William Penn

Have a care, therefore, where there is more sail than ballast.

Avoid flatterers, for they are thieves in disguise.

Less judgment than wit is more sail than ballast.

Rarely promise, but, if lawful, constantly perform.

Sense never fails to give them that have it, Words enough to make them understood. It too often happens in some conversations, as in Apothecary Shops, that those Pots that are Empty, or have Things of small Value in them, are as gaudily Dress’d as those that are full of precious Drugs. They that soar too high, often fall hard, making a low and level Dwelling preferable. The tallest Trees are most in the Power of the Winds, and Ambitious Men of the Blasts of Fortune. Buildings have need of a good Foundation, that lie so much exposed to the Weather.

A private Life is to be preferred; the Honor and Gain of publick Posts, bearing no proportion with the Comfort of it

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

There is nothing to fear except fear it’s self.

We like a man to come right out and say what he thinks, if we agree with him.

He that has given today may, if he so please, take away tomorrow.

Thought is the blossom; language the bud; action the fruit behind it.

You’ll never have a quiet world until you knock the patriotism out of the human race.

The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.

Men have become the tools of their trade.

His heart was as great as the world, but there was no room in it to hold the memory of a wrong.

There was never a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him to sleep.

If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.

The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

Judges ought to be more learned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue.

To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven.

Arguments are like fire-arms which a man may keep at home but should not carry about with him.