Sense shines with a double luster when it is set in humility. An able yet humble man is a jewel worth a kingdom.
William PennRead
Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Without divine guidance, people risk falling under oppressive rule.
William Penn's quote suggests that human beings require moral and spiritual governance, which he associates with divine authority, to ensure freedom and justice in society. Without such guidance, individuals may succumb to tyranny, where leaders impose their will without ethical considerations, compromising the values of liberty and dignity.
Themes
GovernanceTyrannyDivineFreedomMoral Authority
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of ethical leadership.
More from William Penn
All quotes βWhere thou art Obliged to speak, be sure speak the Truth: For Equivocation is half way to Lying, as Lying, the whole way to Hell.
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Man, being made reasonable, and so a thinking creature, there is nothing more worthy of his being than the right direction and employment of his thoughts; since upon this depends both his usefulness to the public, and his own present and future benefit in all respects.
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Do good with what thou hast, or it will do thee no good.
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To be a man's own fool is bad enough, but the vain man is everybody's.
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Unless virtue guide us our choice must be wrong.
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