Sincerity is to speak as we think, to do as we pretend and profess, to perform what we promise, and really to be what we would seem and appear to be.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Sincerity
There is no man that is to himself knowingly guilty and that carries guilt about him, but receives a sting into his soul.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Remorse
Philosophy hath given us several plausible rules for attaining peace and tranquillity of mind, but they fall very much short of bringing men to it.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Philosophy
When we have practised good actions awhile, they become easy; when they are easy, we take pleasure in them; when they please us, we do them frequently; and then, by frequency of act, they grow into a habit.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Habit
There are two things in which men, in other things wise enough, do usually miscarry; in putting off the making of their wills and their repentance till it be too late.
—John Tillotson
Was ever any wicked man free from the stings of a guilty conscience—from a secret dread of the divine displeasure, and of the vengeance of another world?
—John Tillotson
Topics: Wickedness
Sincerity is like traveling on a plain, beaten road, which commonly brings a man sooner to his journey’s end than by-ways, in which men often lose themselves.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Sincerity
Though all afflictions are evils in themselves, yet they are good for us, because they discover to us our disease and tend to our cure.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Suffering
There is little pleasure in the world that is true and sincere beside the pleasure of doing our duty and doing good. I am sure no other is comparable to this.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Happiness, Pleasure
There is no sensual pleasure in the world comparable to the delight and satisfaction that a good man takes in doing good.
—John Tillotson
He that does not know those things which are of use and necessity for him to know, is but an ignorant man, whatever he may know besides.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Ignorance
It is hard to personate and act a part long; for where truth is not at the bottom nature will always be endeavoring to return, and will peep out and betray herself one time or another.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Hypocrisy
Truth is always consistent with itself, and needs nothing to help it out; it is always near at hand and sits upon our lips, and is ready to drop out before we are aware; whereas a lie is troublesome, and sets a man’s invention on the rack, and one trick needs a great many more of the same kind to make it good.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Lying, Truth
Is not he imprudent, who, seeing the tide making toward him apace, will sleep till the sea overwhelms him?
—John Tillotson
Topics: Procrastination
Profit or pleasure there is none in swearing, nor anything in men’s natural tempers to incite them to it. For though some men pour out oaths so freely, as if they came naturally from them, yet surely no man is born of a swearing constitution.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Profanity
A more glorious victory cannot be gained over another man, than this, that when the injury began on his part, the kindness should begin on ours.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Forgiveness
The covetous man heaps up riches, not to enjoy, but to have them; he starves himself in the midst of plenty; cheats and robs himself of that which is his own, and makes a hard shift to be as poor and miserable with a great estate as any man can be without it.
—John Tillotson
A good word is an easy obligation; but not to speak ill requires only our silence, which costs us nothing.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Words, Obligation, Silence
The short sayings of wise and good men are of great value, like the dust of gold, or the sparks of diamonds.
—John Tillotson
The vicious man lives at random, and acts by chance, for he that walks by no rule can carry on no settled or steady design.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Vice
In all the affairs of this world, so much reputation is, in reality, so much power.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Reputation
If God were not a necessary being of himself, he might almost seem to be made for the use and benefit of men.
—John Tillotson
Topics: God
Take away God and religion, and men live to no purpose, without proposing any worthy and considerable end of life to themselves.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Religion
The crafty person is always in danger; and when they think they walk in the dark, all their pretenses are transparent.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Deception/Lying, Deception
To be able to bear provocation is an argument of great reason, and to forgive it of a great mind.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Forgiveness
There is no fool equal to the sinner, who every moment ventures his soul.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Sin
The art of using deceit and cunning grow continually weaker and less effective to the user.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Deception/Lying, Deception
There is a pleasure in admiration; and this it is which properly causeth admiration, when we discover a great deal in an object which we understand to be excellent; and yet we see more beyond that, which our understandings cannot fully reach and comprehend.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Admiration
Ignorance and inconsideration are the two great causes of the ruin of mankind.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Ignorance
Mere success is one of the worst arguments in the world of a good cause, and the most improper to satisfy conscience: and yet in the issue it is the most successful of all other arguments, and does in a very odd, but effectual, way, satisfy the consciences of a great many men, by showing them their interest.
—John Tillotson
Topics: Success
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