William Penn Quote - Liberty Quotes Blog

"A good end cannot sanctify evil means;
nor must we ever do evil,
that good may come of it."

by:	William Penn (1644-1718) English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker, founder of the Province of Pennsylvania
Source:	Some Fruits of Solitude in Reflections and Maxims
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Categories:	Honor, Integrity, Proverbs, Virtue, Wisdom
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Reader comments about this quote:

-- Paul, Sydney
Governments can ignore this idea more easily than can individuals who are generally answerable to a larger community. Our Constitution is designed to address this issue by purportedly having government 'of the people'. Alas, it's now government (by any means necessary) 'of the interests (mainly corporate) who can pay for it'. -- Terry Berg, Occidental, CA
Evil is what almost everyone does on a daily basis. Blame the government, if you wish, but you are the government, especially if your only complaints are written as responses to quotes on this site. Blame the people, if you happen to be paying attention to what practically the whole world is doing. Blame yourself, if you live in a modern industrial society, drive a car, run air conditioners, and erroneously claim that one president is better than another. Modern man is evil almost by definition. His impact on his world, every aspect of it, is evil. His intentions, plans, acts, thoughts, and legacy are evil. -- David L. Rosenthal, Hollywood 1
-- Anonymous, Reston, VA US
Seems we are a nation of pots calling kettles black. -- Harold Levy, Hermosa Beach, CA
We the 'people' are NOT the government. That's why we have two different designations ('words', if you will) for the two separate entities. If you think you're the government then the guy next to you is probably Jesus Christ. -- Anonymous
We the people overthrew George lll. We the people set up a new nation. And we the people have the right and the duty, according to the Declaration of Independence, to abolish our government and establish a new one, if we find the necessity to be present. We are above the government. -- David L. Rosenthal, Hollywood
Aloha! Continuing the work of Wm.Penn leads me to propose The CONSTITUTION of UNITED DIVERSITY http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uniteddiversity -- Triaka, Lihue, Hawai'i
How could anyone think otherwise... now, now... The Government ("we the people") is never right when it is wrong - the day we don't believe this is the day we switch out the light. -- Robert, Sarasota
Without getting too verbose, the quote is right. -- jim k, Austin, Tx
Terry your statement is true. But the machine if you will, run by corporate privilege and usury presents us with a turning point. Don't barrow if you can't buy and don't work for a withholding agent comes to mind. People , some are given to taking what is given to them rather than find it for themselves through education. The trappers are smart. For those of us who are independent, we lead by example. It is hard work and some of us, of the common class, middle if you will, do obtain that we need and not so much that which we want ! David, it is hard to deal with but living where you do, it does no good to degrade but would be better to ascribe to the cause of liberty and freedom. These are not new times but times repeated through and in the course of time. Cool heads walking with a hot flame will win the day. Besides you found us here. Spread the word, win the mind of them who want to know, it is not easy ! Open their eyes if you know the whole truth, and are willing to suffer the persecution received for taking a stand. It is by your actions and not your words that you are measured. -- watchman 13, USA
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Why can't everyone just leave everyone else the hell alone. ;-) -- E Archer, NYC
-- jim k, Austin
It seems infiltration and deception have not been enough for the socialist/communist overthrow, the plot has been thwarted and brought to the surface, violence and riot called upon openly by members of high rank in government seeking to hide behind immunity while the government is held captive by a judge-made verbal trap. Commonsense dictates heads must roll, for accountability and the restoring of order to law. WWG1WGA to MAGA to KAG -- Ronw13, Oregon

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