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Henry Ward Beecher Quotes - Page 14

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God made man to go by motives, and he will not go without them, any more than a boat without steam or a balloon without gas.

God made man to go by motives, and he will not go without them, any more than a boat without steam or a balloon without gas.

Henry Ward Beecher
Motivation, War, Ambition

Where human life needs most sympathy, where usually it is the most barren, there it is that Christ is more likely to be found than anywhere else.

Henry Ward Beecher
Jesus, Needs, Christ
Henry Ward Beecher, William Drysdale (1887). “Proverbs from Plymouth Pulpit”

In a great affliction there is no light either in the stars or in the sun; for when the inward light is fed with fragrant oil; there can be no darkness though the sun should go out. But when, like a sacred lamp in the temple, the inward light is quenched, there is no light outwardly, though a thousand suns should preside in the heavens.

Henry Ward Beecher
Stars, Light, Oil
Henry Ward Beecher (1866). “Royal Truths”, p.66

A very common flower adds generosity to beauty. It gives joy to the poor, to the rude, and to the multitudes who could have no flowers were nature to charge a price for her blossoms.

Henry Ward Beecher
Flower, Generosity, Giving
Henry Ward Beecher (1855). “Star papers; or, Experiences of art and nature”, p.95

Astronomers have built telescopes which can show myriads of stars unseen before; but when a man looks through a tear in his own eye, that is a lens which opens reaches into the unknown, and reveals orbs which no telescope, however skilfully constructed, could do.

Henry Ward Beecher
Stars, Eye, Men
Henry Ward Beecher (1858). “Life Thoughts”, p.20

An ambition which has conscience in it will always be a laborious and faithful engineer, and will build the road, and bridge the chasms between itself and eminent success by the most faithful and minute performances of duty.

Henry Ward Beecher
Ambition, Bridges, Faithful
Henry Ward Beecher (1858). “Life Thoughts”, p.64

But there have been human hearts, constituted just like ours, for six thousand years. The same stars rise and set upon this globe that rose upon the plains of Shinar or along the Egyptian Nile and the same sorrows rise and set in every age.

Henry Ward Beecher
Stars, Heart, Past
Henry Ward Beecher (1858). “Life Thoughts”, p.9

Love cannot endure indifference. It needs to be wanted. Like a lamp, it needs to be fed out of the oil of another's heart, or its flame burns low.

Henry Ward Beecher
Love, Heart, Flames

It is not work that kills men; it is worry. Worry is rust upon the blade.

Henry Ward Beecher
Men, Worry, Stressed
Henry Ward Beecher (1871). “Lectures to young men, on various important subjects”, p.303

Flattery is praise insincerely given for an interested purpose.

Henry Ward Beecher
Criticism, Purpose, Flattery
Henry Ward Beecher (1862). “Eyes and ears”, p.383

Hope is sweet-minded and sweet-eyed. It draws pictures; it weaves fancies; it fills the future with delight.

Henry Ward Beecher
Sweet, Delight, Fancy
Henry Ward Beecher (1893). “The Original Plymouth Pulpit: Sermons from the Stenographic Reports by T.J. Ellinwood. September 1868 to September 1873”

The dog was created specially for children. He is a god of frolic.

Henry Ward Beecher
Dog, Children, Poodles
Henry Ward Beecher, William Drysdale (1887). “Proverbs from Plymouth Pulpit”

What profusion is there in His work! When trees blossom there is not a single breastpin, but a whole bosom full of gems; and of leaves they have so many suits that they can throw them away to the winds all summer long. What unnumbered cathedrals has He reared in the forest shades, vast and grand, full of curious carvings, and haunted evermore by tremulous music; and in the heavens above, how do stars seem to have flown out of His hand faster than sparks out of a mighty forge!

Henry Ward Beecher
Summer, Nature, Stars
Henry Ward Beecher (1858). “Life Thoughts”, p.59

There is no faculty of the human soul so persistent and universal as that of hatred.

Henry Ward Beecher
Hate, Hatred, Soul
henry ward beecher (1858). “life thoughts,”, p.273

The highest order that was ever instituted on earth is the order of faith.

Henry Ward Beecher
Faith, Order, Earth
Henry Ward Beecher (1866). “Royal truths”, p.21

What a pity flowers can utter no sound!-A singing rose, a whispering violet, a murmuring honeysuckle ... oh, what a rare and exquisite miracle would these be!

Henry Ward Beecher
Music, Flower, Rose
Henry Ward Beecher (1887). “Beecher : Christian Philosopher, Pulpit Orator, Patriot and Philantropist: A Volume of Representative Selections from the Sermons, Lectures, Prayers, and Letters of Henry Ward Beecher”

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith. We should live for the future, and yet should find our life in the fidelities of the present; the last is only the method of the first.

Henry Ward Beecher
Life, Faith, Two

I think half the troubles for which men go slouching in prayer to God are caused by their intolerable pride. Many of our cares are but a morbid way of looking at our privileges. We let our blessings get mouldy, and then call them curses.

Henry Ward Beecher
Prayer, Pride, Men
Henry Ward Beecher (1858). “Life Thoughts”, p.19

Though cares and sorrows e'er must come, Though heart be rent, I know that God will give me strength, When mine is spent.

Henry Ward Beecher
God, Heart, Giving

Music cleanses the understanding; inspires it, and lifts it into a realm which it would not reach if it were left to itself.

Henry Ward Beecher
Music, Motivation, Piano
Henry Ward Beecher (1870). “One Thousand Gems”, p.474

Every charitable act is a stepping stone toward heaven.

Henry Ward Beecher
Inspirational, Heaven, Charity

He who is false to present duty breaks a thread in the loom, and will find the flaw when he may have forgotten its cause.

Henry Ward Beecher
War, May, Causes
Henry Ward Beecher (1871). “Lectures to young men, on various important subjects”, p.293

There are three schoolmasters for everybody that will employ them - the senses, intelligent companions, and books.

Henry Ward Beecher
Book, School, Intelligent
Henry Ward Beecher, William Drysdale (1887). “Proverbs from Plymouth Pulpit”

If a man cannot be a Christian in the place where he is, he cannot be a Christian anywhere.

Henry Ward Beecher
Christian, Men, Ifs
Henry Ward Beecher (1858). “Life Thoughts”, p.119

Rain! whose soft architectural hands have power to cut stones, and chisel to shapes of grandeur the very mountains.

Henry Ward Beecher
Nature, Rain, Adventure
Henry Ward Beecher (1862). “Eyes and ears”, p.49

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