Portrait of John Wesley

John Wesley

Founder of Methodism

Early Modern influential 140 sayings

Sayings by John Wesley

I am a creature of a day, passing through life as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God, and returning to God; just hovering a few moments over a great gulf, till, on a sudden, I drop into an unchangeable eternity. I want to know one thing, the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end He came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price give me the Book of God! I have it: here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be homo unius libri.

1746 — Preface to Sermons on Several Occasions
Biblical Unverifiable

I was much disgusted at the first sight of the people. They were as rude and ill-favoured as their houses.

1742 — Journal entry, upon visiting Newcastle
Wisdom Unverifiable

I have been writing a sermon on the use of money. Oh, what a flat, unprofitable subject it is!

1744 — Letter to his brother Charles
Biblical Unverifiable

I still find, and find it to my comfort, that I am not in the number of the rich. If I am not, I am not in the number of them that are in danger of falling into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

1744 — Letter to his brother Charles
Money & Business Unverifiable

I do not believe that there is any woman in the world who has an equal share of both understanding and grace with my sister Martha.

1743 — Journal entry, referring to his sister Martha Hall
Inspirational Unverifiable

I deny that I am an enthusiast in the common sense of the word. I am no visionary. I do not pretend to any new revelations, to any extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost, to any particular inspiration, or to any prophetic spirit.

1749 — Letter to Dr. Conyers Middleton
Biblical Unverifiable

Are we not a little too apt to forget that the Methodists are not the only Christians in the world?

1756 — Letter to a Friend
Wisdom Unverifiable

I am not afraid of giving too much, but of giving too little.

1764 — Journal entry
Wisdom Unverifiable

I should be glad if I could spend my whole life in reading and writing.

1738 — Letter to his brother Charles
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

I have no time to be in a hurry.

Unknown, likely mid-late 18th century — Attributed, often cited in biographies
Wisdom Unverifiable

What is the secret of your strength? I answer, the power of prayer.

Unknown, likely mid-late 18th century — Attributed, often cited in biographies
Biblical Unverifiable

I have not found one single man, among all those I have conversed with, who is able to give a rational account of the difference between an honest man and a rogue.

1740 — Journal entry
Wisdom Unverifiable

I know no other book in the world, that contains so many strong and clear proofs of the being and perfections of God, and of the truth of our holy religion, as the Bible.

1749 — Letter to a Deist
Biblical Unverifiable

I do not think that I have ever spent an hour in my life, from the age of twenty-one to this day, without employing it in some useful way.

1765 — Letter to his brother Charles
Wisdom Unverifiable

I have often thought, that if I were to choose a companion for life, it should be one who had as little money as myself.

1741 — Journal entry
Money & Business Unverifiable

I have been reading a book of travels. I do not know when I have been so much amused. It is a pity that so few of our travellers write like rational creatures.

1747 — Journal entry
Educational Unverifiable

I am not an enemy to pleasure; but I am an enemy to sin.

1744 — Sermon on 'The Use of Money'
War & Conflict Unverifiable

I have often observed, that the more a man knows, the more he is sensible of his ignorance.

1753 — Journal entry
Wisdom Unverifiable

I have often wished, that all the books in the world were burnt, except the Bible.

Unknown, likely mid-late 18th century — Attributed, often cited in biographies
Biblical Unverifiable

I am a very little man, and I have a very little heart.

1738 — Letter to his brother Charles
Art & Creativity Unverifiable
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