William Penn
William Penn
William Penn24 October 1644 – 30 July 1718) was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early advocate of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful treaties with the Lenape Native Americans. Under his direction, the city of Philadelphia was planned and developed...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth14 October 1644
CityLondon, England
The usefulest truths are the plainest.
Government seems to me to be a part of religion itself - a thing sacred in its institutions and ends.
Oppression makes a poor country.
Nor must we always be neutral where our neighbors are concerned: for tho' meddling is a fault, helping is a duty.
Love grows, lust wastes by enjoyment.
There is a troublesome humor some men have, that if they may not lead, they will not follow; but had rather a thing were never done, than not done their own way, tho' other ways very desirable.
Death cannot kill that which does not die.
Love labour: for if thou dost not want it for food, thou mayest for physique. It is wholesome for the body, and good for the mind. It prevents the fruits of idleness, which many times come of nothing to do, and leads many to do what is worse than nothing.
Justice is justly represented blind, because she sees no difference in the parties concerned. She has but one scale and weight, for rich and poor, great and small.
Above all things endeavor to breed them up the love of virtue, and that holy plain way of it which we have lived in, that the world in no part of it get into my family. I had rather they we're homely than finely bred as to outward behavior; yet I love sweetness mixed with gravity, and cheerfulness tempered with sobriety.
A jealous man only sees his own spectrum when he looks upon other men, and gives his character in theirs.
A man, like a watch, is to be valued for his manner of going.
Some men do as much begrudge others a good name, as they want one themselves: and perhaps that is the reason of it.
We are too careless of posterity; not considering that as they are, so the next generation will be.