Portrait of John Wesley

John Wesley

Founder of Methodism

Early Modern influential 140 sayings

Sayings by John Wesley

Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can.

1760 — Advice on money management
Wisdom Confirmed

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.

1771 — Maxim on Christian charity
Wisdom Confirmed

I look upon all the world as my parish.

1739 — Defending his itinerant preaching
Wisdom Confirmed

When I have money, I get rid of it quickly, lest it find a way into my heart.

1767 — Journal entry on wealth
Art & Creativity Unverifiable

Beware you be not swallowed up in books! An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge.

1750 — Warning against intellectual pride
Educational Unverifiable

I am a creature of a day, passing through life as an arrow through the air.

1756 — Meditation on mortality
Art & Creativity Confirmed

The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.

1749 — Critiquing isolated spirituality
Biblical Unverifiable

Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn.

1750 — Attributed, possibly paraphrased
Wisdom Unverifiable

I conceive slavery to be such a thing as is odious to the God of love.

1774 — Controversial stance for his time opposing slavery
Religious Unverifiable

Women's preaching is flatly contrary to the Bible.

1761 — Journal entry opposing female preachers
Religious Unverifiable

The rich, the honourable, the great, will hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

1788 — Sermon criticizing wealth inequality
Religious Unverifiable

Diseases are the instruments of God to punish men for their sins.

1737 — Journal entry during illness outbreak
Religious Unverifiable

I was much disgusted at the way in which the people sing here. They bawl as loud as they can, but it is without any taste or judgment. They have no notion of singing in tune, or time, or harmony; but only of making a great noise, which is still more disagreeable because it is generally a dull, heavy, stupid sound.

1738 — Journal entry describing singing in a church
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

I am not afraid of giving too much trouble to God. He is able to bear it.

1775 — Letter to Mary Bosanquet
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

Beware of that smooth, plausible, pleasing voice, 'You may be saved, though you keep your sins.'

c. 1740 — Sermon 'The Almost Christian'
General Unverifiable

I have been as much as possible upon the stretch for 70 years, and I bless God, I am not tired yet.

1773 — Letter to a friend
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

I have no doubt that God will save all who are sincere, whether they believe in Christ or not.

1778 — Letter to a friend (controversial interpretation, but documented)
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

I would as soon believe that the sun would stand still, as that a Christian could fall from grace and be lost.

c. 1740s — Sermon 'A Call to Backsliders'
General Unverifiable

Give me one hundred men who fear nothing but God, hate nothing but sin, and are determined to know nothing among men but Jesus Christ, and I will shake the gates of hell.

c. late 18th century — Attributed, common saying
General Unverifiable

I do not love to dispute about religion. I had rather feel it.

1746 — Journal entry
Relationships Unverifiable
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