Harvard Classics, originally known as Dr. Eliot's
Five Foot Shelf, is a 51-volume anthology of classic works from world
literature, compiled and edited by Harvard University president Charles W. Eliot
and first published in 1909.
Eliot stated in speeches that the elements of a liberal education could be
obtained by spending 15 minutes a day reading from the collection.
One such book which contains a minefield of quotes is Volume 1: The author is :
William Penn ( 14 October 1644 to 30 July 1718). As I was not familiar
with the author in American Literature, I searched for clue from Wikipedia to
know more about him. The online encyclopedia reverted back saying that he was
an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher and founder of the
Pennsylvania, a U.S. State located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic region.
Like a wine, literature also when it becomes older gives more excitement and
elation beyond the boundaries of sobriety. Penn's book "Fruits of
Solitude" is a pithy comment upon human life. This literary giant has
commented on all aspects of life and he is a man of permeating intelligence.
When you read his quotes, it reflects the amount of moderation required while
handling our relationships with the outer world. Some of his quotes are
enchanting and addictive which raise our awareness as the world we are living
is shrouded with so many mysteries and the very mystery starts with our own
bodies to pervading universe whose boundaries are unknown or you could say
Unknowable.
Here are his best quotes to lift your soul:
- It were Happy if we studied Nature more in natural Things, and acted
according to Nature, whose rules are few, plain and most reasonable.
- All Excess is ill : But Drunkenness is of the worst Sort. It spoils
Health, dismounts the Mind, and unmans Men.
- If Love be not thy chiefest Motive, thou wilt soon grow weary of a Married
State, and stray from thy Promise, to search out thy Pleasures in forbidden
Places.
- There can be no Friendship where there is no Freedom. Friendship loves a
free Air, and will not be penned up in straight and narrow Enclosures. It will
speak freely, and act so too; and take nothing ill where no ill is meant; nay,
where it is, it will easily forgive, and forget too, upon small
Acknowledgements.
- Friends are true Twins in Soul; they Sympathize in every thing, and have
the Love and Aversion.
- Between a Man and his Wife nothing ought to rule but Love. Authority is
for Children and Servants; yet not without Sweetness.
- A true Friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures
boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a Friend
unchangeably.
- Avoid Company where it is not
profitable or necessary; and in those Occasions speak little and last.
- Never assent merely to please others.
- Knowledge is the Treasure, but Judgement the Treasure of a Wise Man.
- He that has more Knowledge than Judgement, is made for another Man's use
more than his own.
- The Jealous are Troublesome to others, but a Torment to themselves.
A great writer does not descend from Heaven. He is groomed here. He weaves
daily thoughts into an interesting prose
order thereby etch our hearts like William Penn !
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