WIST Quotations

Penn, William -- “No Cross, No Crown” (1682)

Dave — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:09:11 +0000

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

William Penn (1644–1718) English writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
“No Cross, No Crown” (1682)

Originally written while a prisoner in the Tower of London (1668-69). See Quarles (1621), Breton (1577).

Penn, William -- (Attributed)

Dave — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 13:58:16 +0000

There is something nearer to us than Scriptures, to wit, the Word in the heart from which all Scriptures come.

William Penn (1644–1718) English writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
(Attributed)

Penn, William -- First Frame of Government for Pennsylvania, Preface (1682)

Dave — Wed, 27 May 2020 18:13:22 +0000

Governments, like clocks, go from the motion men give them, and as governments are made and moved by men, so by them they are ruined too. Wherefore governments rather depend upon men, than men upon governments. Let men be good, and the government cannot be bad; if it be ill, they will cure it. But if men be bad, let the government be never so good, they will endeavour to warp and spoil it to their turn.

William Penn (1644–1718) English writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
First Frame of Government for Pennsylvania, Preface (1682)
(Source)

Penn, William -- Fruits of Solitude, #132 (1682)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

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

William Penn (1644–1718) English writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
Fruits of Solitude, #132 (1682)
(Source)

See Cervantes.

Penn, William -- Fruits of Solitude, #537-539 (1682)

Dave — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 02:21:09 +0000

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 writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
Fruits of Solitude, #537-539 (1682)
(Source)

Penn, William -- Fruits of Solitude #142 (1682)

Dave — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 10:43:50 +0000

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

William Penn (1644–1718) English writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
Fruits of Solitude #142 (1682)

Source text

Penn, William -- More Fruits of Solitude, #155 (1693)

Dave — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:44:35 +0000

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

William Penn (1644–1718) English writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
More Fruits of Solitude, #155 (1693)

Penn, William -- More Fruits of Solitude, #190 (1693)

Dave — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:23:54 +0000

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

William Penn (1644–1718) English writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
More Fruits of Solitude, #190 (1693)

Penn, William -- More Fruits of Solitude, #97 (1693)

Dave — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:51:47 +0000

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

William Penn (1644–1718) English writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
More Fruits of Solitude, #97 (1693)

Penn, William -- No Cross, No Crown (1682)

Dave — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:15:36 +0000

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

William Penn (1644–1718) English writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
No Cross, No Crown (1682)

Written while a prisoner in the Tower of London (1668-69).

Penn, William -- Some Fruits of Solitude, # 46 (1693)

Dave — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:35:44 +0000

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

William Penn (1644–1718) English writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
Some Fruits of Solitude, # 46 (1693)

Penn, William -- Some Fruits of Solitude, # 71 (1693)

Dave — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 17:20:23 +0000

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 writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
Some Fruits of Solitude, # 71 (1693)

See also Matthew 7:12.

Penn, William -- Some Fruits of Solitude, #127 (1693)

Dave — Wed, 25 May 2011 10:16:52 +0000

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

William Penn (1644–1718) English writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
Some Fruits of Solitude, #127 (1693)

Penn, William -- Some Fruits of Solitude, #145 (1693)

Dave — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 13:22:36 +0000

Believe nothing against another but upon good Authority: Nor report what may hurt another, unless it be a greater hurt to others to conceal it.

William Penn (1644–1718) English writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
Some Fruits of Solitude, #145 (1693)

Penn, William -- Some Fruits of Solitude, #214 (1693)

Dave — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 13:33:17 +0000

If we would amend the world, we should mend Ourselves and teach our Children to be not what we are but what they should be.

William Penn (1644–1718) English writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
Some Fruits of Solitude, #214 (1693)

Penn, William -- Some Fruits of Solitude, #450 (1693)

Dave — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 01:21:46 +0000

‘Tis no Sin to be tempted, but to be overcome.

William Penn (1644–1718) English writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
Some Fruits of Solitude, #450 (1693)
(Source)

See Shakespeare.

Penn, William -- Some Fruits of Solitude, Part 2, “Of Conduct and Speech,” #122 (1682)

Dave — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:53:49 +0000

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 writer, philosopher, politician, statesman
Some Fruits of Solitude, Part 2, “Of Conduct and Speech,” #122 (1682)
(Source)