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
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
May I govern my passions with absolute sway, and grow wiser and better as life wears away.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Self-Control, Passion
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
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
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
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
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
Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Idleness, Laziness
Raillery and wit were never made to answer our inquiries after truth, and to determine a question of rational controversy, though they may be sometimes serviceable to expose to contempt those inconsistent follies which have been first abundantly refuted by argument; they serve indeed only to cover nonsense with shame, when reason has first proved it to be mere nonsense.
—Isaac Watts
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
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: Perseverance, Learning, Understanding
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
So shines the setting sun on adverse skies, and paints a rainbow on the storm.
—Isaac Watts
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
‘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
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
The Lord builds up Jerusalem,
And gathers nations to his Name:
His mercy melts the stubborn soul,
And makes the broken spirit whole.
He form’d the stars, those heavenly flames,
He counts their numbers, calls their names:
His wisdom’s vast, and knows no bound,
A deep where all our thoughts are drown’d.
Great is our Lord, and great his might;
And all his glories infinite:
He crowns the meek, rewards the just,
And treads the wicked to the dust.
Sing to the Lord, exalt him high,
Who spreads his cloud all round the sky,
There he prepares the fruitful rain,
Nor lets the drops descend in vain.
He makes the grass the hills adorn,
And clothes the smiling fields with corn,
The beasts with food his hands supply,
And the young ravens when they cry.
What is the creature’s skill or force,
The sprightly man, the warlike horse,
The nimble wit, the active limb?
All are too mean delights for him.
But saints are lovely in his sight;
He views his children with delight:
He sees their hope, he knows their fear,
And looks and loves his image there.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: God
Fancy and humor, early and constantly indulged, may expect an old age overrun with follies.
—Isaac Watts
Roses grow on thorns and honey wears a sting.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Proverbial Wisdom
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
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
The fondness we have for self furnishes another long rank of prejudices.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Selfishness
Satan always finds some mischief for idle hands to do.
—Isaac Watts
When general observations are drawn from so many particulars as to become certain and indisputable, these are jewels of knowledge.
—Isaac Watts
Topics: Observation
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- James Montgomery Scottish Poet, Journalist
- Frederick William Faber British Hymn Writer
- William Croswell Doane American Anglican Hymn writer
- 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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