolutely a tenant at will of the great Lord of heaven and earth.

What right have I to grieve, who have not ceased to wonder?

Reality is a sliding door.

I wish for you the wisdom to realize that forgiveness has nothing to do with an apology.

Human ‘beans’ is the only animals that is killing their own kind.

I know not, Madam, that you have a right, upon moral principles, to make your readers suffer so much.

Let him that would move the world, first move himself.

It is reasonable to have perfection in our eye that we may always advance toward it, though we know it can never be reached.

I lose my respect for the man who can make the mystery of sex the subject of a coarse jest, yet when you speak earnestly and seriously on the subject, is silent.

The desire of excessive power caused the angels to fall; the desire of knowledge caused men to fall.

People who are truly strong lift others up. People who are truly powerful bring others together.

I think I have a good deal of my Uncle Theodore in me, because I could not, at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on.

Where grief is fresh, any attempt to divert it only irritates.

Does he council you better who bids you, Money, by right means, if you can: but by any means, make money?

Every calamity is a spur and valuable hint.

Danger – if you meet it promptly and without flinching – you will reduce the danger by half. Never run away from anything. Never!