William Penn

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.

Those who would mend the world must first mend themselves.

Liberty without obedience is confusion, and obedience without liberty is slavery.

Avoid flatterers, for they are thieves in disguise.

The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves.

The tallest trees are most in the power of the winds, and ambitious men of the blasts of fortune.

If you want to get what you want give up being right.

Our humanity is a poor thing, except for the divinity that stirs within us.

The men who have furnished me with my greatest inspiration have not been men of wealth, but men of deeds.

The problems of victory are more agreeable than those of defeat, but they are no less difficult.

Nothing is pleasant that is not spiced with variety.

Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.

Our spontaneous action is always the best. You cannot, with your best deliberation and heed, come so close to any question as your spontaneous glance shall bring you.

He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune, for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue or mischief. Certainly the best works and of greatest merit for the public have proceeded from the unmarried or childless men, which both in affection and means have married and endowed the public. He was reputed one of the wise men that made answer to the question, when a man should marryA young man not yet, an elder man not at all.

I think a compliment ought to always precede a complaint, where one is possible, because it softens resentment and insures for the complaint a courteous and gentle reception.

In the morning a man walks with his whole body; in the evening, only with his legs.

A man thinks as well through his legs and arms as this brain.

There are no grades of vanity, there are only grades of ability in concealing it.

A beautiful form is better than a beautiful face; it gives a higher pleasure than statues or pictures; it is the finest of the fine arts.

A word once uttered can never be recalled.

It is better to be a young June-bug than an old bird of paradise.