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
If we would mend the World, we should mend Ourselves; and teach our Children to be, not what we are, but what they should be.
Love is the hardest lesson in Christianity; but, for that reason, it should be most our care to learn it.
Death is but crossing the world, as friends do the seas; they live in one another still.
Justice is the insurance which we have on our lives and property. Obedience is the premium which we pay for it.
Let the people think they govern and they will be governed.
Much reading is an oppression of the mind, and extinguishes the natural candle, which is the reason of so many senseless scholars in the world.
O Lord, help me not to despise or oppose what I do not understand.
True godliness does not turn men out of the world, but enables them to live better in it and excites their endeavors to mend it.
We are told truly that meekness and modesty are the rich and charming garments of the soul. The less showy our outward attire is, the more distinctly and brilliantly does the beauty of these inner garments shine.
You are Englishmen; mind your privileges, give not away your right.
There is a truth and beauty in rhetoric; but it oftener serves ill turns than good ones.
Choose a friend as thou dost a wife, till death separate you.
We are apt to love praise, but not deserve it. But if we would deserve it, we must love virtue more than that.
Humility and knowledge in poor clothes excel pride and ignorance in costly attire.