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William Wilberforce Quotes

British Politician

William Wilberforce was a British politician known for his leading role in the movement to abolish slavery. He actively pushed for legislation against the slave trade in the British Parliament and dedicated his life to promoting social justice and moral reform.

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All Men Christian Ifs May Christianity Heart Soul Duty Should World Eye Glory Consequence Giving Has Beens Humans Looks Objects Slave Slave Trade

Famous William Wilberforce Quotes

“When we think of eternity, and of the future consequences of all human conduct, what is there in this life that should make any man contradict the dictates of his conscience, the principles of justice, the laws of religion, and of God?”

Thinking Men Should Humans Law Justice Principles Conscience Consequence Eternity This Life Contradiction

Author:William Wilberforce

“If any country were indeed filled with men, each thus diligently discharging the duties of his own station without breaking in upon the rights of others, but on the contrary endeavoring, so far as he might be able, to forward their views and promote their happiness, all would be active and harmonious in the goodly frame of human society.”

Ifs Men Humans Country Might Would Be Able Views Rights Duty Filled Active Contrary Stations Diligence Harmonious Human Society

Book:A Practical View of Preferred Christians

Source: A Practical View of Preferred Christians

“Men of authority and influence may promote good morals. Let them in their several stations encourage virtue. Let them favor and take part in any plans which may be formed for the advancement of morality.”

Men May Moral Virtue Plans Influence Morality Authority Favors Stations Advancement Good Moral

Author:William Wilberforce

“Sulky labor, and the labor of sorrow are little worth: if you could only shed tranquility over the conscience and infuse joy into the soul, you would do more to make the man a thorough worker than if you could lend him the force of Hercules, or the hundred arms of Briareus.”

Ifs Men Littles Soul Joy Force He Man Arms Sorrow Hundred Conscience Labor Workers Shed Tranquility Thorough Sulky

Author:William Wilberforce

“God has so made the mind of man that a peculiar deliciousness resides in the fruits of personal industry.”

Men Mind Made Industry Fruit Peculiar

Author:William Wilberforce

“True practical Christianity (never let it be forgotten) consists in devoting the heart and life to God; in being supremely and habitually governed by a desire to know, and a disposition to fulfill his will, and in endeavoring under the influence of these motives to 'live to his glory.' Where these essential requisites are wanting, however amiable the character may be, however creditable and respectable among men, yet, as it possesses not the grand distinguishing essence, it must not be complimented with the name of Christianity.”

Knows Men Heart May Character Desire Names Christianity Influence Essentials Glory Essence Forgotten Practicals Motive Disposition Respectable Amiable

Book:A Practical View

Source: A Practical View

“Is it not the great end of religion, and, in particular, the glory of Christianity, to extinguish the malignant passions; to curb the violence, to control the appetites, and to smooth the asperities of man; to make us compassionate and kind, and forgiving one to another; to make us good husbands, good fathers, good friends; and to render us active and useful in the discharge of the relative social and civil duties?”

Source: A Practical View of Preferred Christians

“How can we judge fairly of the characters and merits of men, of the wisdom or folly of actions, unless we have . . . an accurate knowledge of all particulars, so that we may live as it were in the times, and among the persons, of whom we read, see with their eyes, and reason and decide on their premises?”

Men May Persons Reason Character Eye Action Judging Merit Folly Accurate Premises

Author:William Wilberforce

“Can you tell a plain man the road to heaven? Certainly, turn at once to the right, and then go straight forward.”

Men Turns Heaven Have Faith

Author:William Wilberforce

“It is the true duty of every man to promote the happiness of his fellow creatures to the utmost of his power.”

Men Duty Creatures Fellows Every Man

Book:A practical view of the prevailing religious system of professed Christians, in the higher and middle classes in this country, contrasted with real Christianity. Complete ed

Source: A practical view of the prevailing religious system of professed Christians, in the higher and middle classes in this country, contrasted with real Christianity. Complete ed

“Measure your progress by your experience of the love of God and its exercise before men.”

Men Progress Exercise God Love

Author:William Wilberforce

“Surely the experience of all good men confirms the proposition that without a due measure of private devotions the soul will grow lean.”

Men Soul Grows Dues Devotion Good Man Propositions

Author:William Wilberforce

“No man has a right to be idle. Where is it that in such a world as this, that health, and leisure, and affluence may not find some ignorance to instruct, some wrong to redress, some want to supply, some misery to alleviate?”

Men World Want May Ignorance Misery Leisure Idle Affluence Alleviate Redress

Book:A Practical View

Source: A Practical View

“My walk is a public one. My business is in the world, and I must mix in the assemblies of men or quit the post which Providence seems to have assigned me.”

Men World Seems Walks Quitting Posts Providence Assembly

Book:The Life of William Wilberforce: In Five Volumes

Source: The Life of William Wilberforce: In Five Volumes