William Penn

Far too many executives have become more concerned with the four P’s – pay, perks, power and prestige – rather than making profits for shareholders.

Sexes make no Difference; since in Souls there is none: And they are the Subjects of Friendship.

Private men, in fine, are so much their own, that, paying common dues, they are sovereigns of all the rest. Yet the public must and will be served; and they that do it well, deserve public marks of honour and respect. To do so, men must have public minds, as well as salaries; or they will serve private ends at the public cost. Government can never be well administered, but where those intrusted make conscience of well discharging their places.

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.

Where Example keeps pace with Authority, Power hardly fails to be obey’d.

To be like Christ is to be a Christian.

A wise man does not waste so good a commodity as lying for naught.

The progress of rivers to the ocean is not so rapid as that of man to error.

The place of justice is a hallowed place.

Always do what is right. It will gratify half of mankind and astound the other.

To every disadvantage there is a corresponding advantage.

Artists must be sacrificed to their art.

I like the silent church before the service begins, better than any preaching.

The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.

No verse can give pleasure for long, nor last, that is written by drinkers of water.

A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his companions by every word. Every opinion reacts on him who utters it. It is a threadball thrown at a mark, but the other end remains on the thrower.

One may discover a new side to his most intimate friend when for the first time he hears him speak in public. He will be stranger to him as he is more familiar to the audience. The longest intimacy could not foretell how he would behave then

He took off his hat and shook it (having hurried home as though his own coronation were waiting), and moved now with the slow deliberation of lonely people who have time for every meager requirement of their lives.

The people are to be taken in small doses.

Everything’s fine today, that is our illusion.

Round numbers are always false.