Whether zeal or moderation be the point we aim at, let us keep the fire out of the one, and the frost out of the other.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
To be furious in religion is to be irreligiously religious.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Philosopher, Political Leader
Zeal without humanity is like a ship without a rudder, liable to be stranded at any moment.
—Owen Feltham (1602–68) English Essayist
Awake, my soul! stretch every nerve, And press with vigour on; A heavenly race demands thy zeal, And an immortal crown.
—Philip Doddridge (1702–51) English Hymn Writer, Educator, Religious Leader
Zeal without knowledge is fire without light.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Zeal and duty are not slow; but on occasion’s firelock watchful wait.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
Zeal is like fire: it needs both feeding and watching.
—Common Proverb
Experience shows that success is due less to ability than to zeal. The winner is he who gives himself to his work, body and soul.
—Thomas Buxton, 1st Baronet (1786–1845) British Philanthropist, Abolitionist
I have never known a trader in philanthropy who was not wrong in his head or heart, somewhere or other.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
When we see an eager assailant of wrongs, a special reformer, we feel like asking him, What right have you, sir, to your one virtue? Is virtue piecemeal?
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Nothing can be fairer or more noble than the holy fervor of true zeal.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
Zeal for the public good is the characteristic of a man of honor and a gentleman, and must take the place of pleasures, profits, and all other private gratifications.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
I do not love a man who is zealous for nothing.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
If our zeal were true and genuine, we should be more angry with a sinner than with a heretic.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Zeal without knowledge is like expedition to a man in the dark.
—John Newton (1725–1807) English Clergyman, Writer
Morale is the state of mind. It is steadfastness and courage and hope. It is confidence and zeal and loyalty. It is elan, esprit de corps and determination.
—George Marshall (1880–1959) American General, Statesman
A policy is a temporary creed liable to be changed, but while it holds good it has got to be pursued with apostolic zeal.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
The frenzy of nations is the statesmanship of fate.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
Zeal is very blind, or badly regulated, when it encroaches upon the rights of others.
—Pasquier Quesnel (1634–1719) French Jansenist Theologian
People give the name of zeal to their propensity to mischief and violence, though it is not the cause, but their interest that inflames them.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Zealous men are ever displaying to you the strength of their belief, while judicious men are showing you the grounds of it.
—William Shenstone (1714–63) British Poet, Landscape Gardener
Never let your zeal outrun your charity. The former is but human, the latter is divine.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
Had I but served my God with half the zeal
I served my king, he would not in mine age
Have left me naked to mine enemies.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Nothing hath wrought more prejudice to religion, or brought more disparagement upon truth, than boisterous and unseasonable zeal.
—Isaac Barrow
Experience teaches us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government’s purpose is beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.
—Louis Brandeis (1856–1941) American Jurist
I like men who are temperate and moderate in everything. An excessive zeal for that which is good, though it may not be offensive to me, at all events raises my wonder, and leaves me in a difficulty how I should call it.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
For virtue’s self may too much zeal be had; the worst of madmen is a saint run mad.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
Zealots have an idol, to which they consecrate themselves high priests, and deem it holy work to offer sacrifices of whatever is most precious.
—Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–64) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Through zeal, knowledge is gotten; through lack of zeal, knowledge is lost.
—Buddhist Teaching
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