WIST

No pain, no palm;
No thorns, no throne;
No gall, no glory;
No cross, no crown.

William Penn (1644-1718) English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, statesman
“No Cross, No Crown” (1682)
Originally written while a prisoner in the Tower of London (1668-69).

If thou thinkest twice before thou speakest once, thou wilt speak twice the better for it.

William Penn (1644-1718) English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, statesman
Fruits of Solitude, #132 (1682)
Source text

A good End cannot sanctifie evil Means; nor must we ever do Evil, that Good may come of it. Some Folks think they may Scold, Rail, Hate, Rob and Kill too; so it be but for God’s sake. But nothing in us unlike him, can please him.

William Penn (1644-1718) English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, statesman
Fruits of Solitude, #537-539 (1682)

Truth often suffers more by the heat of its defenders, than from the arguments of its opposers.

William Penn (1644-1718) English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, statesman
Fruits of Solitude #142 (1682)
Source text

‘Tis quite another Thing to be stiff than steady in an Opinion.

William Penn (1644-1718) English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, statesman
More Fruits of Solitude, #155 (1693)

The Jealous are Troublesome to others, but a Torment to themselves.

William Penn (1644-1718) English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, statesman
More Fruits of Solitude, #190 (1693)

The tallest Trees are most in the Power of the Winds, and Ambitious Men of the Blasts of Fortune.

William Penn (1644-1718) English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, statesman
More Fruits of Solitude, #97 (1693)

Fear and Gain are great Perverters of Mankind, and where either prevails the Judgment is violated.

William Penn (1644-1718) English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, statesman
Some Fruits of Solitude, #127 (1693)

They have a Right to censure that have a Heart to help: The rest is Cruelty, not Justice.

William Penn (1644-1718) English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, statesman
Some Fruits of Solitude, ch. 46 (1693)

Neither urge another to that thou wouldst be unwilling to do thyself, nor do thyself what looks to thee unseemly and intemperate in another.

William Penn (1644-1718) English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, statesman
Some Fruits of Solitude, ch. 71 (1693)
See also the Bible, Matthew 7:12.

Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood.

William Penn (1644-1718) English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, statesman
Some Fruits of Solitude, Part 2, “Of Conduct and Speech,” #122 (1682)
Full text.