John Greenleaf Whittier Quotes

Moral authority is never retained by any attempt to hold on to it. It comes without seeking and is retained without effort.

Character is that quality of mind which makes truth-telling instinctive rather than strange.

A good man often appears gauche simply because he does not take advantage of the myriad mean little chances of making himself look stylish. Preferring truth to form, he is not constantly at work upon the facade of his appearance.

Just stay real and stay a real person.

There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, goodness and truth.

Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful.

My mother and father just taught me the basics: to be really kind, to really listen to people. I have never been one to put on airs and graces.

It is great and manly to disdain disguise; it shows our spirit and proves our strength.

As you love your peace, Christian, be plain-hearted with God and man, and keep the king's highway.

Few persons have courage enough to appear as good as they really are.

I know I'll astonish everyone by talking like this, but it's God's truth. Honors have never tempted me and I've never sought them.

In Gerald Ford, the man he was in public, he was also that man in private.

If any man seeks for greatness, let him forget greatness and ask for truth, and he will find both.

We want deeper sincerity of motive, a greater courage in speech and earnestness in action.

Goodness is about character - integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people.

The true measure of a man is what he would do if he knew he would never be caught.

Jimmy Stewart was a very sincere, honest and straightforward man.

It's very important for Christians to be honest with God, which often, you know, God is much more interested in who you are than who you want to be.

Well, the truth is always what should be told. And the truth and the knowledge of the truth is what everybody should represent, regardless of the consequences of doing it.

Live truth instead of professing it.

I don't want to pretend I'm any cooler or smarter than I am.

Integrity is the essence of everything successful.

It's wrong for a guy to have no personality, no heart. Because I don't care about style or money.

True freedom is where an individual's thoughts and actions are in alignment with that which is true, correct, and of honor - no matter the personal price.

Tell the truth and shame the devil.