1644-1718, British Religious Leader, Founder of Pennsylvania
A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably.
William Penn – [Friends and Friendship]
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.
William Penn – [Health]
Always rise from the table with an appetite, and you will never sit down without one.
William Penn – [Abstinence]
Avoid popularity; it has many snares, and no real benefit.
William Penn – [Popularity]
Hasty resolutions are of the nature of vows, and to be equally avoided.
William Penn – [Vow]
He that does good for good's sake seeks neither paradise nor reward, but he is sure of both in the end.
William Penn – [Rewards]
He that lives to forever, never fears dying.
William Penn – [Death and Dying]
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.
William Penn – [Fathers]
I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
William Penn – [Kindness]
If thou wouldn't conquer thy weakness thou must not gratify it.
William Penn – [Discipline]
In marriage do thou be wise; prefer the person before money; virtue before beauty; the mind before the body.
William Penn – [Marriage]
It would be far better to be of no church than to be bitter of any.
William Penn – [Churches]
Kings in this should imitate God, their mercy should be above their works.
William Penn – [Kings]
Knowledge is the treasure, but judgment is the treasurer of the one who is wise.
William Penn – [Knowledge]
Less judgment than wit is more sail than ballast.
William Penn – [Judgment and Judges]
Let the people think they govern and they will be governed.
William Penn – [Democracy]
Men are generally more careful of the breed of their horses and dogs than of their children.
William Penn – [Fathers]
Men must be governed by God, or they will be ruled by tyrants.
William Penn – [God]
Method goes far to prevent trouble in business: for it makes the task easy, hinders confusion, saves abundance of time, and instructs those that have business depending, both what to do and what to hope.
William Penn – [Business]
Much reading is an oppression of the mind, and extinguishes the natural candle, which is the reason of so many senseless scholars in the world.
William Penn – [Books and Reading]