Force may subdue, but love gains, and he that forgives first wins the laurel.
Meaning of the quote
Using force to make someone do something may work in the short term, but being kind and forgiving is a better way to get what you want in the long run. The person who forgives first will be seen as the winner, like receiving a special prize or award.
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 quotes from William Penn
For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)
Knowledge is the treasure of a wise man.
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.
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.
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.
English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)
Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.
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.
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.
English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)
Patience and Diligence, like faith, remove mountains.
English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)
Rarely promise, but, if lawful, constantly perform.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)