No man is so learned but he may be taught; neither is any one so illiterate but he may teach.

The mind is nothing less than a garden of inestimable value which man should strive to cultivate.

While bars and bolts may baffle the thief, virtue alone will defeat the slanderer.

Keen adversity is the best crucible in which to try a man's integrity.

Religion is a sovereign balm to the penitent; but burning coals to the scoffer.

To awake a woman's curiosity is to make her pliable.

As the diamond is among precious stones, even so is the Bible among books.

As large trees are not the most productive, neither are wealthy men the most liberal.

The difference between a wise and foolish man is this--the former sees much, thinks much, and speaks little; but the latter speaks more than he either sees or thinks.

When the hour of adversity arrives, when false friends are scattered, when we are moving through the keen atmosphere of selfishness, then it is that the virtuous wife, like an angel of light, shines with peculiar lustre.

When an intimate friend turns from us, we often find him the most inveterate enemy.

Poor is the man who can boast of nothing more than gold.

Never respect men merely for their riches; but rather for their philanthropy: we do not value the sun for its height, but for its use.

As a crowded stomach retards digestion, so does prosperity retard charity.

The shade of faith and the cloak of true godliness is the best equipage for the storm of adversity.

For one to admire a woman merely for her beauty, is to love the building for its exterior; but to love one for the greatness of her soul, is to appreciate the tenement for its intrinsic value.

The contrast which exists between the abstemious man and the drunkard is this--the former governs his affairs, but the affairs of the latter govern him.

From the magnitude of the brilliant and its properties, the jeweller may arrive at its value; but who can comprehend fully the preciousness of man's soul, except the God who gave it, and the Saviour who died in agony, to redeem it.

Those who cannot keep their own secrets ought not to be entrusted with the secrets of others.

As a good tree produces good fruit; even so does a virtuous soul produce pure thoughts.

Gold is the key to society; but poverty its barrier.

Many clouds do not always produce heavy showers, neither do the hasty promises of fickle men yield us much good.

Men possessing small souls are generally the authors of great evil.

Marriage is the comfort of the considerate and prudent; but the torment of the inconsiderate and self-willed.

As an orchard when manured produces pleasant trees and luscious fruit, so does a cultivated mind produce pure thoughts and noble actions.

The dog who barks the loudest is not always the best watcher, neither are braggadocios the most valiant.

It is easier to make a glass tube pliable than to convince an obstinate woman she is in fault.

Power will accomplish much, but perseverence more.

As the furnace purifies the silver, so does charity rid wealth of its dross.

A wise man is he who keeps his own secrets.

Sauce maketh palatable the dish of the epicure; even so doth religion sweeten the bitter cup of adversity to the Christian.

To pray without faith is to make a small fire while it is raining heavily.

Birds of fine plumage are not the best songsters; neither are comely women the most virtuous.

As the snow before the sun, even so is a polished lie before the naked truth.

Beautiful peaches are not always the best flavored; neither are handsome women the most amiable.

Religion is the clearest telescope through which we can behold the beauties of creation, and the good of our Creator.

As a storm conceals the glories of the sun and defaces the beauty of the landscape, even so do maddening passions deform the soul, bearing along with their impetuous waves both pestilence and death.

While the wish of many individuals is to arrive at heaven, we daily behold them on the way to hell.

It is good for a man to repent of his sins; but better for him had he never sinned.

Pleasure is the sun of the morning, the cloud of the meridian, and the storm of the evening.

To receive an injury is to be wounded; but to forgive and forget it is the cure.

Would men take the same care of their souls as they do of their bodies, we should find our churches as thronged upon the Sabbath, as our markets are upon a Saturday.

Judge nothing by the appearance. The more beautiful the serpent, the more fatal its sting.

Flattery is refined deception--it is the froth of language--it is the alcohol of social intercourse--it is the prescription of the subtle--and the nectar of fools.

As a fish out of his native element, so is the fool in the society of the wise.

Law without justice is a wound without a cure.

Prosperity gathers smiles, while adversity scatters them.

As a grim skull lies covered beneath the fairest face; so does an abyss of torment lie beneath the surface of the glittering sea of sensual pleasure and dissipation.

Women's eyes have pierced more hearts than ever did the bullets of war.

To keep your own secrets is wisdom; but to expect others to keep them is folly.

The hearer of God's word is a tree planted; but the doer is a fruitful one.

It is better to drink the wine of industry from an earthen cup, than the wine of indolence from a silver tankard.

As an intoxicating drink is to a toper, so is flattery to a fool.

Most fashionable ladies are as diamonds because they are more costly than useful.

Never be angry with your neighbor because his religious views differ from your own; for all the branches of a tree to not lean the same way.

As salt savors the broth, so does labor give a relish to pleasure.

The seas are not still while the winds blow; neither can a man be spiritually alive while his affections are upon the earth.

WILLIAM SCOTT DOWNEY, Proverbs

We do not behold the beauty of God merely in his work of creation, but more so in the stupendous one of redemption.

WILLIAM SCOTT DOWNEY, attributed, Day's Collacon

Modesty in woman veils in some measure homeliness.

WILLIAM SCOTT DOWNEY, attributed, Day's Collacon

The difference between a puppy and a fool is this--the one is born blind and continues so for nine days only, while the other remains with his eyes shut all his life.