Jeremy Taylor Quotes

Holiness is the sum of a million little things — the avoidance of little evils and little foibles, the setting aside of little bits of worldliness and little acts of compromise, the putting to death of little inconsistencies and little indiscretions, the attention to little duties and little dealings, the hard work of little self-denials and little self-restraints, the cultivation of little benevolences and little forbearances.

There is scarcely an instant that passes over our heads that may not have its freight of infamy. How ought we to watch over our thoughts, that we may not so much as imagine any enormity!

Virtue knows to a farthing what it has lost by not having been vice.

Character is the essence of all that a man has seen in life and regards as high and exalted. Character is like truth: the substance of the things that a man has forgotten but the substance of the things that are worth remembering in life.

True virtue is life under the direction of reason.

A man who lives right, and is right, has more power in his silence than another has by his words.

Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.

In avoiding the appearance of evil, I am not sure but I have sometimes unnecessarily deprived myself and others of innocent enjoyments.

Nothing profits more than self-esteem, grounded on what is just and right.

Wise people, even though all laws were abolished, would still lead the same life.

The man who in this world can keep the whiteness of his soul is not likely to lose it in any other.

The best men of the best epochs are simply those who make the fewest blunders and commit the fewest sins.

The man of life upright has a guiltless heart, free from all dishonest deeds or thought of vanity.

The object of the superior man is truth.

When God calls a man to be upright and pure and generous, he also calls him to be intelligent and skillful, and strong and brave.

Virginity can be lost by a thought.

Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair; the rest is in the hands of God.

Moral character has now some influence in our elections, but not that place which it deserves. The law of public opinion excludes confirmed sots, and persons judicially convicted of high crimes and misdemeanors against the State; but it ought to render the election of all profane swearers, notorious Sabbath breakers, seducers, slanderers, prodigals and riotous persons, as well as the advocates of dueling, impracticable.

For men, to cultivate virtue is knowledge; for women, to renounce knowledge is virtue.

He is good and wise who always speaks the truth, acts on the dictates of virtue, and tries to make others good and happy.

Asceticism doesn't lie in ascetic robes or in walking staff nor in the ashes. Asceticism doesn't lie in the earring nor in the shaven head nor blowing a conch. Asceticism lies in remaining pure amidst impurities.

We should be living a life of purity.

There were times when I was tempted to do wrong, and could have went that way. But I knew it wasn't for me. I was told enough times that it catches up with you, and I believe it.

We should seek at all times to purify ourselves and to lead such worthy lives that the Light of Christ emanates from us in all that we say and do.

But few are those who tread the sunlit path; Only the pure in soul can walk in light.