Top 81 Quotes & Sayings by John Tillotson - Page 2

Truth is the shortest and nearest way to our end, carrying us thither in a straight line.

No man's body is as strong as his appetites, but Heaven has corrected the boundlessness of his voluptuous desires by stinting his strength and contracting his capacities.

Of all parts of wisdom, the practice is the best. Socrates was esteemed the wisest man of his time because he turned his acquired knowledge into morality, and aimed at goodness more than greatness.

Convulsive anger storms at large; or pale And silent, settles into full revenge.

The crime of a bad example is the same whether men follow it or not, because he that gives bad example to others, does what in him lies to draw them into sin; and if they do not follow it, that is no mitigation of his fault.

In all the affairs of this world, so much reputation is in reality so much power.

If our souls be immortal, this makes amends for the frailties of life and the sufferings of this state.

The little and short sayings of nice And excellent men are of great value, like the dust of gold, or the least sparks of diamonds.

If a man were only to deal in the world for a day, and should never have occasion to converse more with mankind, never more need their good opinion or good word, it were then no great matter (speaking as to the concernments of this world), if a man spent his reputation all at once, and ventured it at one throw; but if he be to continue in the world, and would have the advantage of conversation while he is in it, let him make use of truth and sincerity in all his words and actions; for nothing but this will last and hold out to the end.

If they be principles evident of themselves, they need nothing to evidence them.

Malice and hatred are very fretting and vexatious, and apt to make our minds sore and uneasy; but he that can moderate these affections will find ease in his mind.

Men sunk in the greatest darkness imaginable retain some sense and awe of the Deity.

Are we proud and passionate, malicious and revengeful? Is this to be like-minded with Christ, who was meek and lowly?

Great is the advantage of patience.

There is one way whereby we may secure our riches, and make sure friends to ourselves of them,--by laying them out in charity.

Some things will not bear much zeal; and the more earnest we are about them, the less we recommend ourselves to the approbation of sober and considerate men.

Virtue and vice are not arbitrary things; but there is a natural and eternal reason for goodness and virtue, and against vice and wickedness.

It is hard to personate and act a part long; for where Truth is not the bottom, Nature will always be endeavoring to return, and will peep and betray herself one time or other.

None so nearly disposed to scoffing at religion as those who have accustomed themselves to swear on trifling occasions.

Religion in a magistrate strengthens his authority, because it procures veneration, and gains a reputation to it. In all the affairs of this world, so much reputation is in reality so much power.

If the show of any thing be good for any thing, I am sure sincerity is better; for why does any man dissemble, or seem to be that which he is not, but because he thinks it good to have such a quality as he pretends to?