Some believe all that parents, tutors, and kindred believe.—They take their principles by inheritance, and defend them as they would their estates, because they are born heirs to them.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Belief
It was a saying of the ancients, that “truth lies in a well” and to carry on the metaphor, we may justly say, that logic supplies us with steps whereby we may go down to reach the water.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Logic
Seize upon truth, wherever it is found, amongst your friends, amongst your foes, on Christian or on heathen ground; the flower’s divine where’er it grows.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Truth
Satan always finds some mischief for idle hands to do.
—Isaac Watts
The child, taught to believe any occurrence a good or evil omen, or any day of the week lucky, hath a wide in road made upon the soundness of his understanding.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Superstition
Fairest of lights above! thou sun whose beams adorn the spheres, and with unwearied swiftness move, to form the circle of our years.
—Isaac Watts
May I govern my passions with absolute sway, and grow wiser and better as life wears away.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Passion, Self-Control
Do not expect to arrive at certainty in every subject which you pursue. There are a hundred things wherein we mortals… must be content with probability, where our best light and reasoning will reach no farther.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Understanding
His rays are all gold, and his beauties are best, as painting the skies he sinks down in the West, and foretells a bright rising again.
—Isaac Watts
A dogmatical spirit inclines a man to be censorious of his neighbors.—Everyone of his opinions appears to him written as with sunbeams, and he grows angry that his neighbors do not see it in the same light.—He is tempted to disdain his correspondents as men of low and dark understanding because they do not believe what he does.
—Isaac Watts
Roses grow on thorns and honey wears a sting.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Proverbial Wisdom
Do not hover always on the surface of things, nor take up suddenly with mere appearances; but penetrate into the depth of matters, as far as your time and circumstances allow, especially in those things which relate to your profession.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Understanding, Perseverance, Learning
Preserve your conscience always soft and sensitive. If but one sin force its way into that tender part of the soul and is suffered to dwell there, the road is paved for a thousand iniquities.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Conscience
To be angry about trifles is mean and childish; to rage and be furious is brutish; and to maintain perpetual wrath is akin to the practice and temper of devils; but to prevent and suppress rising resentment is wise and glorious, is manly and divine.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Anger, Forgiveness
‘Tis the voice of the sluggard; I heard him complain, you have waked me too soon, I must slumber again.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Idleness, Laziness
When general observations are drawn from so many particulars as to become certain and indisputable, these are jewels of knowledge.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Observation
The fondness we have for self furnishes another long rank of prejudices.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Selfishness
Earth, thou great footstool of our God, who reigns on high; thou fruitful source of all our raiment, life, and food; our house, our parent, and our nurse.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Earth
Fancy and humor, early and constantly indulged, may expect an old age overrun with follies.
—Isaac Watts
So shines the setting sun on adverse skies, and paints a rainbow on the storm.
—Isaac Watts
Birds in their little nest agree; and ‘Tis a shameful sight, when children of one family fall out, and chide, and fight.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Children
Nothing tends so much to enlarge the mind as travelling, that is, making visits to other towns, cities, or countries beside those in which we were born and educated.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Travel
Though reading and conversation may furnish us with many ideas of men and things, yet it is our own meditation must form our judgment.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Meditation
Two sentiments alone suffice for man, were he to live the age of the rocks,—love, and the contemplation of the Deity.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Love
Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Laziness, Idleness
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- James Montgomery Scottish Poet, Journalist
- Frederick William Faber British Hymn Writer
- William Croswell Doane American Bishop
- Florence Nightingale English Nurse
- Christina Rossetti English Poet
- Philip Doddridge English Nonconformist Religious Leader
- William Cowper English Anglican Poet
- John Bunyan English Writer, Preacher
- John Keble English Clergyman
- Daniel Defoe English Writer
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