Henry Ward Beecher Quotes

It is not merely cruelty that leads men to love war it is excitement.

A church debt is the devil's salary.

‎Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself-and be lenient to everybody else.

Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men or animals. Some seem to smile some have a sad expression some are pensive and diffident others again are plain honest and upright.

In things pertaining to enthusiasm no man is sane who does not know how to be insane on proper occasions.

Pride slays thanksgiving ... A prideful man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.

There is no friendship no love like that of the parent for the child.

Good-humor makes all things tolerable.

Do not be afraid of defeat. You are never so near to victory as when defeated in a good cause.

The humblest individual exerts some influence either for good or evil upon others.

the difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will and the other from a strong won't

To the great tree-loving fraternity we belong. We love trees with universal and unfeigned love, and all things that do grow under them or around them - the whole leaf and root tribe.

The strength of a man consists in finding out the way in which God is going and going in that way too.

The advertisements in a newspaper are more full of knowledge in respect to what is going on in a state or community than the editorial columns are.

There are more quarrels smothered by just shutting your mouth, and holding it shut, than by all the wisdom in the world.

Fear is a kind of bell or gong which rings the mind into quick life and avoidance upon the approach of danger. It is the soul's signal for rallying.

It usually takes 100 years to make a law and then after it's done its work it usually takes 100 years to be rid of it.

All words are pegs to hang ideas on.

There is no such thing as white lies a lie is as black as a coalpit and twice as foul.

A door that seems to stand open must be of a man's size or it is not the door that providence means for him.

A helping word to one in trouble is often like a switch on a railroad track ... an inch between wreck and smooth rolling prosperity.

Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house.

The cynic is one who never sees a good quality in a man and never fails to see a bad one. He is the human owl vigilant in darkness and blind to light mousing for vermin and never seeing noble game. The cynic puts all human actions into two classes - openly bad and secretly bad.

Men's best successes come after their disappointments.

A little library, growing larger every year, is an honourable part of a man's history. It is a man's duty to have books. A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessaries of life.

No man is sane who does not know how to be insane on the proper occasions."Henry Ward Beecher

We never know the love of a parent till we become parents ourselves.

You have come into a hard world. I know of only one easy place in it and that is the grave.

It is the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich according to what he is not according to what he has.

It is a man's duty to have books. A library is not a luxury, but one of the necessaries in life.

Man is at the bottom an animal midway a citizen and at the top divine. But the climate of this world is such that few ripen at the top.

Our days are a kaleidoscope. Every instant a change takes place. ... New harmonies new contrasts new combinations of every sort. ... The most familiar people stand each moment in some new relation to each other to their work to surrounding objects.

I pray on the principle that wine knocks the cork out of a bottle. There is an inward fermentation and there must be a vent.

Doctrine is nothing but the skin of truth set up and stuffed.

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies but the thankful heart... will find in every hour some heavenly blessings.

A book is good company. It is full of conversation without loquacity. It comes to your longing with full instruction, but pursues you never.

What the mother sings to the cradle goes all the way down to the coffin.

The meanest most contemptible kind of praise is that which first speaks well of a man and then qualifies it with a 'but'.

Interest works night and day in fair weather and in foul. It gnaws at a man's substance with invisible teeth.

Any man can work when every stroke of his hands brings down the fruit rattling from the tree ... but to labor in season and out of season under every discouragement... that requires a heroism which is transcendent.

Ones best success comes after their greatest disappointments.

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.

A tool is but the extension of a man's hand and a machine is but a complex tool. He that invents a machine augments the power of a man and the well being of mankind.

The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.

The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is, that one often comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't.

Faith is spiritualized imagination.

A Christian is nothing but a sinful man who has put himself to school for Christ for the honest purpose of becoming better.

Prayer covers the whole of man's life. There is no thought feeling yearning or desire however low trifling or vulgar we may deem it which if it affects our real interest or happiness we may not lay before God and be sure of sympathy. His nature is such that our often coming does not tire him. The whole burden of the whole life of every man may be rolled on to God and not weary him though it has wearied man.

Mirthfulness is in the mind and you cannot get it out. It is just as good in its place as conscience or veneration.

God pardons like a mother who kisses the offense into everlasting forgetfulness.

Do not look back on happiness or dream of it in the future. You are only sure of today do not let yourself be cheated out of it.

Now comes the mystery! (last words)

Adversity, if for no other reason, is of benefit, since it is sure to bring a season of sober reflection. People see clearer at such times. Storms purify the atmosphere.

None love to speak so much when the mood of speaking comes as they who are naturally taciturn.

The dog is the god of frolic.

Never forget what a man says to you when he is angry.

A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs jolted by every pebble in the road.

Victories that are cheap are cheap. Those only are worth having which come as the result of hard fighting.

Failure is a school in which the truth always grows strong.