William Penn

Excess in Apparel is another costly Folly. The very Trimming of the vain World would cloath all the naked one.

To be innocent is to be not guilty; but to be virtuous is to overcome our evil inclinations.

True godliness does not turn men out of the world, but enables them to live better in it and excites their endeavors to mend it.

It is a severe Rebuke upon us, that God makes us so many Allowances, and we make so few to our Neighbor: As if Charity had nothing to do with Religion; Or Love with Faith, that ought to work by it.

The country life is to be preferred, for there we see the works of God; but in cities little else but the works of men. And the one makes a better subject for contemplation than the other.

A good end cannot sanctify evil means; nor must we ever do evil that good may come of it.

Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.

Sculpture and painting have the effect of teaching us manners and abolishing hurry.

Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for.

When a person cannot deceive himself the chances are against his being able to deceive other people.

All philosophies, if you ride them home, are nonsense, but some are greater nonsense than others.

Every time I think I have reached the peak, I look up and see I still have a ways to go. But I look back and see just how far I have come.

People die of fright and live of confidence.

If life must not be taken too seriously, then so neither must death.

Measure your health by your sympathy with morning and spring. If there is no response in you to the awakening of nature – if the prospect of an early morning walk does not banish sleep, if the warble of the first bluebird does not thrill you – know that the morning and spring of your life are past. Thus may you feel your pulse.

Life is tough, my darling, but so are you.

I’m not denyin’ the women are foolish. God Almighty made ’em to match the men.

If you would have me weep, you must first of all feel grief yourself.

Broken, like a mosaic, I am pieced together. I am still a piece of art, though I may not be fully appreciated by all, the ones that see the beauty, are the ones who have the understanding; gained through experience, that to break, doesn’t mean to give up.

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.

No great deed is done by falterers who ask for certainty.