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Elizabeth Fry Quotes

Punishment is not for revenge, but to lessen crime and reform the criminal.

Punishment is not for revenge, but to lessen crime and reform the criminal.

Elizabeth Fry
Forgiveness, Revenge, Punishment
Quoted in Rachel E Cresswell and Katharine Fry Memoir of the Life of Elizabeth Fry (1848).

When thee builds a prison, thee had better build with the thought ever in thy mind that thee and thy children may occupy the cells.

Elizabeth Fry
Children, Freedom, Cells

It is an honor to appear on the side of the afflicted

Elizabeth Fry
Honor, Sides

I give myself this advice: Do not fear truth, let it be ever so contrary to inclination and feeling. Never give up the search after it; and let me take courage, and try from the bottom of my heart to do that which I believe truth dictates, if it lead me to be a Quaker or not

Elizabeth Fry
Giving Up, Believe, Heart
Elizabeth Gurney Fry (1847). “Memoir of the Life of Elizabeth Fry: With Extracts from Her Letters and Journal”, p.86

Oh Lord, may I be directed what to do and what to leave undone.

Elizabeth Fry
God, Religious, May
Elizabeth Gurney Fry, Katharine Fry, Rachel Elizabeth Cresswell (1847). “Memoir of the Life of Elizabeth Fry: With Extracts from Her Letters and Journal”, p.307

I hope, if you should live to grow up, you will endeavour to be very useful and not spend all your time in pleasing yourself.

Elizabeth Fry
Children, Growing Up, Endeavour

Does capital punishment tend to the security of the people? By no means. It hardens the hearts of men, and makes the loss of life appear light to them; and it renders life insecure, inasmuch as the law holds out that property is of greater value than life.

Elizabeth Fry
Heart, Mean, Loss
Quoted in Rachel E Cresswell and Katharine Fry Memoir of the Life of Elizabeth Fry (1848).

I wish the state of enthusiasm I am in may last, for to-day I have felt that there is a God; I have been devotional, and my mind has bben led away from the follies that it is mostly wrapped up in.

Elizabeth Fry
Mind, Wish, May
"Elizabeth Fry: Life and Labors of the Eminent Philanthropist, Preacher and Prison Reformer".

The confusion and undesigned inaccuracy so often to be observed in conversation, especially in that of uneducated persons, proves that truth needs to be cultivated as a talent, as well as recommended as a virtue.

Elizabeth Fry
Truth, Confusion, Needs

The loveliest, sweetest flower that bloomed in paradise, and the first that died, has rarely blossomed since on mortal soil. It is so frail, so delicate, a thing, it is gone if it but look upon itself; and she who ventures to esteem it hers proves by that single thought she has it not.

Elizabeth Fry
Flower, Looks, Gone

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