55 Quotes & Sayings By William Penn

William Penn was an English philosopher, religious leader, and one of the Founding Fathers of Pennsylvania. Born in London, he fled to the Netherlands with his family as a teenager and eventually migrated to New England. He spent some time as a privateer officer before becoming an attorney. In 1681, he was elected governor of the Province of Pennsylvania Read more

He founded Philadelphia as the capital city of the new colony and is known as the "founder" of Pennsylvania.

In all debates, let truth be thy aim, not victory,...
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In all debates, let truth be thy aim, not victory, or an unjust interest. William Penn
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They that love beyond the world cannot be separated by it. Death cannot kill what never dies. Nor can spirits ever be divided, that love and live in the same divine principle, the root and record of their friendship. If absence be not death, neither is theirs. Death is but crossing the world, as friends do the seas; they live in one another still. For they must needs be present, that love and live in that which is omnipresent. In this divine glass they see face to face; and their converse is free, as well as pure. This is the comfort of friends, that though they may be said to die, yet their friendship and society are, in the best sense, ever present, because immortal. William Penn
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Death is but crossing the world, as friends do the seas; they live in one another still. For they must needs be present, that love and live in that which is omnipresent. In this divine glass, they see face to face; and their converse is free, as well as pure. This is the comfort of friends, that though they may be said to die, yet their friendship and society are, in the best sense, ever present, because immortal. . William Penn
Death is but crossing the world, as friends do the...
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Death is but crossing the world, as friends do the seas; they live in one another still. William Penn
Time is what we want most, but what we use...
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Time is what we want most, but what we use worst. William Penn
A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures...
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A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably William Penn
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Sense never fails to give them that have it, Words enough tomake them understood. It too often happens in some conversations, as in Apothecary Shops, that those Pots that are Empty, or have Things of small Value in them, are as gaudily Dress'd as those thatare full of precious Drugs.They that soar too high, often fall hard, making a low and level Dwelling preferable. The tallest Trees are most in the Power of the Winds, and Ambitious Men of the Blasts of Fortune. Buildings haveneed of a good Foundation, that lie so much exposed to the Weather. . William Penn
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I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore there be any kindness I can show...let me do it now. William Penn
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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
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Let the people think they govern and they will be governed William Penn
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Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. William Penn
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Justice is the insurance which we have on our lives and property. Obedience is the premium which we pay for it. William Penn
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Time is what we want most, but what we use worst. William Penn
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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 Mad. In fine, he that is drunk is not a Man: Because he is so long void of Reason, that distinguishes a Man from a Beast. William Penn
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Wear none of thine own Chains; but keep free, whilst thou art free. William Penn
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I will never do this, says one, yet does it: I am resolved to do this, says another; but flags upon second Thoughts: Or does it, tho’ awkwardly, for his Word’s sake: As if it were worse to break his Word, than to do amiss in keeping it. William Penn
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All Excess is ill: But Drunkenness is of the worst Sort. William Penn
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No pain no palm no thorns no throne no gall no glory no cross no crown. William Penn
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The wisdom of nations lies in their proverbs which are brief and pithy. William Penn
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To be like Christ is to be a Christian. William Penn
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All excess is ill but drunkeness 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
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A true friend unbosoms freely advises justly assists readily adventures boldly takes all patiently defends courageously and continues a friend unchangeably. William Penn
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There can be no friendship when there is no freedom. Friendship loves the free air and will not be fenced up in straight and narrow enclosures. William Penn
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He that does good for good's sake seeks neither praise nor reward though sure of both at last. William Penn
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If thou wouldst be happy ... have an indifference for more than what is sufficient. William Penn
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I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore there be any kindness I can show or any good thing I can do for any fellow being let me do it now ... as I shall not pass this way again. William Penn
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The smaller the drink the clearer the head. William Penn
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It were better to be of no church than to be bitter for any. William Penn
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The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles. William Penn
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A wise neuter joins with neither but uses both as his honest interest leads him. William Penn
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I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore there can be any kindness I can show or any good thing I can do to any fellow human being let me do it now. William Penn
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Time is what we want most but... what we use worst. William Penn
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The jealous are troublesome to others but torment to themselves. William Penn
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Next to God thy parents. William Penn
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Man being made reasonable and so a thinking creature there is nothing more worthy of his being than the right direction and employment of his thoughts since upon this depends both his usefulness to the public and his own present and future benefit in all respects. William Penn
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O Lord help me not to despise or oppose what I do not understand. William Penn
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Religion is nothing else but love to God and man. William Penn
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Not to be provoked is best but if moved never correct till the fume is spent for every stroke our fury strikes is sure to hit ourselves at last. William Penn
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The smaller the drink the clearer the head and the cooler the blood. William Penn
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To be furious in religion is to be irreligiously religious. William Penn
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Avoid popularity; it has many snares, and no real benefit. William Penn
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Patience and Diligence, like faith, remove mountains. William Penn
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For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity. William Penn
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Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants. William Penn
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Humility and knowledge in poor clothes excel pride and ignorance in costly attire. William Penn
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Knowledge is the treasure of a wise man. William Penn
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True silence is the rest of the mind, and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment. William Penn
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In marriage do thou be wise: prefer the person before money, virtue before beauty, the mind before the body; then thou hast a wife, a friend, a companion, a second self. William Penn
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Only trust thyself, and another shall not betray thee. William Penn
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The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves. William Penn
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A true friend freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably. William Penn
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Let the people think they govern and they will be governed. William Penn
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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
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Rarely promise, but, if lawful, constantly perform. William Penn