William Penn

Where God does not govern, tyrants will rule.

Friends are true Twins in Soul; they Sympathize in every thing, and have the Love and Aversion. One is not happy without the other, nor can either of them be miserable alone. As if they could change Bodies, they take their turns in Pain as well as in Pleasure; relieving one another in their most adverse Conditions.What one enjoys, the other cannot Want. Like the Primitive Christians, they have all things in common, and no Property but in one another.

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.

Did we believe a final Reckoning and Judgment; or did we think enough of what we do believe, we would allow more Love in Religion than we do; since Religion it self is nothing else but Love to God and Man. He that lives in Love lives in God, says the Beloved Disciple: And to be sure a Man can live no where better. It is most reasonable Men should value that Benefit, which is most durable. Now Tongues shall cease, and Prophecy fail, and Faith shall be consummated in Sight, and Hope in Enjoyment; but Love remains.

Wear none of thine own Chains; but keep free, whilst thou art free.

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.

Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant.

The ancient Romans built their greatest masterpieces of architecture, their amphitheaters, for wild beasts to fight in.

To cultivate kindness is a valuable part of the business of life.

Every one is a genius, more or less. No one is so physically sound that no part of him will be even a little unsound, and no one is so diseased but that some part of him will be healthy — so no man is so mentally and morally sound, but that he will be in part both mad and wicked; and no man is so mad and wicked but he will be sensible and honourable in part. In like manner there is no genius who is not also a fool, and no fool who is not also a genius.

If the desire to kill and the opportunity to kill came always together, who would escape hanging?

The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That’s all there ever is.

There are people who can do all fine and heroic things but one – keep from telling their happiness to the unhappy.

It was prettily devised of Aesop, The fly sat on the axle tree of the chariot wheel and said, what dust do I raise!

Perfect freedom is reserved for the man who lives by his work and in that work he does what he wants to do.

Men of age object too much, consult too long, adventure too little, repent too soon, and seldom drive business home to the full period, but content themselves with a mediocrity of success.

Belief like any other moving body follows the path of least resistance.

A man ought to read just as inclination leads him, for what he reads as a task will do him little good.

There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding and that which is lost by not trying.

In his private heart no man much respects himself.

A little learning is a dangerous thing, but we must take that risk because a little is as much as our biggest heads can hold.