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HALL, Robert Quotes
(1764-1831), English clergyman
If ever Christianity appears in its power it is when it erects its trophies upon the tomb; when it takes up its votaries where the world leaves them; and fills the breast with immortal hope in dying moments.
When a man is opposed to Christianity, it is because Christianity is opposed to him. Your infidel is usually a person who resents the opposition of Christianity to that in his nature and life which Jesus came to rebuke and destroy.
The evils of controversy are transitory, while its benefits are permanent.
The wheels of nature are not made to roll backward: everything presses on toward eternity: from the birth of time an impetuous current has set in, which bears all the sons of men toward that interminable ocean. Meanwhile heaven is attracting to itself whatever is congenial to its nature, is enriching itself by the spoils of earth, and collecting within its capacious bosom whatever is pure, permanent, and divine.
Call things by their right names.—"Glass of brandy and water!" That is the current but not the appropriate name; ask for, "A glass of liquid fire and distilled damnation."
Enthusiasm is an evil much less to be dreaded than superstition.—Superstition is the disease of nations; enthusiasm, that of individuals.—The former grows inveterate by time; the latter is cured by it.
Eternity invests every state, whether of bliss or suffering, with a mysterious and awful importance entirely its own.—It gives weight and moment to whatever it attaches, compared to which all interests that know a period fade into absolute insignificance.
The innocence of the intention abates nothing of the mischief of the example.
Fanaticism is such an overwhelming impression of the ideas relating to the future world as disqualifies for the duties of this.
A friend should be one in whose understanding and virtue we can equally confide, and whose opinion we can value at once for its justness and its sincerity. He who has made the acquisition of a judicious and sympathizing friend, may be said to have doubled his mental resources.
To that state all the pious on earth are tending. Heaven is attracting to itself whatever is congenial to its nature; is enriching itself by the spoils of the earth, and collecting within its capacious bosom whatever is pure, permanent, and divine, leaving nothing for the last fire to consume but the objects and slaves of concupiscence; while everything which grace has prepared and beautified shall be gathered and selected from the ruins of the world to adorn that eternal city "which hath no need of the sun or moon to shine in it; for the glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."
Ignorance gives a sort of eternity to prejudice, and perpetuity to error.
The innocence of the intention abates nothing of the mischief of the example.
He might have been a very clever man by nature, but he had laid so many books on his head that his brain could not move.
Striking manners are bad manners.
In matters of prudence last thoughts are best; in matters of morality, first thoughts.
Swearing is properly a superfluity of naughtiness, and can only be considered as a sort of pepper-corn sent, in acknowledgment of the devil's right of superiority.
Religion is the final centre of repose; the goal to which all things tend; apart from which man is a shadow, his very existence a riddle, and the stupendous scenes of nature which surround him as unmeaning as the leaves which the sibyl scattered in the wind.
Talents of the highest order, and such as are calculated to command universal admiration, may exist apart from wisdom.
In matters of conscience first thoughts are best; in matters of prudence last thoughts are best.
Society is the atmosphere of souls; and we necessarily imbibe from it something which is either infectious or salubrious. The society of virtuous persons is enjoyed beyond their company, while vice carries a sting into solitude. The society or company you keep is both the indication of your character and the former of it. In vicious society you will feel your reverence for the dictates of conscience wear off, and that name at which angels bow and devils tremble, you will hear contemned and abused. The Bible will supply materials for unmeaning jest or impious buffooner; the consequence of this will be a practical deviation from virtue, the principles will become sapped, the fences of conscience broken down; and when debauchery has corrupted the character a total inversion will take place, and the sinner will glory in his shame.
War is nothing less than a temporary repeal of the principles of virtue. It is a system out of which almost all the virtues are excluded, and in which nearly all the vices are included.
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