Part I. Compleat Virtue. William Penn. 1909-14. Fruits of Solitude. The Harvard Classics

William Penn. (1644–1718). Fruits of Solitude.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

Part I

Compleat Virtue


442. Content not thy self that thou art Virtuous in the general: For one Link being wanting, the Chain is defective.	1
443. Perhaps thou art rather Innocent than Virtuous, and owest more to thy Constitution, than thy Religion.	2
444. Innocent, is not to be Guilty: But Virtuous is to overcome our evil Inclinations.	3
445. If thou hast not conquer’d thy self in that which is thy own particular Weakness, thou hast no Title to Virtue, tho’ thou art free of other Men’s.	4
446. For a Covetous Man to inveigh against Prodigality, an Atheist against Idolatry, a Tyrant against Rebellion, or a Lyer against Forgery, and a Drunkard against Intemperance, is for the Pot to call the Kettle black.	5
447. Such Reproof would have but little Success; because it would carry but little Authority with it.	6
448. If thou wouldest conquer thy Weakness, thou must never gratify it.	7
449. No Man is compelled to Evil; his Consent only makes it his.	8
450. ’T is no Sin to be tempted, but to be overcome.	9
451. What Man in his right Mind, would conspire his own hurt? Men are beside themselves, when they transgress their Convictions.	10
452. If thou would’st not Sin, don’t Desire; and if thou would’st not Lust, don’t Embrace the Temptation: No, not look at it, nor think of it.	11
453. Thou would’st take much Pains to save thy Body: Take some, prithee, to save thy Soul.	12