Benjamin whichcote quotes

Whoever despiseth shame, despiseth sin.

He is not likely to learn who is not willing to be taught; for the learner has something to do, as well as the teacher.

Where Religion does take place and is effectual, it makes this world, in measure and degree, representative of Heaven.

We never better enjoy ourselves than when we most enjoy God.

Either be a true friend or a mere stranger: a true friend will delight to do good--a mere stranger will do no harm.

Every profession does imply a trust for the service of the public.

He that neither knows himself nor thinks he can learn of others is not fit for company.

The sense of repentance is better assurance of pardon than the testimony of an angel.

God imposeth no Law of Righteousness upon us which He doth not observe Himself.

Virtue is the health, true state, natural complexion of the Soul.

Let not a man's self be to him all in all.

Will, without reason, is a blind man's motion; will, against reason, is a madman's motion.

What is Perfected hereafter, must be begun here.

Such an explication of Grace as sets men at liberty in morals, makes void the Law through Faith.

Some things must be good in themselves, else there could be no measure whereby to lay out good and evil.

It is impossible for a man to be made happy by putting him in a happy place, unless he be first in a happy state.

He that would have the perfection of pleasure must be moderate in the use of it.

Believe things, rather than man.

Modesty and humility are the sobriety of the mind, as temperance and chastity are of the body.

Only madmen and fools are pleased with themselves; no wise man is good enough for his own satisfaction.

He that is conceited of his Wisdom, is readier to impose Error, than to receive Truth.

Ah! when in the immortal ranks enlisted, I sometimes wonder if we shall not find That not by deeds, but by what we've resisted, Our places are assigned.

Those who live not by law would be justified by Custom: but, as common practice is the worst teacher that ever was, so the truth and goodness of things is not to be estimated by the entertainment and acceptance they find in the world.

None more deceive themselves than they who think their religion is true and genuine, thought it refines not their spirits and reforms not their lives.

He that does not repent, sins again.

None of us was born knowing or wise; but men become wise by consideration, observation, experience.

The State of Grace and the Life of Sin are incompatibilities.

Christ is God clothed with human nature.

None can do a man so much harm as he doeth himself.

Everything is dangerous to him that is afraid of it.

The human soul is to God, is as the flower to the sun; it opens at its approach, and shuts when it withdraws.

It is hypocrisy for man to make any other use of his religion, or the credit of it, than to sanctify and save his soul.

That power is in vain which is never in use.

He that useth his reason doth acknowledge God.

The government of man should be the monarchy of reason: it is too often the democracy of passions or the anarchy of humors.

All is not done when we have spoken to God by prayer; our petitions are to be pursued with real endeavours.

We are made for one another, and each is to be a supply to his neighbor.

A good man's life is all of a piece.

Conscience is ... the God dwelling in us.

Conscience without judgment is superstition.

Take away the self-conceited, and there will be elbowroom in the world.

Entrance into Heaven is not at the hour of death, but at the moment of conversion.

The most that any of us know, is the least of that which is to be known.

A good word costs as little as a bad one, and is worth more.

Did Christians live according to their Religion, they would do nothing but what Truth, Righteousness, and Goodness do, according to their understanding and ability: and then one man would be a God unto another.

A guilty mind can be eased by nothing but repentance; by which what was ill done is revoked and morally voided and undone.

It is altogether as worthy of God and as much becoming Him to pardon and show mercy, in case of repentance and submission and reformation, as to punish, in case of impenitency and obstinacy.

Religion is ... being as much like God as man can be.

An idol is what man makes and then has to carry. God makes a man and then carries him.

A benefactor is a representative of God.

Joy is the life of man's life.

There is no better way to learn than to teach.

Nothing spoils human nature more than false zeal. The good nature of a heathen is more God-like than the furious zeal of a Christian.

No man doth think others will be better to him than he is to them.

The more mysterious, the more imperfect: that which is mystically spoken is but half spoken.

Those that differ upon Reason, may come together by Reason.

The judge is nothing but the law speaking.

There is nothing more unnatural to religion than contentions about it.

He that repents is angry with himself; I need not be angry with him.

No men stand more in fear of God than those who most deny Him.

An ill principle in the mind is worse than the matter of a disease in the body.

He that is dishonest, trusts nobody.

Some are Atheists by Neglect; others are so by Affectation; they, that think there is no God at some times; do not think so at all times.

Man is a wonder to himself; he can neither govern nor know himself.

Truth is not only a man's ornament but his instrument; it is the great man's glory, and the poor man's stock: a man's truth is his livelihood, his recommendation, his letters of credit.

Riches are but a means, or instrument; and the virtue of an instrument lies in its use.

Good men study to spiritualize their bodies; bad men to incarnate their souls.

Fear is the denomination of the Old Testament; belief is the denomination of the New.

We are only so free that others may be free as well as we.

When we do any good to others, we do as much, or more, good to ourselves.

None are known to be good, till they have opportunity to be bad.

If a man will be righteous and equal, let him see, with his neighbour's eyes, in his own case; and with his own eyes, in his neighbour's case.

Right and truth are greater than any power, and all power is limited by right.

The Devil often finds work for them who find none for themselves.

Every man is born with the faculty of reason and the faculty of speech, but why should he be able to speak before he has anything to say?

Let us all so live as we shall wish we had lived when we come to die; for that only is well, that ends well.

The more mysterious, the more imperfect; as darkness is, in comparison with light--so is mystery, in comparison with knowledge.

Among politicians the esteem of religion is profitable; the principles of it are troublesome.

A wise man will not communicate his differing thoughts to unprepared minds, or in a disorderly manner.

Fear is prophetical of evil.

Repentance doth alter a man's case with God: and therefore repentance should alter the case between one man and another.

No man is greatly jealous who is not in some measure guilty.

None are so empty as those who are full of themselves.

It is base and unworthy to live below the dignity of our nature.