Patrick Henry Quotes

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

Righteousness alone can exalt them [America] as a nation. Reader! Whoever thou art, remember this, and in thy sphere practice virtue thyself and encourage it in others.

One who is wise and disciplined, always kind and intelligent, humble and free from pride. One like this will be praised.

It is goodness that gives to a neighborhood its beauty. One who is free to choose, yet does not prefer to dwell among the good - how can he be accorded the name of wise?

It is salutary for us to learn to hold cheap such things, be they good or evil, as attach indifferently to good men and bad, and to covet those good things which belong only to good men, and flee those evils which belong only to evil men.

For never, never, wicked man was wise.

He who is virtuous is wise; and he who is wise is good; and he who is good is happy.

To escape from evil we must be made as far as possible like God; and the resemblance consists in becoming just and holy and wise.

None But such as are good men can give good things, And that which is not good, is not delicious To a well-govern'd and wise appetite.

He swift don't win the race. It goes to the worthy, who can divide the word of truth.

To be fond of learning is to draw close to wisdom. To practice with vigor is to draw close to benevolence. To know the sense of shame is to draw close to courage. He who knows these three things knows how to cultivate his own character. Knowing how to cultivate his own character, he knows how to govern other men. Knowing how to govern other men, he knows how to govern the world, its states, and its families.

Religion either makes men wise and virtuous, or it makes them set up false pretenses to both.

Good sense, good health, good conscience, and good fame,--all these belong to virtue, and all prove that virtue has a title to your love.

The unrighteous are never really fortunate.

Being in humaneness is good. If we select other goodness and thus are far apart from humaneness, how can we be the wise?

As the excellence of steel is strength, and the excellence of art is beauty, so the excellence of mankind is moral character.

Virtue is no empty echo.

To live well and honorably and justly are the same thing.

A wise man will live as much within his wit as his income.... Bear this truth always in your mind, that you may be admired for your wit, if you have any; but that nothing but good sense and good qualities can make you be loved.

Happiness is not the end of life: character is.

...virtue is not merely a state in conformity with the right principle, but one that implies the right principle; and the right principle in moral conduct is prudence.

My description of wisdom has nothing to do with benevolence and righteousness, it is to do with being wise in one's own virtue, nothing more. My description of being has nothing to do with benevolence and righteousness, it is that one should be led by one's innate nature, nothing more.

Sincerity does not only complete the self; it is the means by which all things are completed. As the self is completed, there is human-heartedness; as things are completed, there is wisdom. This is the virtue of one’s character, and the Way of joining the internal and external. Thus, when we use this, everything is correct.

'Revelation assures us that 'righteousness exalteth a nation.' Communities are dealt with in this world by the wise and just Ruler of the Universe. He rewards or punishes them according to their general character. The diminution of public virtue is usually attended with that of public happiness, and the public liberty will not long survive the total extinction of morals.

A good man prefers to suffer rather than overcome injustice with evil.