Meaning of the quote

The quote means that it's better to have more creativity and intelligence (wit) than to focus too much on criticizing others (judgment). Too much judgment is like a heavy weight (ballast) that slows you down, while more creativity and intelligence are like a sailboat's sails that help you move forward. In other words, it's more important to use your mind in positive ways than to waste time judging others.

About William Penn

William Penn was an influential Quaker who founded the Province of Pennsylvania during the British colonial era. He was known for his advocacy of democracy, religious freedom, and his amicable relations with the Lenape Native Americans. Penn wrote numerous works and was imprisoned several times due to his faith, but his ideas inspired the framing of the U.S. Constitution.

More about the author

More quotes from William Penn

For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

He that does good for good’s sake seeks neither paradise nor reward, but he is sure of both in the end.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Force may subdue, but love gains, and he that forgives first wins the laurel.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Men must be governed by God or they will be ruled by tyrants.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Between a man and his wife nothing ought to rule but love. Authority is for children and servants, yet not without sweetness.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

In marriage do thou be wise: prefer the person before money, virtue before beauty, the mind before the body; then thou hast a wife, a friend, a companion, a second self.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

A true friend freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

To be like Christ is to be a Christian.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Knowledge is the treasure of a wise man.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Avoid popularity; it has many snares, and no real benefit.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Much reading is an oppression of the mind, and extinguishes the natural candle, which is the reason of so many senseless scholars in the world.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

If thou wouldn’t conquer thy weakness thou must not gratify it.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

The tallest Trees are most in the Power of the Winds, and Ambitious Men of the Blasts of Fortune.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Patience and Diligence, like faith, remove mountains.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Rarely promise, but, if lawful, constantly perform.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Love grows. Lust wastes by Enjoyment, and the Reason is, that one springs from an Union of Souls, and the other from an Union of Sense.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

O Lord, help me not to despise or oppose what I do not understand.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

We are apt to love praise, but not deserve it. But if we would deserve it, we must love virtue more than that.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Only trust thyself, and another shall not betray thee.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Truth often suffers more by the heat of its defenders than the arguments of its opposers.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Nothing does reason more right, than the coolness of those that offer it: For Truth often suffers more by the heat of its defenders, than from the arguments of its opposers.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Passion is the mob of the man, that commits a riot upon his reason.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

A good End cannot sanctify evil Means; nor must we ever do Evil, that Good may come of it.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Less judgment than wit is more sail than ballast.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Some are so very studious of learning what was done by the ancients that they know not how to live with the moderns.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

True silence is the rest of the mind, and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

He who is taught to live upon little owes more to his father’s wisdom than he who has a great deal left him does to his father’s care.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Force may make hypocrites, but it can never make converts.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Love is the hardest lesson in Christianity; but, for that reason, it should be most our care to learn it.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Let the people think they govern and they will be governed.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Men are generally more careful of the breed of their horses and dogs than of their children.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Humility and knowledge in poor clothes excel pride and ignorance in costly attire.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

They have a right to censure that have a heart to help.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Sense shines with a double luster when it is set in humility. An able yet humble man is a jewel worth a kingdom.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

It would be far better to be of no church than to be bitter of any.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Justice is the insurance which we have on our lives and property. Obedience is the premium which we pay for it.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Passion is a sort of fever in the mind, which ever leaves us weaker than it found us.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Kings in this world should imitate God, their mercy should be above their works.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

He that lives to live forever, never fears dying.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

True godliness does not turn men out of the world, but enables them to live better in it and excites their endeavors to mend it.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)

To be a man’s own fool is bad enough, but the vain man is everybody’s.

William Penn

English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)