William Penn Quotes

       William Penn
       1644-1718
      
       William Penn was an English founder and "Absolute Proprietor" of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future U.S. State of Pennsylvania. He was known as an early champion of democracy and religious freedom and famous for his good relations and his treaties with the Lenape Indians. Under his direction, Philadelphia was planned and developed.
      
       As one of the earlier supporters of colonial unification, Penn wrote and urged for a Union of all the English colonies in what was to become the United States of America. The democratic principles that he set forth in the Pennsylvania Frame(s) of Government served as an inspiration for the United States Constitution. As a pacifist Quaker, Penn considered the problems of war and peace deeply, and included a plan for a United States of Europe, "European Dyet, Parliament or Estates," in his voluminous writings.

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.     Topics: Children Force may make hypocrites, but it can never make converts.     Topics: Conversion Is it reasonable to take it ill, that anybody desires of us that which is their own? All we have is the Almighty's; and shall not God have his own when he calls for it?     Topics: Death For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity.     Topics: Death, Eternity, Time 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 bad.     Topics: Drunkenness, Health, Quarreling Religion is the fear of God, and its demonstration good works; and faith is the root of both: "For without faith we cannot please God;" nor can we fear what we do not believe.     Topics: Faith 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.     Topics: Fathers A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably.     Topics: Friendship Right is right, even if everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.     Topics: Good and Evil A good end cannot sanctify evil means; nor must we ever do evil, that good may come of it.     Topics: Good and Evil If we are not governed by God, then we will be ruled by tyrants.     Topics: Government Love is indeed heaven upon earth; since heaven above would not be heaven without it; for where there is not love, there is fear; but, "Perfect love casteth out fear." And yet we naturally fear most to offend what we most love.     Topics: Heaven, Love