1.
Too many people embrace religion from the same motives that they take a companion in wedlock, not from true love of the person, but because of a large dowry.
Hosea Ballou
Many individuals accept religion for the same reasons they enter into a marriage, not out of genuine affection but because of a sizable financial settlement.
2.
Tears of joy are like the summer rain drops pierced by sunbeams.
Hosea Ballou
3.
Education commences at the mother's knee, and every word spoken within hearsay of little children tends toward the formation of character.
Hosea Ballou
4.
Disease is the retribution of outraged Nature.
Hosea Ballou
5.
There is no immunity from the consequences of sin; punishment is swift and sure to one and all.
Hosea Ballou
6.
Real happiness is cheap enough, yet how dearly we pay for its counterfeit.
Hosea Ballou
7.
If we agree in love, there is no disagreement that can do us any injury,
but if we do not, no other agreement can do us any good.
Let us endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace.
Hosea Ballou
8.
We must not only read the Scriptures, but we must make their rules of life our own.
Hosea Ballou
9.
Brevity and conciseness are the parents of correction.
Hosea Ballou
10.
Energy, like the biblical grain of the mustard-seed, will remove mountains.
Hosea Ballou
11.
Suspicion is far more to be wrong than right; more often unjust than just. It is no friend to virtue, and always an enemy to happiness.
Hosea Ballou
12.
Theories are always very thin and insubstantial, experience only is tangible.
Hosea Ballou
13.
Hatred is self-punishment. Hatred it the coward's revenge for being intimidated.
Hosea Ballou
14.
Honest and courageous people have very little to say about either their courage or their honesty. The sun has no need to boast of his brightness, nor the moon of her effulgence.
Hosea Ballou
15.
There is nothing that needs to be said in an unkind manner.
Hosea Ballou
16.
Hypocrisy is oftenest clothed in the garb of religion.
Hosea Ballou
17.
Exaggeration is a blood relation to falsehood and nearly as blamable.
Hosea Ballou
18.
It is easy to be beautiful; it is difficult to appear so.
Hosea Ballou
19.
Doubt is the incentive to truth and inquiry leads the way.
Hosea Ballou
20.
Pretension almost always overdoes the original, and hence exposes itself.
Hosea Ballou
21.
Never let your zeal outrun your charity. The former is but human, the latter is divine.
Hosea Ballou
22.
The oppression of any people for opinion's sake has rarely had any other effect than to fix those opinions deeper, and render them more important.
Hosea Ballou
23.
Preaching is to much avail, but practice is far more effective. A godly life is the strongest argument you can offer the skeptic.
Hosea Ballou
24.
All our possessions are as nothing compared to health, strength, and a clear conscience.
Hosea Ballou
25.
Faith, in order to be genuine and of any real value, must be the offspring of that divine love which Jesus manifested when He prayed for His enemies on the cross.
Hosea Ballou
26.
Between the humble and contrite heart and the majesty of Heaven there are no barriers; the only password is prayer.
Hosea Ballou
27.
A chaste and lucid style is indicative of the same personal traits in the author.
Hosea Ballou
28.
True repentance also involves reform.
Hosea Ballou
29.
Falsehood is cowardice, the truth courage.
Hosea Ballou
30.
Servility is disgusting to a truly noble character, and engenders only contempt.
Hosea Ballou
31.
Religion which requires persecution to sustain, it is of the devil's propagation.
Hosea Ballou
32.
Of all the ingenious mistakes into which erring man has fallen, perhaps none have been so pernicious in their consequences, or have brought so many evils into the world, as the popular opinion that the way of the transgressor is pleasant and easy.
Hosea Ballou
33.
Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul; and the heart of man knoweth none more fragrant.
Hosea Ballou
34.
True repentance always involves reform.
Hosea Ballou
35.
It is what we give up, not what we lay up, that adds to our lasting store.
Hosea Ballou
36.
Obedience, as it regards the social relations, the rules of society, and the laws of nature and nature's God, should commence at the cradle and end only at the tomb.
Hosea Ballou
37.
Obedience and resignation are our personal offerings upon the altar of duty.
Hosea Ballou
38.
No one has a greater asset for his business than a man's pride in his work.
Hosea Ballou
39.
Mystery and innocence are not akin.
Hosea Ballou
40.
The heavens and the earth, the woods and the wayside, teem with instruction and knowledge to the curious and thoughtful.
Hosea Ballou
41.
A good smile is the sunshine of wisdom.
Hosea Ballou
42.
The cloudy weather melts at length into beauty, and the brightest smiles of the heart are born of its tears.
Hosea Ballou
43.
The experience of others adds to our knowledge, but not to our wisdom; that is dearer bought.
Hosea Ballou
44.
As "unkindness has no remedy at law," let its avoidance be with you a point of honor.
Hosea Ballou
45.
Be circumspect in your dealings, and let the seed you plant be the offspring of prudence and care; thus fruit follows the fair blossom, as honor follows a good life.
Hosea Ballou
46.
No reproof or denunciation is so potent as the silent influence of a good example.
Hosea Ballou
47.
There is no doubt that religious fanatics have done more to prejudice the cause they affect to advocate than have its opponents.
Hosea Ballou
48.
Those who commit injustice bear the greatest burden.
Hosea Ballou
49.
It is but a step from companionship to slavery when one associates with vice.
Hosea Ballou
50.
Obedience sums up our entire duty.
Hosea Ballou
