Quotes by William Penn

Avoid popularity, it has many snares, and no real benefit.

The tallest trees are most in the power of the winds, and ambitious men of the blasts of fortune.

Governments, like docks, go from the motion men give them, and as governments are made and moved by men, so by them they are ruined also. Therefore governments depend upon men rather then men upon governments.

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

Many able Gardeners and Husbandmen are yet Ignorant of the Reason of their Calling; as most Artificers are of the Reason of their own Rules that govern their excellent Workmanship. But a Naturalist and Mechanick of this sort is Master of the Reason of both, and might be of the Practice too, if his Industry kept pace with his Speculation; which were every commendable; and without which he cannot be said to be a complete Naturalist or Mechanick.

If thou wouldst conquer thy weakness thou must not gratify it.

Unless virtue guides us, our choice must be wrong.

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

There is nothing of which we are apt to be so lavish as of time, and about which we ought to be more solicitous; since without it we can do nothing in this world.

The Country is both the Philosopher's Garden and his Library, in which he Reads and Contemplates the Power, Wisdom and Goodness of God.