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John Selden Quotes

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John Selden (December 16, 1584 - November 30, 1654) was an English lawyer, historian, and philosopher. Limited information is available, but he is known for his contributions to the fields of law, history, and philosophy.

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All Men May Ifs Knows Should World Giving Reason Kings Law Religion Wit Firsts Made Pain People Preaching Thinking Wells Book

Famous John Selden Quotes

“Equity is a roguish thing. For Law we have a measure, know what to trust to; Equity is according to the conscience of him that is Chancellor, and as that is larger or narrower, so is Equity. 'T is all one as if they should make the standard for the measure we call a "foot" a Chancellor's foot; what an uncertain measure would this be! One Chancellor has a long foot, another a short foot, a third an indifferent foot. 'T is the same thing in the Chancellor's conscience.”

Ifs Knows Should Long Law Feet Standards Conscience Thirds Indifferent Uncertain Equity One Chance

Author:John Selden

“Women ought not to know their own wit, because they will still be showing it, and so spoil it.”

Knows Stills Ought Wit Spoil

Book:Table Talk: Being the Discourses of John Selden

Source: Table Talk: Being the Discourses of John Selden

“A wise man should never resolve upon anything, at least, never let the world know his resolution, for if he cannot reach that he is ashamed.”

Ifs Knows Men World Should Wise Ashamed Resolve Resolution

Author:John Selden

“Prayer should be short, without giving God Almighty reasons why He should grant this or that; He knows best wheat is good for us. If your boy should ask you for a suit of clothes and give you reasons, would you endure it? You know his needs better than he; let him ask for a suit of clothes.”

Ifs Knows Needs Giving Should Reason Asks Prayer Boys Clothes Endure Suits Reason Why Grants Almighty Wheat

Author:John Selden

“Prayer should be short, without giving God Almighty reasons why he should grant this, or that; he knows best what is good for us.”

Knows Giving Should Reason Prayer Praying Reason Why Grants Almighty

Book:Table talk: being the discourses of John Selden, esq

Source: Table talk: being the discourses of John Selden, esq

“I have taken much pains to know everything that is esteemed worth knowing amongst men; but with all my reading, nothing now remains to comfort me at the close of this life but this passage of St. Paul: "It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." To this I cleave, and herein do I find rest.”

Knows Men World Pain Reading Jesus Christ Knowing Taken Comfort Jesus Christ Remains Salvation Worthy This Life Faithful Sinner Passages

Author:John Selden

“Ignorance of the law excuses no man; not that all men know the law, but because 'tis an excuse every man will plead, and no man can tell how to refute him.”

Knows Men Law Ignorance Excuse Every Man Ignorance Of The Law

Author:John Selden

“Twas an unhappy Division that has been made between Faith and Works; though in my Intellect I may divide them, just as in the Candle I know there is both Light and Heat. But yet, put out the Candle, and they are both gone.”

Knows May Has Beens Made Light Christian Religion Prayer Gone Intellect Unhappy Heat Division Divides Candle

Book:Table talk: being the discourses of John Selden, esq

Source: Table talk: being the discourses of John Selden, esq