Discover a wealth of wisdom and insight from Henry Ward Beecher through their most impactful and thought-provoking quotes and sayings. Expand your perspective with their inspiring words and share these beautiful Henry Ward Beecher quote pictures with your friends and followers on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or your personal blog - all free of charge. We've compiled the top 846 Henry Ward Beecher quotes for you to explore and share with others.

Unfruitful emotion is to be suspected. Feeling acts as an impulse, as a spur, as a spring, and when feelings are excited, and they put nothing forward, they are sometimes even dangerous to a man. By Henry Ward Beecher Unfruitful Suspected Emotion Impulse Spur

Even a liar tells a hundred truths to one lie; he has to, to make the lie good for anything. By Henry Ward Beecher Lie Liar Hundred Truths Make

There never was a liar that had not a spot in him where he could not help admiring truth. By Henry Ward Beecher Truth Liar Spot Admiring

Theology is but a science of applied to God. As schools change theology must necessarily change. Truth is everlasting, but our ideas of truth are not. Theology is but our ideas of truth classified and arranged. By Henry Ward Beecher God Theology Truth Ideas Science

A man is a fool who sits looking backward from himself in the past. Ah, what shallow, vain conceit there is in man! Forget the things that are behind. That is not where you live. Your roots are not there. They are in the present; and you should reach up into the other life. By Henry Ward Beecher Past Man Fool Sits Backward

A tool is but the extension of a man's hand, and a machine is but a complex tool. And he that invents a machine augments the power of a man and the well-being of mankind. By Henry Ward Beecher Tool Man Machine Hand Extension

You never know till you try to reach them how accessible men are; but you must approach each man by the right door. By Henry Ward Beecher Door Till Reach Accessible Men

The gravest events dawn with no more noise than the morning star makes in rising. All great developments complete themselves in the world and modestly wait in silence, praising themselves never, and announcing themselves not at all. We must be sensitive, and sensible, if we would see the beginnings and endings of great things. That is our part. By Henry Ward Beecher Rising Gravest Events Dawn Noise

Sometimes fear is wholesome and rational; it is well to swing fear as a mighty battle-axe over men's heads when no other motive will move them. By Henry Ward Beecher Rational Fear Wholesome Swing Mighty

Oh, ye infidel philosophers, teach me how to find joy in sorrow, strength in weakness, and light in darkest days; how to bear buffeting and scorn; how to welcome death, and to pass through it into the sphere of life, and this not for me only, but for the whole world that groans and travails in pain; and till you can do this, speak not to me of a better revelation than the Bible. By Henry Ward Beecher Bible Philosophers Teach Sorrow Strength

It is one of the severest tests of friendship to tell your friend his faults. So to love a man that you cannot bear to see a stain upon him, and to speak painful truth through loving words, that is friendship. By Henry Ward Beecher Faults Friendship Severest Tests Friend

A book is good company. It is full of conversation without loquacity. It comes to your longing with full instruction, but pursues you never. By Henry Ward Beecher Company Book Good Full Loquacity

The Bible is God's chart for you to steer by, to keep you from the bottom of the sea, and to show you where the harbor is, and how to reach it without running on rocks or bars. By Henry Ward Beecher Bible God Sea Bars Chart

It is a bitter thought to an avaricious spirit that by and by all these accumulations must be left behind. We can only carry away from this world the flavor of our good or evil deeds. By Henry Ward Beecher Bitter Thought Avaricious Spirit Accumulations

A gamester, as such, is the cool, calculating, essential spirit of concentrated, avaricious selfishness. By Henry Ward Beecher Calculating Gamester Cool Essential Concentrated

Scepticism is a barren coast, without a harbor or lighthouse. By Henry Ward Beecher Scepticism Coast Lighthouse Barren Harbor

Prayer covers the whole of man's life. There is no thought, feeling, yearning, or desire, however low, trifling, or vulgar we may deem it, which if it affects our real interest or happiness, we may not lay before God and be sure of sympathy. By Henry Ward Beecher Prayer Life Covers Man Feeling

What is the Bible in your house? It is not the Old Testament, it is not the New Testament, it is not the Gospel according to Matthew, or Mark, or Luke, or John; it is the Gospel according to William; it is the Gospel according to Mary; it is the Gospel according to Henry and James; it is the Gospel according to your name. You write your own Bible. By Henry Ward Beecher Gospel Testament Bible House Matthew

When a man's pride is subdued it's like the sides of Mount Aetna. It was terrible during the eruption, but when that is over and the lava is turned into soil, there are vineyards and olive trees which grow up to the top. By Henry Ward Beecher Aetna Mount Man Pride Subdued

Love is the river of life in this world. Think not that ye know it who stand at the little tinkling rill, the first small fountain. Not until you have gone through the rocky gorges, and not lost the stream; not until you nave gone through the meadow, and the stream has widened and deepened until fleets could ride on its bosom; not until beyond the meadow you have come to the unfathomable ocean, and poured your treasures into its depthsnot until then can you know what love is. By Henry Ward Beecher World Love River Life Stream

What we call wisdom is the result of all the wisdom of past ages. Our best institutions are like young trees growing upon the roots of the old trunks that have crumbled away. By Henry Ward Beecher Wisdom Ages Call Result Past

Your honors here may serve you for a time, as it were for an hour, but they will be of no use to you beyond this world. Nobody will have heard a word of your honors in the other life. Your glory, your shame, your ambitions, and all the treasures for which you push hard and sacrifice much will be like wreaths of smoke. For these things, which you mostly seek, and for which you spend your life only tarry with you while you are on this side of the flood. By Henry Ward Beecher Honors Time Hour World Serve

The cynic is one who never sees a good quality in a man, and never fails to see a bad one. He is the human owl, vigilant in darkness and blind to light, mousing for vermin, and never seeing noble game. By Henry Ward Beecher Man Cynic Good Quality Fails

Affliction comes to us all, not to make us sad, but sober; not to make us sorry, but to make us wise; not to make us despondent, but by its darkness to refresh us as the night refreshes the day; not to impoverish, but to enrich us By Henry Ward Beecher Make Affliction Sad Sober Wise

There is no slave out of heaven like a loving woman; and of all loving women, there is no such slave as a mother. By Henry Ward Beecher Woman Women Mother Slave Loving

Thou, Everlasting Strength, hast set Thyself forth to bear our burdens. May we bear Thy cross, and bearing that; find there is nothing else to bear; and touching that cross, find that instead of taking away our strength, it adds thereto. Give us faith for darkness, for trouble, for sorrow, for bereavement, for disappointment; give us a faith that will abide though the earth itself should pass awaya faith for living, a faith for dying. By Henry Ward Beecher Everlasting Strength Thyself Bear Faith

In the family, happiness is in the ratio in which eachis serving the others, seeking one another's good,and bearing one another's burdens. By Henry Ward Beecher Family Happiness Seeking Burdens Ratio

We let our blessings get mouldy, and then call them curses. By Henry Ward Beecher Mouldy Curses Blessings Call

The strength of a man consists in finding out the way God is going, and going that way. By Henry Ward Beecher God Strength Man Consists Finding

To the great tree-loving fraternity we belong. We love trees with universal and unfeigned love, and all things that do grow under them or around them - the whole leaf and root tribe. By Henry Ward Beecher Belong Great Treeloving Fraternity Love

God makes the life fertile by disappointments, as he makes the ground fertile by frosts. By Henry Ward Beecher Makes Fertile God Disappointments Frosts

Socially we are woven into the fabric of society, where every man is like one thread in a piece of cloth. No single thread has a right to say, "I will stay here no longer," and draw out. No man has a right to make a hole in the well-woven fabric of society. By Henry Ward Beecher Society Socially Cloth Thread Fabric

People may talk about the equality of the sexes! They are not equal. The silent smile of a sensible, loving woman will vanquish ten men. By Henry Ward Beecher People Sexes Talk Equality Equal

There was never a person who did anything worth doing that he did not receive more than he gave. By Henry Ward Beecher Gave Person Worth Receive

Many men are mere warehouses full of merchandisethe head, the heart, are stuffed with goods ... There are apartments in their souls which were once tenanted by taste, and love, and joy, and worship, but they are all deserted now, and the rooms are filled with earthy and material things. By Henry Ward Beecher Head Heart Goods Men Mere

Well married, a man is winged - ill-matched, he is shackled. By Henry Ward Beecher Illmatched Married Winged Shackled Man

It is a view of God that compensates every thing else, and enables the soul to rest in His bosom. How, when the child in the night screams with terror, hearing sounds that it knows not of, is that child comforted and put to rest? Is it by a philosophical explanation that the sounds were made by the rats in the partition? Is it by imparting entomological knowledge? No; it is by the mother taking the child in her lap, and singing sweetly to it, and rocking it. And the child thinks nothing of the explanation, but only of the mother. By Henry Ward Beecher God Child Rest Bosom View

A cup of coffee - real coffee - home-browned, home ground, home made, that comes to you dark as a hazel-eye, but changes to a golden bronze as you temper it with cream that never cheated, but was real cream from its birth, thick, tenderly yellow, perfect! By Henry Ward Beecher Coffee Home Homebrowned Thick Perfect

Remember God's bounty in the year. String the pearls of His favor. Hide the dark parts, except so far as they are breaking out in light! Give this one day to thanks, to joy, to gratitude! By Henry Ward Beecher God Remember Year Bounty String

Death is the dropping of the flower, that the fruit may, swell. By Henry Ward Beecher Swell Death Flower Dropping Fruit

Flowers are sent to do God's work in unrevealed paths, and to diffuse influence by channels that we hardly suspect. By Henry Ward Beecher God Flowers Paths Suspect Work

The pie should be eaten "while it is yet florescent, white or creamy yellow, with the merest drip of candied juice along the edges, (as if the flavor were so good to itself that its own lips watered!) of a mild and modest warmth, the sugar suggesting jelly, yet not jellied, the morsels of apple neither dissolved nor yet in original substance, but hanging as it were in a trance between the spirit and the flesh of applehood ... then, O blessed man, favored by all the divinities! eat, give thanks, and go forth, 'in apple-pie order!'" By Henry Ward Beecher Eaten Florescent White Yellow Edges

I used to think the Lord's Prayer was a short prayer; but as I live longer, and see more of life, I begin to believe there is no such thing as getting through it. If a man, in praying that prayer, were to be stopped by every word until he had thoroughly prayed it, it would take him a lifetime. By Henry Ward Beecher Lord Prayer Longer Life Short

Gambling with cards or dice or stocks is all one thing. It's getting money without giving an equivalent for it. By Henry Ward Beecher Gambling Thing Cards Dice Stocks

A man's character is the reality of himself; his reputation, the opinion others have formed about him; character resides in him, reputation in other people; that is the substance, this is the shadow. By Henry Ward Beecher Character Reputation People Substance Shadow

That state of mind in which a man is impressed with invisible things is faith. By Henry Ward Beecher Faith State Mind Man Impressed

No matter how good the walls and the materials are; if the foundations are not strong, the building will not stand. By and by, in some upper room, a crack will appear; and men will say: "There is the crack; but the cause is the foundation." So if, in youth, you lay the foundation of your character wrongly, the penalty will be sure to follow. The crack may be far down in old age, but somewhere it will certainly appear. By Henry Ward Beecher Foundation Crack Strong Stand Matter

The superfluous blossoms on a fruit tree are meant to symbolize the large way God loves to do pleasant things. By Henry Ward Beecher God Things Superfluous Blossoms Fruit

The test of Christian character should be that a man is a joy-bearing agent to the world. By Henry Ward Beecher Christian World Test Character Man

Boys have their soft and gentle moods too. You would suppose by the morning racket that nothing could be more foreign to their nature than romance and vague sadness ... But boys have hours of great sinking and sadness, when kindness and fondness are peculiarly needful to them. By Henry Ward Beecher Sadness Boys Soft Gentle Moods

The slave labors, but with no cheer-it is not the road to respectability, it will honor him with no citizens' trust, it brings no bread to his family, no grain to his garner, no leisure in after-days, no books or papers to his children. It opens no school-house door, builds no church, rears for him no factory, lays no keel, fills no bank, earns no acres. With sweat and toil and ignorance he consumes his life, to pour the earnings into channels from which he does no drink, into hands that never honor him. But perpetually rob and often torment. By Henry Ward Beecher Labors Respectability Trust Family Garner

At the bottom of every leaf-stem is a cradle, and in it is an infant germ; the winds will rock it, the birds will sing to it all summer long, but the next season it will unfold and go alone. By Henry Ward Beecher Cradle Germ Long Bottom Leafstem

It is not work that kills men; it is worry. Work is healthy; you can hardly put more upon a man than he can bear. Worry is the rust upon the blade. It is not the revolution which destroys the machinery but the friction. Fear secretes acids; but love and trust are sweet juices. By Henry Ward Beecher Men Work Kills Worry Healthy

God has intended the great to be great and the little to be little ... The trade unions, under the European system, destroy liberty ... I do not mean to say that a dollar a day is enough to support a workingman ... not enough to support a man and five children if he insists on smoking and drinking beer. But the man who cannot live on bread and water is not fit to live! A family may live on good bread and water in the morning, water and bread at midday, and good bread and water at night! By Henry Ward Beecher Great Bread Water God Live

Heaven is a place of restless activity, the abode of never-tiring thought. By Henry Ward Beecher Heaven Activity Thought Place Restless

He that does not know how wisely to meddle with public affairs in preaching the gospel, does not know how to preach the gospel. By Henry Ward Beecher Gospel Wisely Meddle Public Affairs

A man should fear when he enjoys only the good he does publicly. Is it not, publicity rather than charity, which he loves? Is it not vanity, rather than benevolence, that gives such charities? By Henry Ward Beecher Publicly Man Fear Enjoys Good

There are more quarrels smothered by just shutting your mouth, and holding it shut, than by all the wisdom in the world. By Henry Ward Beecher Mouth Shut World Quarrels Smothered

Religion, in one sense, is a life of self-denial, just as husbandry, in one sense, is a work of death. By Henry Ward Beecher Sense Religion Selfdenial Husbandry Death

There can be no barrenness in full summer. The very sand will yield something. Rocks will have mosses, and every rift will have its wind-flower, and every crevice a leaf; while from the fertile soil will be reared a gorgeous troop of growths, that will carry their life in ten thousand forms, but all with praise to God. And so it is when the soul knows its summer. Love redeems its weakness, clothes its barrenness, enriches its poverty, and makes its very desert to bud and blossom as the rose. By Henry Ward Beecher Summer Full Barrenness God Sand

For fidelity, devotion, love, many a two-legged animal is below the dog and the horse. Happy would it be for thousands of people if they could stand at last before the Judgment Seat and say, I have loved as truly and have lived as decently as my dog, and yet we call them only brutes. By Henry Ward Beecher Devotion Love Fidelity Horse Dog

Next to the pastoral came the agricultural life. When you add to that the manufacturing phase of development, society begins to fill out, and needs but wings to fly, and commerce is its wings. By Henry Ward Beecher Life Pastoral Agricultural Wings Development

The great men of earth are the shadow men, who, having lived and died, now live again and forever through their undying thoughts. Thus living, though their footfalls are heard no more, their voices are louder than the thunder, and unceasing as the flow of tides or air. By Henry Ward Beecher Men Died Thoughts Great Earth

Books are the true metempsychosis,they are the symbol and presage of immortality. The dead men are scattered, and none shall find them. Behold they are here! they do but sleep. By Henry Ward Beecher Books Immortality True Metempsychosisthey Symbol

None love to speak so much, when the mood of speaking comes, as they who are naturally taciturn. By Henry Ward Beecher Taciturn Love Speak Mood Speaking

If one asks me the meaning of our flag, I say to him: It means all that the Constitution of our people, organizing for justice, for liberty, and for happiness, meant. Our flag carries American ideas, American history and American feelings. This American flag was the safeguard of liberty. It was an ordinance of liberty by the people, for the people. That it meant, that it means, and, by the blessing of God, that it shall mean to the end of time! By Henry Ward Beecher American Constitution People Flag Liberty

Nothing can be more airy and beautiful than the transparent seed-globe-a fairy dome of splendid architecture. By Henry Ward Beecher Transparent Fairy Architecture Airy Beautiful

No church can be prospered in which all the ministration comes from the pulpit. By Henry Ward Beecher Pulpit Church Prospered Ministration

Happy is the man who has that in his soul which acts upon the dejected as April airs upon violet roots. Gifts from the hand are silver and gold, but the heart gives that which neither silver nor gold can buy. To be full of goodness, full of cheerfulness, full of sympathy, full of helpful hope, causes a man to carry blessings of which he is himself as unconscious as a lamp is of its own shining. Such a one moves on human life as stars move on dark seas to bewildered mariners; as the sun wheels, bringing all the seasons with him from the south. By Henry Ward Beecher April Full Happy Roots Soul

Next to ingratitude the most painful thing to bear is gratitude. By Henry Ward Beecher Gratitude Ingratitude Painful Thing Bear

To do good work a man should no doubt be industrious. To do great work he must certainly be idle a well. By Henry Ward Beecher Industrious Work Good Man Doubt

Though cares and sorrows e'er must come, Though heart be rent, I know that God will give me strength, When mine is spent. By Henry Ward Beecher God Rent Strength Spent Cares

Take from the Bible the Godship of Christ, and it would be but a heap of dust. By Henry Ward Beecher Christ Bible Godship Dust Heap

To become an able and successful man in any profession, three things are necessary, nature, study and practice. By Henry Ward Beecher Nature Profession Study Practice Successful

The Bible stands alone in human literature in its elevated conception of manhood, in character and conduct. By Henry Ward Beecher Bible Manhood Conduct Stands Human

A library is but the soul's burial ground; it is the land of shadows. Yet one is impressed with the thought, the labor, and the struggle, represented in this vast catacomb of books. Who could dream, by the placid waters that issue from the level mouths of brooks into the lake, all the plunges, the whirls, the divisions, and foaming rushes that had brought them down to the tranquil exit? And who can guess through what channels of disturbance, and experiences of sorrow, the heart passed that has emptied into this Dead Sea of books? By Henry Ward Beecher Ground Shadows Books Library Soul

If Christ is not divine, every impulse of the Christian world falls to a lower octave, and light and love and hope decline. By Henry Ward Beecher Christ Christian Divine Octave Decline

Thinking cannot be clear until it has had expression-we must write, or speak, or act our thoughts, or they will remain in half torpid form. Our feelings must have expression, or they will be as clouds, which, till they descend in rain, will never bring up fruit or flowers. So it is with all the inward feelings; expression gives them development-thought is the blossom; language is the opening bud; action the fruit behind it. By Henry Ward Beecher Thinking Write Speak Thoughts Form

Some folks think that Christianity means a kind of insurance policy, and that it has little to do with this life, but that it is a very good thing when a man dies. By Henry Ward Beecher Christianity Policy Life Dies Folks

There is no greater crime than to stand between a man and his development; to take any law or institution and put it around him like a collar, and fasten it there, so that as he grows and enlarges, he presses against it till he suffocates and dies. By Henry Ward Beecher Development Collar Enlarges Dies Greater

There are some men's souls that are so thin, so almost destitute of what is the true idea of soul, that were not the guardian angels so keen-sighted, they would altogether overlook them. By Henry Ward Beecher Thin Keensighted Men Destitute True

As the imagination is set to look into the invisible and immaterial, it seems to attract something of their vitality; and though it can give nothing to the body to redeem it from years, it can give to the soul that freshness of youth in old age which is even more beautiful than youth in the young. By Henry Ward Beecher Give Youth Immaterial Vitality Years

God is a being who gives everything but punishment in over measure. By Henry Ward Beecher God Measure Punishment

As warmth makes even glaciers trickle, and opens streams in the ribs of frozen mountains, so the heart knows the full flow and life of its grief only when it begins to melt and pass away. By Henry Ward Beecher Trickle Mountains Warmth Makes Glaciers

Love is the world's river of life By Henry Ward Beecher Love Life World River

A conservative young man has wound up his life before it was unreeled. We expect old men to be conservative but when a nation's young men are so, its funeral bell is already rung. By Henry Ward Beecher Unreeled Conservative Young Man Wound

When we borrow trouble, and look forward into the future and see what storms are coming, and distress ourselves before they come, as to how we shall avert them if they ever do come, we lose our proper trustfulness in God. When we torment ourselves with imaginary dangers, or trials, or reverses, we have already parted with that perfect love which casteth out fear. By Henry Ward Beecher God Trouble Coming Borrow Forward

Like the cellar-growing vine is the Christian who lives in the darkness and bondage of fear. But let him go forth, with the liberty of God, into the light of love, and he will be like the plant in the field, healthy, robust, and joyful. By Henry Ward Beecher Christian Fear Cellargrowing Vine Lives

Every fresh act of benevolence is the herald of deeper satisfaction; every charitable act a stepping-stone towards heaven. By Henry Ward Beecher Satisfaction Heaven Act Fresh Benevolence

There's not much practical Christianity in the man who lives on better terms with angels and seraphs than with his children, servants and neighbours. By Henry Ward Beecher Christianity Children Servants Neighbours Practical

Man is at the bottom an animal, midway a citizen, and at the top divine. But the climate of this world is such that few ripen at the top. By Henry Ward Beecher Man Animal Midway Citizen Divine

O Lord God, we pray that we may be inspired to nobleness of life in the least things. May we dignify all our daily life. May we set such a sacredness upon every part of our life, that nothing shall be trivial, nothing unimportant, and nothing dull, in the daily round. By Henry Ward Beecher God Lord Things Life Pray

A man never has good luck who has a bad wife. By Henry Ward Beecher Wife Man Good Luck Bad

The natural term of an apple-pie is but twelve hours. It reaches its highest state about one hour after it comes from the oven, and just before its natural heat has quite departed. But every hour afterward is a declension. And after it is one day old, it is thence-forward but the ghastly corpse of apple-pie. By Henry Ward Beecher Natural Term Twelve Hour Applepie

Weak minds may be injured by novel-reading; but sensible people find both amusement and instruction therein. By Henry Ward Beecher Weak Novelreading Minds Injured People

Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past. By Henry Ward Beecher January Man Born Day Start

A man who cannot get angry is like a stream that cannot overflow, that is always turbid. Sometimes indignation is as good as a thunderstorm in summer, clearing and cooling the air. By Henry Ward Beecher Overflow Turbid Man Angry Stream

The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things. By Henry Ward Beecher Things Art Happy Lies Power

Adversity is the mint in which God stamps upon man his image and superscription. By Henry Ward Beecher God Adversity Superscription Mint Stamps

Give us that calm certainty of truth, that nearness to Thee, that conviction of the reality of the life to come, which we shall need to bear us through the troubles of this. By Henry Ward Beecher Thee Give Truth Calm Certainty

It is the color which love wears, and cheerfulness, and joythese three. It is the light in the window of the face by which the heart signifies to father, husband, or friend that it is at home and waiting. By Henry Ward Beecher Wears Cheerfulness Color Love Joythese

God planted fear in the soul as truly as he planted hope and courage. It is a kind of bell or gong, which rings the mind into quick life and avoidance on the approach of danger. It is the soul's signal for rallying. By Henry Ward Beecher Planted God Courage Soul Fear

Education will not come of itself; it will never come unless you seek it; it will not come unless you take the first steps which lead to it; but, taking these steps, every man can acquire it. By Henry Ward Beecher Steps Education Taking Seek Lead

The continuance and frequent fits of anger produce in the soul a propensity to be angry; which oftentimes ends in choler, bitterness, and moronity, when the mid becomes ulcerated, peevish, and querulous, and is wounded by the least occurrence. By Henry Ward Beecher Bitterness Peevish Angry Choler Moronity

I can forgive, but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I will not forgive. Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note - torn in two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one. By Henry Ward Beecher Forgive Forget Forgiveness Note Torn

Wealth held by a class and used ambitiously becomes as despotic as an absolute monarchy, and has in its hands manners, customs, laws, institutions, and governments themselves. By Henry Ward Beecher Customs Laws Institutions Wealth Monarchy

Anxiety in human life is what squeaking and grinding are in machinery that is not oiled. In life, trust is the oil. By Henry Ward Beecher Anxiety Oiled Life Human Squeaking

When the old creeds are threadbare, and worn through, And all too narrow for the broadening soul, Give me the fine, firm texture of the new, Fair, beautiful and whole! By Henry Ward Beecher Fair Give Threadbare Soul Fine

Men do not avail themselves of the riches of God's grace. They love to nurse their cares, and seem as uneasy without some fret as an old friar would be without his hair girdle. They are commanded to cast their cares upon the Lord, but even when they attempt it, they do not fail to catch them up again, and think it meritorious to walk burdened. By Henry Ward Beecher God Men Grace Avail Riches

The conditions of city life may be made healthy, so far as the physical constitution is concerned; but there is connected with the business of the city so much competition, so much rivalry, so much necessity for industry, that I think it is a perpetual, chronic, wholesale violation of natural law. There are ten men that can succeed in the country, where there is one that can succeed in the city. By Henry Ward Beecher City Chronic Healthy Concerned Competition

A practical, matter-of-fact man is like a wagon without springs: every single pebble on the road jolts him; but a man with imagination has springs that break the jar and jolt. By Henry Ward Beecher Man Springs Practical Wagon Single

If anyone, then, asks me the meaning of our flag, I say to him - it means just what Concord and Lexington meant; what Bunker Hill meant; which was, in short, the rising up of a valiant young people against an old tyranny to establish the most momentous doctrine that the world had ever known - the right of men to their own selves and to their liberties. By Henry Ward Beecher Meant Concord Lexington Bunker Hill

Thinking is creating with God, as thinking is writing with the ready writer; and worlds are only leaves turned over in the process of composition, about his throne. By Henry Ward Beecher God Thinking Writer Composition Throne

Never be grandiloquent when you want to drive home a searching truth. Don't whip with a switch that has the leaves on, if you want it to tingle. By Henry Ward Beecher Truth Grandiloquent Drive Home Searching

Astronomers have built telescopes which can show myriads of stars unseen before; but when a man looks through a tear in his own eye, that is a lens which opens reaches into the unknown, and reveals orbs which no telescope, however skilfully constructed, could do. By Henry Ward Beecher Astronomers Eye Unknown Constructed Built

Human life is God's outer church. Its needs and urgencies are priests and pastors. By Henry Ward Beecher God Human Church Life Outer

Our children that die young are like those spring bulbs which have their flowers prepared beforehand, and leave nothing to do but to break ground, and blossom, and pass away. Thank God for spring flowers among men, as well as among the grasses of the field. By Henry Ward Beecher Ground Blossom Spring Flowers Children

Young love is a flame; very pretty, often very hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. The love of the older and disciplined heart is as coals, deep burning, unquenchable. By Henry Ward Beecher Young Flame Pretty Fierce Flickering

It is a higher exhibition of Christian manliness to be able to bear trouble than to get rid of it. By Henry Ward Beecher Christian Higher Exhibition Manliness Bear

Public sentiment is to public officers what water is to the wheel of the mill. By Henry Ward Beecher Mill Public Sentiment Officers Water

It gives one a sudden start in going down a barren, stoney street, to see upon a narrow strip of grass, just within the iron fence, the radiant dandelion, shining in the grass, like a spark dropped from the sun. By Henry Ward Beecher Grass Barren Stoney Street Fence

We go to the grave of a friend saying,"A man is dead,"but angels throng about him saying,"A man is born." By Henry Ward Beecher Man Dead Born Grave Friend

Death is the Christian's vacation morning. School is out. It is time to go home. By Henry Ward Beecher Christian Death Morning Vacation School

As flowers carry dewdrops, trembling on the edges of the petals, and ready to fall at the first waft of wind or brush of bird, so the heart should carry its beaded words of thanksgiving; and at the first breath of heavenly flavor, let down the shower, perfumed with the heart's gratitude. By Henry Ward Beecher Heart Carry Dewdrops Trembling Petals

There have been many men who left behind them that which hundreds of years have not worn out. The earth has Socrates and Plato to this day. The world is richer yet by Moses and the old prophets than by the wisest statesmen. We are indebted to the past. We stand in the greatness of ages that are gone rather than in that of our own. But of how many of us shall it be said that, being dead, we yet speak? By Henry Ward Beecher Men Left Hundreds Years Worn

Men judge of Christians by taking as fair samples those that lie rotten on the ground. By Henry Ward Beecher Christians Men Ground Judge Taking

Thorough selfishness destroys or paralyzes enjoyment. A heart made selfish by the contest for wealth is like a citadel stormed in war, utterly shattered. By Henry Ward Beecher Enjoyment Selfishness Destroys Paralyzes War

Sink the Bible to the bottom of the ocean, and still man's obligations to God would be unchanged. He would have the same path to tread, only his lamp and guide would be gone; the same voyage to make, but his chart and compass would be overboard! By Henry Ward Beecher Bible God Sink Ocean Unchanged

Home should be an oratorio of the memory, singing to all our after life melodies and harmonies of old-remembered joy. By Henry Ward Beecher Home Memory Singing Joy Oratorio

Our yearnings are homesicknesses for heaven; our sighings are for God, just as children that cry themselves asleep away from home, and sob in their slumber, know not that they sob for their parents. The soul's inarticulate moanings are the affections yearning for the Infinite, and having no one to tell them what it is that ails them. By Henry Ward Beecher God Sob Heaven Home Slumber

Each book has a secret history of ways and means. By Henry Ward Beecher Book Secret History

May we feel after Thee; still calling out in the darkness, as children waking in the night call "Father," so may we call out for God; and, at times, even if we do not hear Thy voice, may there be the form of a hand resting upon us, and that shall be enough; for we shall take hold of it, though it be in the dark, and it shall guide us to the growing light; for the day shall come, and the release and triumph. By Henry Ward Beecher Father Thee God Call Thy

It is often said it is no matter what a man believes if he is only sincere. This is true of all minor truths, and false of all truths whose nature it is to fashion a man's life. It will make no difference in a man's harvest whether he thinks turnips have more saccharine matter than potatoeswhether corn is better than wheat. But let the man sincerely believe that seed planted without ploughing is as good as with, that January is as favorable for seed sowing as April, and that cockle seed will produce as good a harvest as wheat, and will it make no difference? By Henry Ward Beecher Man Sincere Matter Seed Wheat

The man who perceives life only with his eye, his ear, his hand, and his tongue, is but little higher than the ox or an intelligent dog; but he who has imagination sees things around and above him, as the angels see them. By Henry Ward Beecher Eye Ear Hand Tongue Dog

When young men or women are beginning life, the most important period, it is often said, is that in which their habits are formed. That is a very important period. But the period in which the ideals of the young are formed and adopted is more important still. For the ideal with which you go forward to measure things determines the nature, so far as you are concerned, of everything you meet. By Henry Ward Beecher Important Period Life Formed Men

There are multitudes of persons whose idea of liberty is the right to do what they please, instead of the right of doing that which is lawful and best. By Henry Ward Beecher Multitudes Persons Idea Liberty Lawful

I will not say it is not Christian to make beads of others faults, and tell them over every day; I say it is infernal. If you want to know how the Devil feels, you do know, if you are such an one. By Henry Ward Beecher Christian Faults Day Infernal Make

Some men think that the globe is a sponge that God puts into their hands to squeeze for their own garden or flower-pot. By Henry Ward Beecher God Flowerpot Men Globe Sponge

We never know how much one loves till we know how much he is willing to endure and suffer for us; and it is the suffering element that measures love. The characters that are great must, of necessity, be characters that shall be willing, patient and strong to endure for others. To hold our nature in the willing service of another is the divine idea of manhood, of the human character. By Henry Ward Beecher Endure Till Suffer Suffering Element

Men who stand on any other foundation than the rock Christ Jesus are like birds that build in trees by the side of rivers. The bird sings in the branches, and the river sings below, but all the while the waters are undermining the soil about the roots, till, in some unsuspected hour, the tree falls with a crash into the stream; and then its nest is sunk, its home is gone, and the bird is a wanderer. By Henry Ward Beecher Christ Jesus Bird Men Stand

Before men we stand as opaque bee-hives. They can see the thoughts go in and out of us; but what work they do inside of a man they cannot tell. Before God we are as glass bee-hives, and all that our thoughts are doing within us he perfectly sees and understands. By Henry Ward Beecher Beehives Men Stand Opaque Thoughts

Life would be a perpetual flea hunt if a man were obliged to run down all the innuendoes, inveracities, and insinuations and misrepresentations which are uttered against him. By Henry Ward Beecher Inveracities Life Innuendoes Perpetual Flea

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures. By Henry Ward Beecher Soul Pictures Artist Dips Brush

Go on your knees before God. Bring all your idols; bring self-will, and pride, and every evil lust before Him, and give them up. Devote yourself, heart and soul, to His will; and see if you do not know of the doctrine. By Henry Ward Beecher God Bring Knees Idols Selfwill

In the sacred precinct of that dwelling where the despotic woman wields the sceptre of fierce neatness, one treads as if he carried his life in his hands. By Henry Ward Beecher Neatness Hands Sacred Precinct Dwelling

Temptations are enemies outside the castle seeking entrance. If there be no false retainer within who holds treacherous parley, there can scarcely be even an offer. By Henry Ward Beecher Temptations Entrance Enemies Castle Seeking

When our children die, we drop them into the unknown, shuddering with fear. We know that they go out from us, and we stand, and pity, and wonder. By Henry Ward Beecher Die Unknown Shuddering Fear Children

Nothing dies so hard, or rallies so often as intolerance. By Henry Ward Beecher Hard Intolerance Dies Rallies

There is tonic in the things that men do not love to hear. Free speech is to a great people what the winds are to oceans ... and where free speech is stopped miasma is bred, and death comes fast. By Henry Ward Beecher Hear Speech Tonic Things Men

Laughter is day, and sobriety is night; a smile is the twilight that hovers gently between both, more bewitching than either. By Henry Ward Beecher Laughter Day Night Sobriety Smile

The poor man with industry is happier than the rich man in idleness. By Henry Ward Beecher Idleness Man Poor Industry Happier

What if you have seen it before, ten thousand times over? An apple tree in full blossom is like a message, sent fresh from heaven to earth, of purity and beauty. By Henry Ward Beecher Ten Thousand Times Message Earth

The things required for prosperous labor, prosperous manufactures, and prosperous commerce are three. First, liberty; second, liberty; third, liberty. By Henry Ward Beecher Liberty Prosperous Labor Manufactures Things

Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself-and be lenient to everybody else. By Henry Ward Beecher Hold Responsible Higher Standard Expects

Education is only like good culture,it changes the size, but not the sort. By Henry Ward Beecher Education Size Sort Good Cultureit

A little library, growing every year, is an honorable part of a man's history. It is a man's duty to have books. By Henry Ward Beecher Library Growing Year History Man

Where human life needs most sympathy, where usually it is the most barren, there it is that Christ is more likely to be found than anywhere else. By Henry Ward Beecher Christ Sympathy Barren Human Life

There is a patience that cackles. There are a great many virtues that are hen-like. They are virtue, to be sure; but everybody in the neighborhood has to know about them. By Henry Ward Beecher Cackles Patience Henlike Great Virtues

It takes longer for man to find out man than any other creature that is made. By Henry Ward Beecher Made Man Longer Find Creature

No man can tell whether he is rich or poor by turning to his ledger. It is in the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has By Henry Ward Beecher Rich Ledger Man Poor Turning

Some people think black is the color of heaven, and that the more they can make their faces look like midnight, the more evidence they have of grace. But God, who made the sun and the flowers, never sent me to proclaim to you such a lie as that. By Henry Ward Beecher Heaven Midnight Grace People Black

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into. By Henry Ward Beecher God Flowers Sweetest Things Made

It is the triumph of civilization that at last communities have obtained such a mastery over natural laws that they drive and control them. The winds, the water, electricity, all aliens that in their wild form were dangerous, are now controlled by human will, and are made useful servants. By Henry Ward Beecher Triumph Civilization Communities Obtained Mastery

The world is to be cleaned by somebody, and you are not called of God if you are ashamed to scrub. By Henry Ward Beecher God Scrub World Cleaned Called

You cannot play the hypocrite before God; and to obtain pardon you must cease to sin, as well as to be exercised by a spirit of repentance. By Henry Ward Beecher God Sin Repentance Play Hypocrite

We are not to make the ideas of contentment and aspiration quarrel, for God made them fast friends. A man may aspire, and yet be quite content until it is time to raise; and both flying and resting are but parts of one contentment. The very fruit of the gospel is aspiration. It is to the heart what spring is to the earth, making every root, and bud, and bough desire to be more. By Henry Ward Beecher God Quarrel Friends Contentment Make

I have known many an instance of a man writing a letter and forgetting to sign his name, but this is the only instance I have ever known of a man signing his name and forgetting to write the letter. By Henry Ward Beecher Forgetting Man Instance Letter Writing

Nothing marks the change from the city to the country so much as the absence of grinding noises. The country is never silent. But its sounds are separate, distinct, and as it were, articulate. By Henry Ward Beecher Country Noises Marks Change City

Our sweetest experiences of affection are meant to be suggestions of that realm which is the home of the heart. By Henry Ward Beecher Heart Sweetest Experiences Affection Meant

God made every man to have power to be mightier than the events round about him; to hold by his firm will the reigns by which all things are guided. By Henry Ward Beecher God Guided Made Man Power

The worst prison is not of stone. It is of a throbbing heart, outraged by an infamous life. By Henry Ward Beecher Stone Worst Prison Heart Outraged

When flowers are full of heaven-descended dews, they always hang their heads; but men hold theirs the higher the more they receive, getting proud as they get full. By Henry Ward Beecher Full Dews Heads Receive Flowers

In a great affliction there is no light either in the stars or in the sun; for when the inward light is fed with fragrant oil; there can be no darkness though the sun should go out. But when, like a sacred lamp in the temple, the inward light is quenched, there is no light outwardly, though a thousand suns should preside in the heavens. By Henry Ward Beecher Light Sun Oil Great Affliction

The morbid states of health, the irritableness of disposition arising from unstrung nerves, the impatience, the crossness, the fault-finding of men, who, full of morbid influences, are unhappy themselves, and throw the cloud of their troubles like a dark shadow upon others, teach us what eminent duty there is in health. By Henry Ward Beecher Health Morbid Nerves Impatience Crossness

Men will let you abuse them if only you will make them laugh. By Henry Ward Beecher Men Laugh Abuse Make

We pray for those who have ceased to pray. We pray for those that need prayer more than ever, that have fewer and fewer seasons even of thought, that grow hard with years, that are less and less troubled by sin, and that are more and more irreverent of religion. We pray for the children of Christian parents who sometimes weep at the memory of father and mother, but who never have thought of God. By Henry Ward Beecher Pray Ceased Fewer Thought God

God washes the eyes by tears until they can behold the invisible land where tears shall come no more. O love! O affliction! ye are the guides that show us the way through the great airy space where our loved ones walked; and, as hounds easily follow the scent before the dew be risen, so God teaches us, while yet our sorrow is wet, to follow on and find our dear ones in heaven. By Henry Ward Beecher Tears God Washes Eyes Behold

I would much rather fight pride than vanity, because pride has a stand-up way of fighting. You know where it is. It throws its black shadow on you, and you are not at a loss where to strike. But vanity is that delusive, that insectiferous, that multiplied feeling, and men that fight vanities are like men that fight midges and butterflies. It is easier to chase them than to hit them. By Henry Ward Beecher Pride Fight Fighting Standup Vanity

Where all of the man is what property he owns, it does not take long to annihilate him. By Henry Ward Beecher Man Property Long Annihilate

There is no liberty to men whose passions are stronger than their religious feelings; there is no liberty to men in whom ignorance predominates over knowledge; there is no liberty to men who know not how to govern themselves. By Henry Ward Beecher Liberty Men Feelings Knowledge Passions

Memory can glean, but can never renew. It brings us joys faint as is the perfume of the flowers, faded and dried, of the summer that is gone. By Henry Ward Beecher Memory Glean Renew Flowers Faded

There is no such thing as white lies; a lie is as black as a coalpit, and twice as foul. By Henry Ward Beecher Coalpit Foul Thing White Black

Too much looking backward ... is bad for progress. By Henry Ward Beecher Backward Progress Bad

Badgered, snubbed and scolded on the one hand; petted, flattered and indulged on the other-it is astonishing how many children work their way up to an honest manhood in spite of parents and friends. Human nature has an element of great toughness in it. By Henry Ward Beecher Badgered Petted Snubbed Hand Flattered

Not another flag has such an errand, carrying everywhere, the world around, such hope for freedom such glorious tidings. By Henry Ward Beecher Errand Carrying Tidings Flag World

Difficulties are God's errands; and when we are sent upon them, we should esteem it a proof of God's confidence, By Henry Ward Beecher God Difficulties Errands Confidence Esteem

Most of the debts of Europe represent condensed drops of blood. By Henry Ward Beecher Europe Blood Debts Represent Condensed

Hope is sweet-minded and sweet-eyed. It draws pictures; it weaves fancies; it fills the future with delight. By Henry Ward Beecher Hope Sweeteyed Sweetminded Pictures Fancies

There are not anywhere else so many ways of trickery, so many false lights, so many veils, so many guises, so many illusive deceits, as are practiced in every man's conscience in respect to his motives, thoughts, feelings, conduct, and character. By Henry Ward Beecher Thoughts Feelings Conduct Trickery Lights

What the heart has once owned and had, it shall never lose. By Henry Ward Beecher Lose Heart Owned

They hover as a cloud of witnesses above this Nation. By Henry Ward Beecher Nation Hover Cloud Witnesses

Our days are a kaleidoscope. Every instant a change takes place in the contents. New harmonies, new contrasts, new combinations of every sort. Nothing ever happens twice alike. The most familiar people stand each moment in some new relation to each other, to their work, to surrounding objects. The most tranquil house, with the most serene inhabitants, living upon the utmost regularity of system, is yet exemplifying infinite diversities. By Henry Ward Beecher Kaleidoscope Days Contents Instant Change

All things in the natural world symboliZe God, yet none of them speak of him but in broken and imperfect words. High above all he sits, sublimer than mountains, grander than storms, sweeter than blossoms and tender fruits, nobler than lords, truer than parents, more loving than lovers. His feet tread the lowest places of the earth; but his head is above all glory, and everywhere he is supreme. By Henry Ward Beecher God Words Things Natural World

October is nature's funeral month. Nature glories in death more than in life. The month of departure is more beautiful than the month of coming - October than May. Every green thin loves to die in bright colors. By Henry Ward Beecher October Month Nature Funeral May

Every green thing loves to die in bright colors. The vegetable cohorts march glowing out of the year in flaming dresses, as if to leave this earth were a triumph and not a sadness. It is never nature that is sad, but only we, that dare not look back on the past, and that have not its prophecy of the future in our bosoms. By Henry Ward Beecher Colors Green Thing Loves Die

Men can make an idol of the Bible. By Henry Ward Beecher Bible Men Make Idol

A babe is nothing but a bundle of possibilities. By Henry Ward Beecher Possibilities Babe Bundle

As long as society is absolutely divided as milk is, the cream being at the top and the impoverished milk at the bottom, so long will society be unbalanced, and liable to be thrown into convulsions out of which will spring wars. A circulation throughout keeps it in health. By Henry Ward Beecher Long Society Milk Bottom Unbalanced

Many will say, "I can find God without the help of the Bible, or church, or minister." Very well. Do so if you can. The Ferry Company would feel no jealousy of a man who should prefer to swim to New York. Let him do so if he is able, and we will talk about it on the other shore; but probably trying to swim would be the thing that would bring him quickest to the boat. So God would have no jealousy of a man's going to heaven without the aid of the Bible, or church, or minister; but let him try to do so, and it will be the surest way to bring him back to them for assistance. By Henry Ward Beecher Bible God Church Minister Find

I pray on the principle that wine knocks the cork out of a bottle. There is an inward fermentation, and there must be a vent. By Henry Ward Beecher Bottle Pray Principle Wine Knocks

The mere wit is only a human bauble. He is to life what bells are to horses-not expected to draw the load, but only to jingle while the horses draw. By Henry Ward Beecher Bauble Mere Wit Human Draw

Oftentimes great and open temptations are the most harmless because they come with banners flying and bands playing and all the munitions of war in full view, so that we know we are in the midst of enemies that mean us damage, and we get ready to meet and resist them. Our peculiar dangers are those that surprise us and work treachery in our fort. By Henry Ward Beecher Oftentimes View Damage Great Open

Our moral faculties must be placed highest, else they can no more flourish than could a plant growing under the shade and drip of trees. By Henry Ward Beecher Highest Trees Moral Faculties Flourish

Any man can work when every stroke of his hands brings down the fruit rattling from the tree ... but to labor in season and out of season, under every discouragement ... that requires a heroism which is transcendent. By Henry Ward Beecher Tree Man Work Stroke Hands

A man without ambition is worse than dough that has no yeast in it to raise it. By Henry Ward Beecher Man Ambition Worse Dough Yeast

Men are not put into this world to be everlastingly played on by the harping fingers of joy. By Henry Ward Beecher Men Joy Put World Everlastingly

Some have supposed that the mosquito is of a devout turn, and never will partake of a meal without first saying grace. The devotions of some men are but a preface to blood-sucking. By Henry Ward Beecher Turn Grace Supposed Mosquito Devout

The first merit of pictures is the effect they produce on the mind; and the first step of a sensible man should be to receive involuntary impressions from them. Pleasure and inspiration first; analysis, afterward. By Henry Ward Beecher Mind Merit Pictures Effect Produce

As ships meet at sea a moment together, when words of greeting must be spoken, and then away upon the deep, so men meet in this world; and I think we should cross no man's path without hailing him, and if he needs giving him supplies. By Henry Ward Beecher Meet Spoken Deep World Supplies

There is so much that is deaf and dumb in man, and so much that is paralyzed, so much that is shrunken, that nothing short of a miraculous touch of re-creation can make them at death perfect beings. By Henry Ward Beecher Man Paralyzed Shrunken Deaf Dumb

Miracles are like candles lit up until the sun rises, and then blown out. Therefore, I am amused when I hear sects and churches talk about having evidence of Divine authority because they have miracles. Miracles in our time are like candles in the street at midday. We do not want miracles. They are to teach men how to find out truths themselves; and after they have learned this, they no more need them than a well man needs a staff, or a grown-up child needs a walking-stool. By Henry Ward Beecher Miracles Rises Candles Lit Sun

There is no friendship, no love, like that of the mother for the child. By Henry Ward Beecher Friendship Love Child Mother

Ones best success comes after their greatest disappointments. By Henry Ward Beecher Disappointments Success Greatest

God's glory is His goodness. By Henry Ward Beecher God Goodness Glory

A week filled up with selfishness, and the Sabbath stuffed full of religious exercises, will make a good Pharisee, but a poor Christian. There are many persons who think Sunday is a sponge with which to wipe out the sins of the week. Now, God's altar stands from Sunday to Sunday, and the seventh day is no more for religion than any other. It is for rest. The whole seven are for religion, and one of them for rest. By Henry Ward Beecher Pharisee Christian Sabbath Sunday Selfishness

People may excite in themselves a glow of compassion, not by toasting their feet at the fire, and saying: "Lord, teach me compassion," but by going and seeking an object that requires compassion. By Henry Ward Beecher Lord Compassion People Fire Teach

Not thine the sorrow, but ours, sainted soul! Thou hast indeed entered into the promised land, while we are yet on the march. To us remain the rocking of the deep, the storm upon the land, days of duty and nights of watching; but thou are sphered high above all darkness and fear, beyond all sorrow and weariness. Rest, oh, weary heart! By Henry Ward Beecher Sainted Soul Land Thine Sorrow

Men are like trees: each one must put forth the leaf that is created in him. By Henry Ward Beecher Men Trees Put Leaf Created

Never forget what a person says to you when they are angry. By Henry Ward Beecher Angry Forget Person

A man's religion is himself. If he is right-minded toward God, he is religious; if the Lord Jesus Christ is his schoolmaster, then he is Christianly religious. By Henry Ward Beecher Religious Man Religion God Lord

There is a power in the human mind ... to see things as they are ... but there is equally a power to see things as they might be. By Henry Ward Beecher Mind Things Power Human Equally

A man's true estate of power and riches is to be in himself; not in his dwelling or position or external relations, but in his own essential character. By Henry Ward Beecher Relations Character Man True Estate

The aster has not wasted spring and summer because it has not blossomed. It has been all the time preparing for what is to follow, and in autumn it is the glory of the field, and only the frost lays it low. So there are many people who must live forty or fifty years, and have the crude sap of their natural dispositions changed and sweetened before the blossoming time can come; but their lives have not been wasted. By Henry Ward Beecher Blossomed Aster Spring Summer Wasted

Conscience is the frame of character, and love is the covering for it. By Henry Ward Beecher Conscience Character Frame Love Covering

There is a temperate zone in the mind, between luxurious indolence and exacting work; and it is to this region, just between laziness and labor, that summer reading belongs. By Henry Ward Beecher Mind Work Region Labor Belongs

The world's battlefields have been in the heart chiefly; more heroism has been displayed in the household and the closet, than on the most memorable battlefields in history. By Henry Ward Beecher Battlefields Chiefly Closet History World

Laughter is not a bad beginning for a friendship, and it is the best ending for one. By Henry Ward Beecher Laughter Friendship Bad Beginning Ending

We have the promises of God as thick as daisies in summer meadows, that death, which men most fear, shall be to us the most blessed of experiences, if we trust in him. Death is unclasping; joy, breaking out in the desert; the heart, come to its blossoming time! Do we call it dying when the bud bursts into flower? By Henry Ward Beecher God Meadows Fear Experiences Death

To the covetous man life is a nightmare, and God lets him wrestle with it as best he may. By Henry Ward Beecher God Nightmare Covetous Man Life

Earthly love is a brief and penurious stream, which only flows in spring, with a long summer drought. The change from a burning desert, treeless, springless, drear, to green fields and blooming orchards in June, is slight in comparison with that from the desert of this world's affection to the garden of God, where there is perpetual, tropical luxuriance of blessed love. By Henry Ward Beecher Earthly Stream Spring Drought Love

Sorrows, as storms, bring down the clouds close to the earth; sorrows bring heaven down close; and they are instruments of cleansing and purifying. By Henry Ward Beecher Sorrows Storms Earth Purifying Bring

What if the leaves were to fall a-weeping, and say, "It will be so painful for us to be pulled from our stalks, when autumn comes?" Foolish fear! Summer goes, and autumn succeeds. The glory of death is upon the leaves; and the gentlest breeze that blows takes them softly and silently from the bough, and they float slowly down, like fiery sparks, upon the moss. By Henry Ward Beecher Aweeping Stalks Fall Painful Pulled

What profusion is there in His work! When trees blossom there is not a single breastpin, but a whole bosom full of gems; and of leaves they have so many suits that they can throw them away to the winds all summer long. What unnumbered cathedrals has He reared in the forest shades, vast and grand, full of curious carvings, and haunted evermore by tremulous music; and in the heavens above, how do stars seem to have flown out of His hand faster than sparks out of a mighty forge! By Henry Ward Beecher Work Profusion Full Breastpin Gems

A man is a great bundle of tools. He is born into this life without the knowledge of how to use them. Education is the process of learning their use. By Henry Ward Beecher Tools Man Great Bundle Education

A mother's heart is the child's schoolroom. By Henry Ward Beecher Schoolroom Mother Heart Child

Reason is a permanent blessing of God to the soul. Without it there can be no large religion. By Henry Ward Beecher God Reason Soul Permanent Blessing

If you attempt to beat a man down and to get his goods for less than a fair price, you are attempting to commit burglary, as much as though you broke into his shop to take the things without paying for them. By Henry Ward Beecher Price Burglary Attempt Beat Man

Cant is the twin sister of hypocrisy. By Henry Ward Beecher Hypocrisy Twin Sister

The common schools are the stomachs of the country in which all people that come to us are assimilated within a generation. When a lion eats an ox, the lion does not become an ox but the ox becomes a lion. By Henry Ward Beecher Generation Lion Common Schools Stomachs

Prayer is often an argument of laziness: "Lord, my temper gives me a vast deal of inconvenience, and it would be a great task for me to correct it; and wilt thou be pleased to correct it for me, that I may get along easier?" If prayer was answered under such circumstances, independent of action of natural laws, it would be paying a premium on indolence. By Henry Ward Beecher Lord Correct Laziness Inconvenience Easier

If a boy is not trained to endure and to bear trouble, he will grow up a girl; and a boy that is a girl has all a girl's weakness without any of her regal qualities. A woman made out of a woman is God's noblest work; a woman made out of a man is His meanest. By Henry Ward Beecher Girl Boy Woman Trouble Qualities

Involved sentences, crooked, circuitous, and parenthetical, no matter how musically they may be balanced, are prejudicial to a facile understanding of the truth. By Henry Ward Beecher Crooked Circuitous Involved Sentences Parenthetical

Do not be troubled because you have not great virtues. God made a million spears of grass where He made one tree. The earth is fringed and carpeted, not with forests, but with grasses. Only have enough of little virtues and common fidelities, and you need not mourn because you are neither a hero or a saint. By Henry Ward Beecher Troubled Great Made Virtues God

One might as well attempt to calculate mathematically the contingent forms of the tinkling bits of glass in a kaleidoscope as to look through the tube of the future and foretell its pattern. By Henry Ward Beecher Pattern Attempt Calculate Mathematically Contingent

Ordinarily rivers run small at the beginning, grow broader and broader as they proceed, and become widest and deepest at the point, where they enter the sea. It is such rivers that the Christian's life is like. But the life of the mere worldly man is like those rivers in Southern Africa, which, proceeding from mountain freshets, are broad and deep at the beginning, and grow narrower and more shallow as they advance. They waster themselves by soaking into the sands, and at last they die out entirely. The farther they run the less there is of them. By Henry Ward Beecher Broader Rivers Beginning Ordinarily Proceed

Love, in this world, is like a seed taken from the tropics, and planted where the winter comes too soon; and it cannot spread itself in flower-clusters and wide-twining vines, so that the whole air is filled with the perfume thereof. But there is to be another summer for it yet. Care for the root now, and God will care for the top by and by. By Henry Ward Beecher Love World Tropics Vines Thereof

Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men or animals. Some seem to smile; some have a sad expression; some are pensive and diffident; others are plain, honest and upright, like the broad faced sunflower and the hollyhock. By Henry Ward Beecher Flowers Animals Expression Countenance Men

Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. By Henry Ward Beecher Angry Sin Anger Sun

A very common flower adds generosity to beauty. It gives joy to the poor, to the rude, and to the multitudes who could have no flowers were nature to charge a price for her blossoms. By Henry Ward Beecher Beauty Common Adds Generosity Flower

Were one to ask me in which direction I think man strongest, I should say, his capacity to hate. By Henry Ward Beecher Strongest Hate Direction Man Capacity

What is the disposition which makes men rejoice in good bargains? There are few people who will not be benefited by pondering over the morals of shopping. By Henry Ward Beecher Bargains Disposition Makes Men Rejoice

Our flag means all that our fathers meant in the Revolutionary War. It means all that the Declaration of Independence meant. It means justice. It means liberty. It means happiness ... Every color means liberty. Every thread means liberty. Every star and stripe means liberty. By Henry Ward Beecher War Liberty Revolutionary Meant Flag

Flowers ... have a mysterious and subtle influence upon the feelings, not unlike some strains of music. They relax the tenseness of the mind. They dissolve its rigor. By Henry Ward Beecher Flowers Feelings Music Mind Mysterious

Repentance is another name for aspiration. By Henry Ward Beecher Repentance Aspiration

In friendship your heart is like a bell struck every time your friend is in trouble. By Henry Ward Beecher Trouble Friendship Heart Bell Struck

He who is false to present duty breaks a thread in the loom, and will find the flaw when he may have forgotten its cause. By Henry Ward Beecher Loom False Present Duty Breaks

In the morning, we carry the world like Atlas; at noon, we stoop and bend beneath it; and at night, it crushes us flat to the ground. By Henry Ward Beecher Atlas Morning Noon Night Ground

Music cleanses the understanding;inspires it, and lifts it into a realmwhich it would not reach if it were left to itself. By Henry Ward Beecher Music Understanding Inspires Cleanses Lifts

Doctrine is nothing but the skin of truth set up and stuffed. By Henry Ward Beecher Doctrine Stuffed Skin Truth Set

The best lessons a man ever learns are from his mistakes. It is not for want of schoolmasters that we are still ignorant. By Henry Ward Beecher Mistakes Lessons Man Learns Ignorant

It is trial that proves one thing weak and another strong. A house built on the sand is in fair weather just as good as if builded on a rock. A cobweb is as good as the mightiest cable when there is no strain upon it. By Henry Ward Beecher Strong Good Trial Proves Thing

A bird in a cage is not half a bird. By Henry Ward Beecher Bird Cage Half

The soul is a temple; and God is silently building it by night and by day. Precious thoughts are building it; disinterested love is building it; all-penetrating faith is building it. By Henry Ward Beecher Building God Temple Day Soul

A book is a garden; A book is an orchard; A book is a storehouse; A book is a party. It is company by the way; it is a counselor; it is a multitude of counselors. By Henry Ward Beecher Book Garden Orchard Storehouse Party

When a man sells eleven ounces for twelve, he makes a compact with the devil, and sells himself for the value of an ounce. By Henry Ward Beecher Twelve Devil Sells Man Eleven

It is not when the cable lies coiled up on the deck that you know how strong or how weak it is; it is when it is put to the test. By Henry Ward Beecher Test Cable Lies Coiled Deck

A lie is a very short wick in a very small lamp. The oil of reputation is very soon sucked up and gone. And just as soon as a man is known to lie, he is like a two-foot pump in a hundred-foot well. He cannot touch bottom at all. By Henry Ward Beecher Lamp Short Wick Small Lie

It takes a man to make a devil; and the fittest man for such a purpose is a snarling, waspish, red-hot, fiery creditor. By Henry Ward Beecher Waspish Redhot Man Devil Snarling

Do not be afraid of defeat. You are never so near to victory as when defeated in a good cause. By Henry Ward Beecher Defeat Afraid Victory Defeated Good

The diameter of each day is measured by the stretch of thought - not by the rising and setting of the sun. By Henry Ward Beecher Thought Sun Diameter Day Measured

Caution and conservatism are expected of old age; but when the young men of a nation are possessed of such a spirit, when they are afraid of the noise and strife caused by the applications of the truth, heaven save the land! Its funeral bell has already rung. By Henry Ward Beecher Caution Age Spirit Truth Heaven

A man without mirth is like wagon without springs, in which one is caused disagreeably to jolt by every pebble over which it turns. By Henry Ward Beecher Springs Turns Man Mirth Wagon

A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs, jolted by every pebble in the road. By Henry Ward Beecher Springs Jolted Road Person Sense

Adversity, if for no other reason, is of benefit, since it is sure to bring a season of sober reflection. People see clearer at such times. Storms purify the atmosphere. By Henry Ward Beecher Adversity Reason Benefit Reflection Bring

Yea, though the breath of disappointment should chill the sanguine heart, Speedily gloweth it again, warmed by the live embers of hope. By Henry Ward Beecher Yea Speedily Heart Warmed Hope

Self-denial does not belong to religion as characteristic of it; it belongs to human life; the lower nature must always be denied when you are trying to rise to a higher sphere. By Henry Ward Beecher Selfdenial Life Sphere Belong Belongs

Repentance is the turning of the soul from the way of midnight to the point of the coming sun. By Henry Ward Beecher Repentance Sun Turning Soul Midnight

The religion that fosters intolerance needs another Christ to die for it. By Henry Ward Beecher Christ Religion Fosters Intolerance Die

Men go shopping just as men go out fishing or hunting, to see how large a fish may be caught with the smallest hook. By Henry Ward Beecher Men Hunting Hook Shopping Fishing

If God but cares for our inward and eternal life, if by all the experiences of this life He is reducing it and preparing for its disclosure, nothing can befall us but prosperity. Every sorrow shall be but the setting of some luminous jewel of joy. Our very morning shall be but the enamel around the diamond; our very hardships but the metallic rim that holds the opal, glancing with strange interior fires. By Henry Ward Beecher Life God Disclosure Prosperity Cares

Every charitable act is a stepping stone toward heaven. By Henry Ward Beecher Heaven Charitable Act Stepping Stone

Your greatest pleasure is that which rebounds from hearts that you have made glad. By Henry Ward Beecher Glad Greatest Pleasure Rebounds Hearts

In engineering, that only is great which achieves. It matters not what the intention is, he who in the day of battle is not victorious is not saved by his intention. By Henry Ward Beecher Engineering Achieves Great Intention Matters

Grim care, moroseness, anxiety-all this rust of life ought to be scoured off by the oil of mirth. Mirth is God's medicine. By Henry Ward Beecher Moroseness Grim Care Anxietyall Mirth

Mirth is God's medicine. By Henry Ward Beecher God Mirth Medicine

We need not fear shipwreck when God is the pilot. By Henry Ward Beecher God Pilot Fear Shipwreck

There are persons so radiant, so genial, so kind, so pleasure-bearin g, that you instinctively feel in their presence that they do you good; whose coming into a room is like bringing a lamp there. By Henry Ward Beecher Radiant Genial Kind Good Persons

Some sorrows are but footprints in the snow, which the genial sun effaces, or, if it does not wholly efface, changes into dimples. By Henry Ward Beecher Snow Dimples Effaces Efface Sorrows

Some men will not shave on Sunday, and yet they spend all the week in shaving their fellow-men; and many folks think it very wicked to black their boots on Sunday morning, yet they do not hesitate to black their neighbor's reputation on week-days. By Henry Ward Beecher Sunday Black Fellowmen Morning Weekdays

It was the German schoolhouse which destroyed Napoleon III. France, since then, is making monster cannon and drilling soldiers still, but she is also building schoolhouses. As long as war is possible, anything that makes better soldiers people want. By Henry Ward Beecher Iii German Napoleon Destroyed France

Like a bird she seems to wear gay plumage unconsciously, as if it grew upon her. By Henry Ward Beecher Unconsciously Bird Wear Gay Plumage

They who refuse education to a black man would turn the South into a vast poorhouse, and labor into a pendulum, necessity vibrating between poverty and indolence. By Henry Ward Beecher South Poorhouse Pendulum Necessity Indolence

Why is not a rat as good as a rabbit? Why should men eat shrimps and neglect cockroaches? By Henry Ward Beecher Rabbit Rat Good Cockroaches Men

Many men are stored full of unused knowledge. Like loaded guns that are never fired off, or military magazines in times of peace, they are stuffed with useless ammunition. By Henry Ward Beecher Knowledge Men Stored Full Unused

When a man says that he is perfect already, there is only one of two places for him, and that is heaven or the lunatic asylum. By Henry Ward Beecher Asylum Man Perfect Places Heaven

No matter who reigns, the merchant reigns. By Henry Ward Beecher Reigns Matter Merchant

It is a man dying with his harness on that angels love to escort upward. By Henry Ward Beecher Upward Man Dying Harness Angels

The beginnings of moral enterprises in this world are never to be measured by any apparent growth ... At length comes the sudden ripeness and the full success, and he who is called in at the final moment deems this success his own. He is but the reaper and not the labourer. Other men sowed and tilled and he but enters into their labours. By Henry Ward Beecher Growth Beginnings Moral Enterprises World

No town can fail of beauty, though its walks were gutters and its houses hovels, if venerable trees make magnificent colonnades along its streets. By Henry Ward Beecher Beauty Hovels Streets Town Fail

There ought to be such an atmosphere in every Christian church that a man going there and sitting two hours should take the contagion of heaven, and carry home a fire to kindle the altar whence he came. By Henry Ward Beecher Christian Heaven Atmosphere Church Man

No man is more cheated than the selfish man. By Henry Ward Beecher Man Cheated Selfish

People of too much sentiment are like fountains, whose overflow keeps a disagreeable puddle about them. By Henry Ward Beecher People Fountains Sentiment Overflow Disagreeable

Loving is like music. Some instruments can go up two octaves, some four, and some all the way from black thunder to sharp lightning. As some of them are susceptible only of melody, so some hearts can sing but one song of love, while others will fun in a full choral harmony. By Henry Ward Beecher Loving Music Octaves Lightning Instruments

If we would have anything of benefit, we must earn it, and earning it become shrewd, inventive, ingenious, active, enterprising. By Henry Ward Beecher Inventive Ingenious Active Enterprising Benefit

It is sometimes of God's mercy that men in the eager pursuit of worldly aggrandizement are baffled; for they are very like a train going down an inclined plane - putting on the brake is not pleasant, but it keeps the car on the track and from ruin. By Henry Ward Beecher God Baffled Plane Putting Pleasant

The deeper men go into life, the deeper is their conviction that this life is not all. It is an unfinished symphony. A day may round out an insect's life, and a bird or a beast needs no tomorrow. Not so with him who knows that he is related to God and has felt the power of an endless life. By Henry Ward Beecher Deeper Life Men Conviction God

Mirthfulness is in the mind, and you cannot get it out. It is the blessed spirit that God has set in the mind to dust it, to enliven its dark places, and to drive asceticism, like a foul fiend, out at the back door. It is just as good, in its place, as conscience or veneration. Praying can no more be made a substitute for smiling than smiling can for praying. By Henry Ward Beecher Mind Mirthfulness God Praying Smiling

Religion is the fruit of the Spirit, a Christian character, a true life. By Henry Ward Beecher Spirit Christian Religion Character Life

You have seen a ship out on the bay, swinging with the tide, and seeming as if it would follow it; and yet it cannot, for down beneath the water it is anchored. So many a soul sways toward heaven, but cannot ascend thither, because it is anchored to some secret sin. By Henry Ward Beecher Anchored Bay Swinging Tide Ship

Nothing can be further apart than true humility and servility. By Henry Ward Beecher Servility True Humility

There can be no high civilization where there is not ample leisure. By Henry Ward Beecher Leisure High Civilization Ample

A man that puts himself on the ground of moral principle, if the whole world be against him, is mightier than all of them. By Henry Ward Beecher Principle Man Puts Ground Moral

Nothing can compare in beauty, and wonder, and admirableness, and divinity itself, to the silent work in obscure dwellings of faithful women bringing their children to honor and virtue and piety. By Henry Ward Beecher Beauty Admirableness Piety Compare Divinity

That was a judicious mother who said, I obey my children for the first year of their lives, but ever after I expect them to obey me. By Henry Ward Beecher Lives Obey Judicious Mother Children

Every boy wants someone older than himself to whom he may go in moods of confidence and yearning. The neglect of this child's want by grown people ... is a fertile source of suffering. By Henry Ward Beecher Yearning Boy Older Moods Confidence

As for marigolds, poppies, hollyhocks, and valorous sunflowers, we shall never have a garden without them, both for their own sake, and for the sake of old-fashioned folks, who used to love them. By Henry Ward Beecher Poppies Hollyhocks Sake Marigolds Sunflowers

A reputation for good judgment, for fair dealing, for truth, and for rectitude, is itself a fortune. By Henry Ward Beecher Judgment Dealing Truth Rectitude Fortune

No matter what looms ahead, if you can eat today, enjoy today, mix good cheer with friends today enjoy it and bless God for it. By Henry Ward Beecher God Today Ahead Mix Enjoy

John Wesley quaintly observed that the road to heaven is a narrow path, not intended for wheels, and that to ride in a coach here and to go to heaven hereafter, was a happiness too much for man. By Henry Ward Beecher Heaven Wesley John Path Wheels

All words are pegs to hang ideas on. By Henry Ward Beecher Words Pegs Hang Ideas

True politeness is the spirit of benevolence showing itself in a refined way. It is the expression of good-will and kindness. It promotes both beauty in the man who possesses it, and happiness in those who are about him. It is a religious duty, and should be a part of religious training. By Henry Ward Beecher True Politeness Spirit Benevolence Showing

It is not desirable that we should live as in the constant atmosphere and presence of death; that would unfit us for life; but it is well for us, now and then, to talk with death as friend talketh with friend, and to bathe in the strange seas, and to anticipate the experiences of that land to which it will lead us. These forethinkings are meant, not to make us discontented with life, but to bring us back with more strength, and a nobler purpose in living. By Henry Ward Beecher Death Friend Life Seas Desirable

Beauty may be said to be God's trademark in creation. By Henry Ward Beecher God Beauty Creation Trademark

We rejoice in God since he has taught us that every thing which is true in us, is but a faint expression of what is in him. And thus all our joys become to us the echo of higher joys, and our very life is as a dream of that nobler life, to which we shall awaken when we die. By Henry Ward Beecher God Rejoice Taught Thing True

The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is, that one often comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't. By Henry Ward Beecher Strong Difference Perseverance Obstinacy

Many of our troubles are God dragging us, and they would end if we would stand upon our feet and go whither He would have us go. By Henry Ward Beecher God Troubles Dragging End Stand

Any law that takes hold of a mans daily life cannot prevail in a community, unless the vast majority of the community are actively in favor of it. The laws that are the most operative are the laws which protect life. By Henry Ward Beecher Community Laws Life Hold Mans

A man who does not know how to be angry, does not know how to be good. Now and then a man should be shaken to the core with indignation over things evil. By Henry Ward Beecher Angry Good Man Evil Shaken

A world without a Sabbath would be like a man without a smile, like summer without flowers, and like a homestead without a garden. It is the most joyous day of the week. By Henry Ward Beecher Sabbath Smile Flowers Garden World

The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings. By Henry Ward Beecher Mercies Find Hour Blessings Heart

All the wide world is but the husbandry of God for the development of the one fruit-man. By Henry Ward Beecher God Fruitman Wide World Husbandry

If a man can have only one kind of sense, let him have common sense. If he has that and uncommon sense too, he is not far from genius. By Henry Ward Beecher Sense Man Kind Common Genius

The methods by which men have met and conquered trouble, or been slain by it, are the same in every age. Some have floated on the sea, and trouble carried them on its surface as the sea carries cork. Some have sunk at once to the bottom as foundering ships sink. Some have run away from their own thoughts. Some have coiled themselves up into a stoical indifference. Some have braved the trouble, and defied it. Some have carried it as a tree does a wound, until by new wood it can overgrow and cover the old gash. By Henry Ward Beecher Trouble Age Sea Methods Men

He who olny does not appreciate floral beauty is to be pitied like any other man who is born inperfect. It is a misfortune not unlike blindness. By Henry Ward Beecher Inperfect Olny Floral Beauty Pitied

The elms of New England! They are as much a part of her beauty as the columns of the Parthenon were the glory of its architecture. By Henry Ward Beecher England Elms Parthenon Architecture Part

A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life. By Henry Ward Beecher Life Library Luxury Necessities

You are not called to be a canary in a cage. You are called to be an eagle, and to fly sun to sun, over continents. By Henry Ward Beecher Cage Called Canary Sun Eagle

He who hunts for flowers will finds flowers; and he who loves weeds will find weeds. By Henry Ward Beecher Flowers Weeds Hunts Loves Finds

There is in youth a purity of character which, when once touched and defiled, can never be restored; a fringe more delicate than frost-work, and which, when torn and broken, can never be re-embroidered. By Henry Ward Beecher Defiled Restored Frostwork Broken Reembroidered

God puts the excess of hope in one man, in order that it may be a medicine to the man who is despondent. By Henry Ward Beecher God Despondent Man Puts Excess

It is not what we read, but what we remember, that makes us learned. It is not what we intend, but what we do that makes us useful. It is not a few faint wishes, but a life long struggle, that makes us valiant. By Henry Ward Beecher Makes Read Remember Learned Intend

Victories are easy and cheap. The only victories worth anything are those achieved through hard work and dedication. By Henry Ward Beecher Cheap Victories Easy Dedication Worth

Everything that happens in this world is a part of a great plan of God running through all time. By Henry Ward Beecher God Time World Part Great

The sphere that is deepest, most unexplored, and most unfathomable, the wonder and glory of God's thought and hand, is our own soul! By Henry Ward Beecher God Deepest Unexplored Unfathomable Hand

It is the very wantonness of folly for a man to search out the frets and burdens of his calling and give his mind every day to a consideration of them. They belong to human life. They are inevitable. Brooding only gives them strength. By Henry Ward Beecher Wantonness Folly Man Search Frets

No one thing does human life more need than a kind consideration of the faults of others. Every one sins; everyone needs forbearance. Our own imperfections should teach us to be merciful. By Henry Ward Beecher Thing Human Life Kind Consideration

When there is love in the heart, there are rainbows in the eyes, which cover every black cloud with gorgeous hues. By Henry Ward Beecher Heart Eyes Hues Love Rainbows

Rich men are to bear the infirmities of the poor, and wise are to bear the mistakes of the ignorant. By Henry Ward Beecher Bear Rich Poor Ignorant Men

Anger is a bow that will shoot sometimes where another feeling will not. By Henry Ward Beecher Anger Bow Shoot Feeling

All work and no plagiarism makes for dull sermons! By Henry Ward Beecher Sermons Work Plagiarism Makes Dull

There are many troubles which you cannot cure by the Bible and the hymn-book, but which you can cure by a good perspiration and a breath of fresh air. By Henry Ward Beecher Bible Cure Hymnbook Air Troubles

October is the opal month of the year. It is the month of glory, of ripeness. It is the picture-month. By Henry Ward Beecher October Year Month Opal Glory

There is a dew in one flower and not in another, because one opens in cup and takes it in, while the other closes itself, and the drops run off. God rains His goodness and mercy as widespread as the dew, and if we lack them, it is because we will not open our hearts to receive them. By Henry Ward Beecher Dew Flower Cup Closes Drops

A love of flowers would beget early rising, industry, habits of close observation, and of reading. It would incline the mind to notice natural phenomena, and to reason upon them. It would occupy the mind with pure thoughts, and inspire a sweet and gentle enthusiasm; maintain simplicity of taste; and ... unfold in the heart an enlarged, unstraightened, ardent piety. By Henry Ward Beecher Industry Rising Habits Observation Reading

God never made anything else so beautiful as man. By Henry Ward Beecher God Man Made Beautiful

Good men are not those who now and then do a good act, but men who join one good act to another. By Henry Ward Beecher Good Act Men Join

Love is the wine of existence. When you have taken that, you have taken the most precious drop that there is in the cluster. By Henry Ward Beecher Love Existence Wine Cluster Precious

The commerce of the world is conducted by the strong, and usually it operates against the weak. By Henry Ward Beecher Strong Weak Commerce World Conducted

A man without a vote is in this land like a man without a hand. By Henry Ward Beecher Man Hand Vote Land

You have come into a hard world. I know of only one easy place in it, and that is the grave. By Henry Ward Beecher World Hard Grave Easy Place

A man without ambition is like a beautiful worm - it can creep, but it cannot fly. By Henry Ward Beecher Worm Creep Fly Man Ambition

We are never ripe till we have been made so by suffering. By Henry Ward Beecher Suffering Ripe Till Made

The call to religion is not a call to be better than your fellows, but to be better than yourself. Religion is relative to the individual. By Henry Ward Beecher Call Fellows Religion Individual Relative

The most dangerous people are the ignorant. By Henry Ward Beecher Ignorant Dangerous People

We cannot have right virtue without right conditions. By Henry Ward Beecher Conditions Virtue

Love is more just than justice. By Henry Ward Beecher Love Justice

Once an ill can be patiently born it is robbed of its poison if not its pain. By Henry Ward Beecher Pain Ill Patiently Born Robbed

Morality must always precede and accompany religion, and yet religion is much more than morality. By Henry Ward Beecher Morality Religion Precede Accompany

He that would look with contempt on the pursuits of the farmer, is not worthy the name of a man. By Henry Ward Beecher Farmer Man Contempt Pursuits Worthy

Affliction comes to the believer not to make him sad, but sober; not to make him sorry, but wise. Even as the plow enriches the field so that the seed is multiplied a thousandfold, so affliction should magnify our joy and increase our spiritual harvest. By Henry Ward Beecher Make Sad Sober Wise Affliction

God is the one great employer, thinker, planner, supervisor. By Henry Ward Beecher Thinker Planner Supervisor God Employer

Pride slays thanksgiving ... A prideful man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves. By Henry Ward Beecher Pride Thanksgiving Slays Man Deserves

All human affairs follow nature's great analogue, the growth of vegetation. There are three periods of growth in every plant. The first, and slowest, is the invisible growth by the root; the second and much accelerated is the visible growth by the stem; but when root and stem have gathered their forces, there comes the third period, in which the plant quickly flashes into blossom and rushes into fruit. By Henry Ward Beecher Growth Analogue Vegetation Human Affairs

Amid the discords of this life, it is blessed to think of heaven, where God draws after him an everlasting train of music; for all thoughts are harmonious and all feelings vocal, and so there is round about his feet eternal melody. By Henry Ward Beecher God Amid Life Heaven Music

Take all the robes of all the good judges that have ever lived on the face of the earth, and they would not be large enough to cover the iniquity of one corrupt judge. By Henry Ward Beecher Earth Robes Good Lived Face

By religion I mean perfected manhood,the quickening of the soul by the influence of the Divine Spirit. By Henry Ward Beecher Spirit Divine Religion Perfected Manhoodthe

Never forget what a man has said to you when he was angry. If he has charged you with anything, you had better look it up. By Henry Ward Beecher Angry Forget Man Charged

Every man should use his intellect, not as he uses his lamp in the study, only for his own seeing, but as the lighthouse uses its lamps, that those afar off on the seas may see the shining, and learn their way. By Henry Ward Beecher Intellect Study Shining Man Lighthouse

Affliction comes to us all ... not to impoverish, but to enrich us, as the plough enriches the field; to multiply our joy, as the seed, by planting, is multiplied a thousand-fold. By Henry Ward Beecher Affliction Impoverish Field Joy Seed

There is an equator that runs just under the nose: all that live below the equator are animals; all that live above it are men. By Henry Ward Beecher Live Nose Animals Men Equator

If there's a job to be done, I always ask the busiest man in my parish to take it on and it gets done. By Henry Ward Beecher Job Busiest Man Parish

Men of dissolute lives have little incentive to look forward to the hopes and glories of immortality. A due conception of these would be incompatible with such a life. By Henry Ward Beecher Men Immortality Dissolute Lives Incentive

The thistle is a prince. Let any man that has an eye for beauty take a view of the whole plant, and where will he see a more expressive grace and symmetry; and where is there a more kingly flower? By Henry Ward Beecher Prince Thistle Plant Symmetry Flower

If men had wings and bore black feathers, Few of them would be clever enough to be crows. By Henry Ward Beecher Feathers Crows Men Wings Bore

Make men large and strong and tyranny will bankrupt itself in making shackles for them. By Henry Ward Beecher Make Men Large Strong Tyranny

Whenever education and refinement carry us away from the common people, they are growing towards selfishness, which is the monster evil of the world. That is true cultivation which gives us sympathy with every form of human life, and enables us to work most successfully for its advancement. Refinement that carries us away from our fellow people is not God's refinement. By Henry Ward Beecher Selfishness World Refinement Education Carry

There is no right more universal and more sacred, because lying so near the root of existence, than the right of men to their own labor. By Henry Ward Beecher Sacred Existence Labor Universal Lying

We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they have traveled from the point where they started. By Henry Ward Beecher Excellence Started Judge People Peak

What a pity flowers can utter no sound!-A singing rose, a whispering violet, a murmuring honeysuckle ... oh, what a rare and exquisite miracle would these be! By Henry Ward Beecher Sound Rose Violet Honeysuckle Pity

If every child might live the life predestined in a mother's heart, all the way from the cradle to the coffin, he would walk upon a beam of light, and shine in glory. By Henry Ward Beecher Heart Coffin Light Glory Child

The grossest, the cruelest, the most selfish, the most easily pervertible and perverted thing in this world, is government. By Henry Ward Beecher Grossest Cruelest Selfish World Government

A boy is a piece of existence quite separate from all things else, and deserves separate chapters in the natural history of men. By Henry Ward Beecher Men Separate Boy Piece Existence

The Church is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians, but a school for the education of imperfect ones. By Henry Ward Beecher Christians Church Gallery Exhibition Eminent

Everyone has influence, for good or bad, upon others. By Henry Ward Beecher Influence Bad Good

I would rather speak the truth to ten men than blandishments and lying to a million. Try it, ye who think there is nothing in it! Try what it is to speak with God behind you, to speak so as to be only the arrow in the bow which the Almighty draws. By Henry Ward Beecher Speak Million Truth Ten Men

I read for three things; first, to know what the world has done the last twenty-four hours, and is about to do today; second, for the knowledge that I specially want in my work; and third, for what will bring my mind into a proper mood. By Henry Ward Beecher Things Hours Today Work Mood

Men must read for amusement as well as for knowledge. By Henry Ward Beecher Men Knowledge Read Amusement

A cunning man overreaches no one half as much as himself. By Henry Ward Beecher Cunning Man Overreaches Half

You can imagine thistle-down so light that when you run after it your running motion would drive it away from you, and that the more you tried to catch it the faster it would fly from your grasp. And it should be with every man, that, when he is chased by troubles, they, chasing, shall raise him higher and higher. By Henry Ward Beecher Grasp Imagine Thistledown Light Run

When a church is faithless to its duties, the real church is outside its walls, in the community. By Henry Ward Beecher Church Duties Walls Community Faithless

Men think God is destroying them because he is tuning them. The violinist screws up the key till the tense cord sounds the concert pitch; but it is not to break it, but to use it tunefully, that he stretches the string upon the musical rack. By Henry Ward Beecher God Men Destroying Tuning Pitch

We are apt to believe in Providence so long as we have our own way; but if things go awry, then we think, if there is a God, he is in heaven, and not on earth. By Henry Ward Beecher God Providence Awry Heaven Earth

Some men are like pyramids, which are very broad where they touch the ground, but grow narrow as they reach the sky. By Henry Ward Beecher Pyramids Ground Sky Men Broad

A lie always needs a truth for a handle to it. The worst lies are those whose blade is false, but whose handle is true. By Henry Ward Beecher Handle Truth False True Lie

If any man is rich and powerful he comes under the law of God by which the higher branches must take the burnings of the sun, and shade those that are lower; by which the tall trees must protect the weak plants beneath them. By Henry Ward Beecher God Sun Lower Man Rich

The blossom cannot tell what becomes of its odor, and no person can tell what becomes of his or her influence and example. By Henry Ward Beecher Odor Blossom Person Influence

Many men want wealth,not a competence alone, but a live-story competence. Everything subserves this; and religion they would like as a sort of lightning-rod to their houses, to ward off by and by the bolts of Divine wrath. By Henry Ward Beecher Competence Men Wealthnot Livestory Divine

All higher motives, ideals, conceptions, sentiments in a man are of no account if they do not come forward to strengthen him for the better discharge of the duties which devolve upon him in the ordinary affairs of life. By Henry Ward Beecher Ideals Conceptions Motives Sentiments Life

Nowhere else can one find so miscellaneous, so various, an amount of knowledge as is contained in a good newspaper. By Henry Ward Beecher Miscellaneous Newspaper Find Amount Knowledge

God made man to go by motives, and he will not go without them, any more than a boat without steam or a balloon without gas. By Henry Ward Beecher God Motives Gas Made Man

Of all the music that reached farthest into heaven, it is the beating of a loving heart By Henry Ward Beecher Heaven Heart Music Reached Farthest

The soul is often hungrier than the body and no shop can sell it food. By Henry Ward Beecher