Tryon Edwards Quotes

Mystery is but another name for ignorance; if we were omniscient, all would be perfectly plain!

True religion extends alike to the intellect and the heart. Intellect is in vain if it lead not to emotion, and emotion is vain if not enlightened by intellect; and both are vain if not guided by truth and leading to duty.

Anxiety is the poison of human life; the parent of many sins and of more miseries. In a world where everything is doubtful, and where we may be disappointed, and be blessed in disappointment, why this restless stir and commotion of mind? Can it alter the cause, or unravel the mystery of human events?

Some persons are exaggerators by temperament. They do not mean untruth, but their feelings are strong, and their imaginations vivid, so that their statements are largely discounted by those of calm judgment and cooler temperament. They do not realize that we always weaken what we exaggerate.

True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us.

Appreciation, whether of nature, or books, or art, or men, depends very much on temperament. What is beauty or genius or greatness to one, is far from being so to another.

Where duty is plain delay is both foolish and hazardous; where it is not, delay may be both wisdom and safety.

Attention to a subject depends upon our interest in it.

Deviation from either truth or duty is a downward path.

Some blame themselves to extort the praise of contradiction from others.

People never improve unless they look to some standard or example higher or better than themselves.

To possess money is very well; it may be a valuable servant; to be possessed by it is to be possessed by the devil, and one of the meanest and worst kind of devils.

Preventives of evil are far better than remedies; cheaper and easier of application, and surer in result.

Anecdotes are sometimes the best vehicles of truth, and if striking and appropriate are often more impressive and powerful than argument.

Nature hath nothing made so base, but can read some instruction to the wisest man.

Common sense is, of all kinds, the most uncommon. It implies good judgment, sound discretion, and true and practical wisdom applied to common life.

Some so speak in exaggerations and superlatives that we need to make a large discount from their statements before we can come at their real meaning.

Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions form habits; habits decide character; and character fixes our destiny.

Contemplation is to knowledge what digestion is to food - the way to get life out of it

We never do evil so thoroughly and heartily as when led to it by an honest but perverted, because mistaken, conscience.

Never think that God's delays are God's denials. True prayer always receives what it asks, or something better.

The slanderer and the assassin differ only in the weapon they use; with the one it is the dagger, with the other the tongue. The former is worse that the latter, for the last only kills the body, while the other murders the reputation.

Apothegms are the wisdom of the past condensed for the instruction and guidance of the present.

Accuracy of statement is one of the first elements of truth; inaccuracy is a near kin to falsehood.

Quiet and sincere sympathy is often the most welcome and efficient consolation to the afflicted. Said a wise man to one in deep sorrow, I did not come to comfort you; God only can do that; but I did come to say how deeply and tenderly I feel for you in your affliction.

No true civilization can be expected permanently to continue which is not based on the great principles of Christianity.

To be good, we must do good; and by doing good we take a sure means of being good, as the use and exercise of the muscles increase their power.

High aims form high characters, and great objects bring out great minds.

Have a time and place for everything, and do everything in its time and place, and you will not only accomplish more, but have far more leisure than those who are always hurrying.

To rejoice in another's prosperity is to give content to your lot; to mitigate another's grief is to alleviate or dispel your own.

He that resolves upon any great and good end, has, by that very resolution, scaled the chief barrier to it. He will find such resolution removing difficulties, searching out or making means, giving courage for despondency, and strength for weakness, and like the star to the wise men of old, ever guiding him nearer and nearer to perfection.

All things are ordered by God, but His providence takes in our free agency, as well as His own sovereignty.

Piety and morality are but the same spirit differently manifested. Piety is religion with its face toward God; morality is religion with its face toward the world.

Age does not depend upon years, but upon temperament and health. Some men are born old, and some never grow so.

My books are my tools, and the greater their variety and perfection the greater the help to my literary work.

To rule one's anger is well; to prevent it is better.

Right actions for the future are the best apologies for wrong ones in the past - the best evidence of regret for them that we can offer, or the world receive.

Science has sometimes been said to be opposed to faith, and inconsistent with it. But all science, in fact, rests on a basis of faith, for it assumes the permanence and uniformity of natural laws - a thing which can never be demonstrated.

Always have a book at hand, in the parlor, on the table, for the family; a book of condensed thought and striking anecdote, of sound maxims and truthful apothegms. It will impress on your own mind a thousand valuable suggestions, and teach your children a thousand lessons of truth and duty. Such a book is a casket of jewels for your housebold.

Between two evils, choose neither; between two goods, choose both.

Facts are God's arguments; we should be careful never to misunderstand or pervert them.

He that is possessed with a prejudice is possessed with a devil.

Conscience is merely our own judgment of the right or wrong of our actions, and so can never be a safe guide unless enlightened by the word of God.

Unbelief, in distinction from disbelief, is a confession of ignorance where honest inquiry might easily find the truth. - "Agnostic" is but the Greek for "ignoramus."

Some men are born old, and some men never seem so. If we keep well and cheerful, we are always young and at last die in youth even when in years would count as old.

The first step to improvement, whether mental, moral, or religious, is to know ourselves - our weakness, errors, deficiencies, and sins, that, by divine grace, we may overcome and turn from them all.

Duty performed gives clearness and firmness to faith, and faith thus strengthened through duty becomes the more assured and satisfying to the soul.

One of the great lessons the fall of the leaf teaches, is this: do your work well and then be ready to depart when God shall call.

Prejudices are rarely overcome by argument; not being founded in reason they cannot be destroyed by logic.

We weep over the graves of infants and the little ones taken from us by death; but an early grave may be the shortest way to heaven.

If you would thoroughly know anything, teach it to others. One who ceases to learn cannot adequately teach.

Compromise is but the sacrifice of one right or good in the hope of retaining another - too often ending in the loss of both.

The leaves do not change color from the blighting touch of the frost, but from the process of natural decay. They fall when the fruit has been ripened and their work is done. And their splendid change of coloring is but their graceful and beautiful surrender of life, when they have finished their summer offering of service to God and man.

If rich men would remember that shrouds have no pockets, they would, while living, share their wealth with their children, and give for the good of others, and so know the highest pleasure wealth can give.

Credulity is belief in slight evidence, with no evidence, or against evidence.

Ridicule may be the evidence of with or bitterness and may gratify a little mind, or an ungenerous temper, but it is no test of reason or truth.

Sin with the multitude, and your responsibility and guilt are as great and as truly personal, as if you alone had done the wrong