The strength of man sinks in the hour of trial: but there doth live a power that to the battle girdeth the weak.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Weakness
Half uttered praise is to the curious mind, as to the eye half veiled beauty is more precious than the whole.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Praise
The brave man is not he who feels no fear, for that were stupid and irrational; but he whose noble soul subdues its fear, and bravely dares the danger nature shrinks from.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Courage, Bravery
The inward sighs of humble penitence rise to the ear of heaven, when pealed hymns are scattered to the common air.
—Joanna Baillie
Busy work brings after ease;
Ease brings sport and sport brings rest;
For young and old, of all degrees,
The mingled lot is best.
—Joanna Baillie
Heaven often smites in mercy, even when the blow is severest.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Adversity
Dreams full oft are found of real events the forms and shadows.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Dreams
A willing heart adds feather to the heel.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Attitude
He that will not give some portion of his ease, his blood, his wealth, for others’ good, is a poor, frozen churl.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Benevolence, Kindness, Philanthropy
A good man’s prayers will from the deepest dungeon climb heaven’s height, and bring a blessing down.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Prayer
Some men are born to feast, and not to fight; Whose sluggish minds, e’en in fair honor’s field, Still on their dinner turn—Let such pot-boiling varlets stay at home, And wield a flesh-hook rather than a sword.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Eating
That looked as though an angel, in his upward flight, had left his mantle floating in mid-air.
—Joanna Baillie
If my heart were not light, I would die.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Cheerfulness
Pampered vanity is a hotter thing perhaps than starved pride.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Vanity
She who only finds her self-esteem in admiration, depends on others for her daily food and is the very servant of her slaves.—Over men she may exert a childish power, which not ennobles, but degrades her state.
—Joanna Baillie
I believe the earth on which we stand is but the vestibule to glorious mansions, to which a moving crowd is forever pressing.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Earth
From the sad years of life we sometimes do short hours, yea, minutes strike, keen, blissful, bright, never to be forgotten; which, through the dreary gloom of time o’erpast, shine like fair sunny spots on a wild waste.
—Joanna Baillie