Frasi di William Penn

pagina 2

“La verità spesso soffre di più per il calore dei propri difensori che per le argomentazioni dei propri oppositori.”

“Lasciate che la gente creda di governare e sarà governata.”

“La saggezza delle nazioni risiede nei loro proverbi, che sono brevi e concisi.”

“Non mi aspetto di passare attraverso questa vita che una volta sola. Se dunque ci può essere qualche gentilezza o qualche cosa buona che io possa fare per qualsiasi altro essere, lasciate che la faccia ora… dato che non passerò di nuovo per questo cammino.”

“Il tempo è ciò che più desideriamo, ma che, ahimè, peggio usiamo.”

“Un buon fine non può santificare mezzi malvagi; e nemmeno dobbiamo mai compiere il male che possa produrre del bene.”

“Rischiare molto per guadagnare molto tiene più dell'avarizia che della saggezza.”

“Gli uomini prestano più attenzione alla razza dei loro cavalli e dei loro cani che a quella dei propri figli.”

“Chi vive per l'eternità non ha mai paura di morire.”

“Per esser neutrale con avvedutezza, una persona non si deve alleare a nessuno dei contendenti, ma li deve usare entrambi secondo il proprio onesto interesse.”

“Zeal ever follows an appearance of truth, and the assured are too apt to be warm; but it is their weak side in argument; zeal being better shown against sin than persons, or their mistakes.”

“No men, nor number of men upon earth, hath power or authority to rule over men's consciences in religious matters.”

“True religion does not draw men out of the world but enables them to live better in it and excites their endeavors to mend it.”

“It were Happy if we studied Nature more in natural Things; and acted according to Nature; whose rules are few, plain and most reasonable.”

“Fidelity has enfranchised slaves, and adopted servants to be sons”

“It were better to be of no Church, than to be bitter for any.”

“They have a Right to censure, that have a Heart to help: The rest is Cruelty, not Justice.”

“Passion is a sort of fever in the mind, which ever leaves us weaker than it found us.”

“Be humble. It becomes a creature, a depending and borrowed being, that lives not of itself, but breathes in another's air with another's breath, and is accountable for every moment of time and can call nothing its own, but is absolutely a tenant at will of the great Lord of heaven and earth.”

“Liberty without obedience is confusion, and obedience without liberty is slavery.”

“Friendship is the next Pleasure we may hope for: And where we find it not at home, or have no home to find it in, we may seek it abroad. It is an Union of Spirits, a Marriage of Hearts, and the Bond thereof Vertue.”

“Government seems to me to be a part of religion itself — a thing sacred in its institutions and ends.”

“I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow human being let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

“Men being born with a title to perfect freedom and uncontrolled enjoyment of all the rights and privileges of the law of nature… no one can be put out of his estate and subjected to the political view of another, without his consent.”

“As I well: I wish they had told me so before, since the expecting of a release put a stop to some business; thou mayst tell my father, who I know will ask thee, these words: that my prison shall be my grave before I will budge a jot; for I owe my conscience to no mortal man; I have no need to fear, God will make amends for all; they are mistaken in me; I value not their threats and resolutions, for they shall know I can weary out their malice and peevishness, and in me shall they all behold a resolution above fear; […]”

“Reader, — This Enchiridion, I present thee with, is the Fruit of Solitude: A School few care to learn in, tho' None Instructs us better. Some Parts of it are the Result of serious Reflection: Others the Flashings of Lucid Intervals: Writ for private Satisfaction, and now publish'd for an Help to Human Conduct.”

“They must first judge themselves, that presume to censure others: And such will not be apt to overshoot the Mark. We are too ready to retaliate, rather than forgive, or gain by Love and Information. And yet we could hurt no Man that we believe loves us. Let us then try what Love will do: For if Men did once see we Love them, we should soon find they would not harm us. Force may subdue, but Love gains: And he that forgives first, wins the Lawrel. If I am even with my Enemy, the Debt is paid; but if I forgive it, I oblige him for ever.”

“Men are generally more careful of the breed of their horses and dogs than of their children.”

“You are now fixed at the mercy of no governor that comes to make his fortune great; you shall be governed by laws of your own making and live a free, and if you will, a sober and industrious life. I shall not usurp the right of any, or oppress his person. God has furnished me with a better resolution and has given me his grace to keep it.”

“Private men, in fine, are so much their own, that, paying common dues, they are sovereigns of all the rest. Yet the public must and will be served; and they that do it well, deserve public marks of honour and respect. To do so, men must have public minds, as well as salaries; or they will serve private ends at the public cost. Government can never be well administered, but where those intrusted make conscience of well discharging their places.”

“Let the People think they Govern and they will be Governed.”

“True silence is the rest of the mind; it is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment.”