148 Quotes by Isaac Watts

Learning to trust is one of life’s most difficult tasks.

Two sentiments alone suffice for man, were he to live the age of the rocks – love, and the contemplation of the Deity.

Birds in their little nests agree; And ’tis a shameful sight When children of one family Fall out, and chide, and fight.

Thoughts, like old vultures, prey upon their heart-strings.

There’s not a plant or flower below but makes Thy glories known, And clouds arise, and tempests blow by order from Thy throne; While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care; And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God art present there.

But, children, you should never let Such angry passions rise; Your little hands were never made To tear each other’s eyes.

No man is obliged to learn and know every thing; this can neither be sought nor required, for it is utterly impossible; yet all persons are under some obligation to improve their own understanding; otherwise it will be a barren desert, or a forest overgrown with weeds and brambles. Universal ignorance or infinite errors will overspread the mind which is utterly neglected and lies without any cultivation. Skill.

It was a saying of the ancients, “Truth lies in a well;” and to carry on this metaphor, we may justly say that logic does supply us with steps, whereby we may go down to reach the water.

You should therefore contrive and practice some proper methods to acquaint yourself with your own ignorance, and to impress your mind with a deep and painful sense of the low and imperfect degrees of your present knowledge, that you may be incited with labor and activity to pursue after greater measures.