Joseph Hall Quotes

Joseph Hall's reflections are thoughtful, guiding you toward contentment and virtue.

24 quotes

1. So little in his purse, so much upon his back.

2. 'Mongst all these stirs of discontented strife, O, let me lead an academic life; To know much, and to think for nothing, know Nothing to have, yet think we have enow.

3. Death borders upon our birth, and our cradle stands in the grave.

4. There is many a rich stone laid up in the bowels of the earth, many a fair pearl laid up in the bosom of the sea, that never was seen, nor never shall be.

5. Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues.

6. Perfection is the child of time:

7. He is wealthy enough, that wanteth not: he is great enough, that is his own master: he is happy enough, that lives to die well.

8. A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was.

9. The life of doctrine is in application.

10. Words are as they are taken, and things are as they are used. There are even cursed blessings.

11. We must first pray, that God would make us wise; before we can wish, he would make us happy.

12. I account this body nothing but a close prison to my soul; and the earth a larger prison to my body. I may not break prison till I be loosed by death; but I will leave it, not unwillingly,when I am loosed.

13. Satan would seem to be mannerly and reasonable; making as if he would be content with one-half of the heart, whereas God challengeth all or none: as, indeed, He hath most reason to claim all that made all. But this is nothing but a crafty fetch of Satan; for he knows that if he have any part, God will have none: so the whole falleth to his share alone.

14. It is not the bee's touching on the flowers that gathers the honey, but her abiding for a time upon them, and drawing out the sweet.

15. I have seldom seen much ostentation and much learning met together.

16. Mark in what order: first, our calling; then, our election; not beginning with our election first. By our calling, arguing our election.

17. Fools measure actions, after they are done, by the event; wise men beforehand, by the rules of reason and right. The former look to the end, to judge of the act. Let me look to the act, and leave the end with God.

18. Earthly greatness is a nice thing, and requires so much chariness in the managing, as the contentment of it cannot requite.

19. A good man is kinder to his enemy than bad men are to their friends.

20. The ear and the eye are the mind's receivers; but the tongue is only busy in expending the treasures received. It, therefore, the revenues of the mind be uttered as fast or faster than they are received, it must needs be bare, and can never lay up for purchase.

21. What fools are we, to be besotted with the love of our own trouble, and to hate our liberty and rest!

22. Our good purposes foreslowed are become our tormentors upon our deathbed.

23. He is great enough that is his own master.

24. If religion might be judged of according to men's intentions, there would scarcely be any idolatry in the world.