Nothing hath wrought more prejudice to religion, or brought more disparagement upon truth, than boisterous and unseasonable zeal.
—Isaac Barrow
To be furious in religion is to be irreligiously religious.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
I like men who are temperate and moderate in everything. An excessive zeal for that which is good, though it may not be offensive to me, at all events raises my wonder, and leaves me in a difficulty how I should call it.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Through zeal, knowledge is gotten; through lack of zeal, knowledge is lost.
—Buddhist Teaching
A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Zeal and duty are not slow; but on occasion’s firelock watchful wait.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Awake, my soul! stretch every nerve, And press with vigour on; A heavenly race demands thy zeal, And an immortal crown.
—Philip Doddridge (1702–51) English Nonconformist Religious Leader, Educator, Hymn writer
Violent zeal even for truth has a hundred to one odds to be either petulancy, ambition, or pride.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Zealous men are ever displaying to you the strength of their belief, while judicious men are showing you the grounds of it.
—William Shenstone (1714–63) British Poet, Landscape Gardener
When we see an eager assailant of wrongs, a special reformer, we feel like asking him, What right have you, sir, to your one virtue? Is virtue piecemeal?
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Zeal without knowledge is like expedition to a man in the dark.
—John Newton (1725–1807) English Clergyman, Writer
Zeal for the public good is the characteristic of a man of honor and a gentleman, and must take place of pleasures, profits, and all other private gratifications. Whoever wants this motive, is an open enemy, or an inglorious neuter to mankind, in proportion to the misapplied advantages with which nature and fortune have blessed him.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
There is no greater sign of a general decay of virtue in a nation, than a want of zeal in its inhabitants for the good of their country
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Zeal is like fire: it needs both feeding and watching.
—Common Proverb
Anger is a noble infirmity; the generous failing of the just; the one degree that riseth above zeal, asserting the prerogative of virtue.
—Martin Farquhar Tupper (1810–89) English Poet, Writer
Experience shows that success is due less to ability than to zeal. The winner is he who gives himself to his work, body and soul.
—Charles Buxton (1823–71) British Politician, Writer
For virtue’s self may too much zeal be had; the worst of madmen is a saint run mad.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
A policy is a temporary creed liable to be changed, but while it holds good it has got to be pursued with apostolic zeal.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Morale is the state of mind. It is steadfastness and courage and hope. It is confidence and zeal and loyalty. It is elan, esprit de corps and determination.
—George Marshall (1880–1959) American Military Leader
Zeal without humanity is like a ship without a rudder, liable to be stranded at any moment.
—Owen Feltham (1602–1668) English Essayist
I have never known a trader in philanthropy who was not wrong in his head or heart, somewhere or other.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
Zeal without knowledge is fire without light.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
The frenzy of nations is the statesmanship of fate.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Experience shows that success is due less to ability than to zeal. The winner is he who gives himself to his work, body and soul.
—Sir Thomas Buxton, 1st Baronet (1786–1845) English Politician, Social Reformer
People give the name of zeal to their propensity to mischief and violence, though it is not the cause, but their interest that inflames them.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Weaken a bad habit by avoiding everything that occasioned it or stimulated it, without concentrating upon it in your zeal to avoid it. Then divert your mind to some good habit and steadily cultivate it until it becomes a dependable part of you.
—Paramahansa Yogananda (1893–1952) Indian Hindu Mystic, Religious Leader, Philosopher, Teacher
Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government’s purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.
—Louis Brandeis (1856–1941) American Jurist
Zeal is fit for wise men, but flourishes chiefly among fools.
—John Tillotson
Zeal is very blind, or badly regulated, when it encroaches upon the rights of others.
—Pasquier Quesnel (1634–1719) French Jansenist Theologian
Too much zeal spoils everything.
—Common Proverb
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