William Penn

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.

Hasty resolutions are of the nature of vows, and to be equally avoided

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.

The receipts of cookery are swelled to a volume; but a good stomach excels them all.

The Humble, Meek, Merciful, Just, Pious and Devout Souls, are everywhere of one religion; and when Death has taken off the Mask, they will know one another, though the divers Liveries they wear here make them Strangers.

Children, Fear God; that is to say, have an holy awe upon your minds to avoid that which is evil, and a strict care to embrace and do that which is good.

The true poem is the poet’s mind.

Hate has caused a lot of problems in this world, but it has not solved one yet.

I like not only to be loved, but also to be told that I am loved. I am not sure that you are of the same mind. But the realm of silence is large enough beyond the grave. This is the world of light and speech, and I shall take leave to tell you that you are very dear.

Subdue your passion or it will subdue you.

Avoid inquisitive persons, for they are sure to be gossips, their ears are open to hear, but they will not keep what is entrusted to them.

If you and I are having a single thought of violence or hatred against anyone in the world at this moment, we are contributing to the wounding of the world.

Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all.

I have thought of a pulley to raise me gradually; but that would give me pain, as it would counteract my natural inclination. I would have something that can dissipate the inertia and give elasticity to the muscles. We can heat the body, we can cool it; we can give it tension or relaxation; and surely it is possible to bring it into a state in which rising from bed will not be a pain.

The human race afraid of nothing, rushes on through every crime.

We are always paid for our suspicion by finding what we suspect.

Sometimes if I see negative things it really doesn’t faze me, because you’ve got to be tough and you’ve got to be you.

A heart well prepared for adversity in bad times hopes, and in good times fears for a change in fortune.

All the great speakers were bad speakers at first.

I have not become the Kings First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire.

The camera can represent flesh so superbly that, if I dared, I would never photograph a figure without asking that figure to take its clothes off.