The religions we count false, may, for a time, have had their use; being, in their origin, faint, though misunderstood echoes of an early divine revelation, and also as Emerson says. “affirmations of the conscience, correcting the evil customs of their times.”
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Religion
If rich men would remember that shrouds have no pockets, they would, while living, share their wealth with their children, and give for the good of others, and so know the highest pleasure wealth can give.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Wealth, Charity
A large part of the discussions of disputants come from the want of accurate definition.—Let one define his terms and then stick to the definition, and half the differences in philosophy and theology would come to an end, and be seen to have no real foundation.
—Tryon Edwards
Whatever the place allotted to us by Providence, that for us is the post of honor and duty. God estimates us not by the position we are in, but by the way in which we fill it.
—Tryon Edwards
Think not rightly to examine yourself by looking only to your own inner motives and feelings, which are the hardest of all things to analyze if looked at in the abstract, and apart from outward actions. But ask, “Do I believe all that God teaches, and endeavor to do all that God commands?” For in this is the evidence of true love to him.
—Tryon Edwards
The secret of a good memory is attention, and attention to a subject depends upon our interest in it. We rarely forget that which has made a deep impression on our minds.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Concentration, Memory, Listening, Memories, Focus
Early instruction in truth will best keep out error. Some one has well said, “Fill the bushel with wheat, and you may defy the devil to fill it with tares.”
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Education
Looks are more expressive and reliable than words; they have a language which all understand, and language itself is to be interpreted by the look as well as tone with which it is uttered.
—Tryon Edwards
If you would thoroughly know anything, teach it to others.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: War, Knowledge, Teach, Mastery
Anxiety is the rust of life, destroying its brightness and weakening its power. A childlike and abiding trust in Providence is its best preventive and remedy.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Anger, Anxiety
Our censure of our fellowmen, which we are prone to think a proof of our superior wisdom, is too often only the evidence of the conceit that would magnify self, or of the malignity or envy that would detract from others.
—Tryon Edwards
Deviation from either truth or duty is a downward path, and none can say where the descent will end.—“He that despiseth small things shall fall by little and little.”
—Tryon Edwards
People never improve unless they look to some standard or example higher and better than themselves.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Example, Role models, Self-improvement, Progress
Never be so brief as to become obscure.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Brevity
When a tradesman is about to weigh his goods, he first of all looks to his scales and sees that his weights are right. And so for all wise, or safe, or profitable self-examination, we are not to look to frames, or feelings, or to the conduct of others, but to God’s word, which is the only true standard of decision.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Self-improvement
The study of mathematics cultivates the reason; that of the languages, at the same time, the reason and the taste. The former gives grasp and power to the mind; the latter both power and flexibility. The former, by itself, would prepare us for a state of certainties, which nowhere exists; the latter, for a state of probabilities, which is that of common life. Each, by itself, does but an imperfect work: in the union of both, is the best discipline for the mind, and the best mental training for the world as it is.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Mathematics
True religion extends alike to the intellect and the heart. Intellect is in vain if it leads not to emotion, and emotion is vain if not enlightened by intellect; and both are vain if not guided by truth and leading to duty.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Religion
The first impulse of conscience is apt to be right; the first impulse of appetite or passion is generally wrong.—We should be faithful to the former, but suspicious of the latter.
—Tryon Edwards
We never reach our ideals, whether of mental or moral improvement, but the thought of them shows us our deficiencies, and spurs us on to higher and better things.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Ethics, Morals, Ideals
God is infinitely great in himself; we should recognize it in humble adoration: always good; we should acknowledge it by grateful thanksgiving: we have constant need of his blessings; it becomes us to ask them at his hand.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Prayer
Of nineteen out of twenty things in children, take no special notice; but if, as to the twentieth, you give a direction or command, see that you are obeyed.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Children
Ridicule may be the evidence of wit or bitterness and may gratify a little mind, or an ungenerous temper, but it is no test of reason or truth.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Criticism
True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit—it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Humility
Sense, brevity, and point are the elements of a good proverb.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Proverbs
The philosophers, as Varro tells us. counted up three hundred and twenty answers to the question, “What is the supreme good?” How needful, then, is a divine revelation, to make plain what is the true end of our being.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Bible
Abuse of any one generally shows that he has marked traits of character. The stupid and indifferent are passed by in silence.
—Tryon Edwards
No true civilization can be expected permanently to continue which is not based on the great principles of Christianity.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Civilization
Have a time and place for everything, and do everything in its time and place, and you will not only accomplish more, but have far more leisure than those who are always hurrying, as if vainly attempting to overtake time that had been lost.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Value of Time, Procrastination, Time Management
Unbelief, in distinction from disbelief, is a confession of ignorance where honest inquiry might easily find the truth.—“Agnostic” is but the Greek for “ignoramus.”
—Tryon Edwards
A sound mind in a sound body; if the former be the glory of the latter, the latter is indispensable to the former.
—Tryon Edwards
Topics: Health
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Reinhold Niebuhr American Theologian
- Archibald Alexander Hodge American Presbyterian Theologian
- Anthony de Mello Indian-born American Theologian
- Paul Tillich German-American Theologian
- Samuel Rutherford Scottish Theologian
- George Matheson Scottish Theologian
- Conyers Middleton English Clergyman
- Karl Barth Swiss Protestant Theologian
- Johann Jacob Zimmermann German Theologian, Mathematician
- Henry Liddon English Theologian
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