William Godwin quotes

William Godwin was an influential English philosopher, political theorist, and novelist born in 1756. A leading figure during the Enlightenment, Godwin advocated for radical ideas like anarchism and unrestricted individual freedom. He gained recognition for his groundbreaking work "Political Justice" which challenged traditional beliefs and social hierarchies. As the husband of pioneering feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft and father of Mary Shelley, the author of "Frankenstein," Godwin's lineage is noteworthy. Embracing rational thinking, he believed in the power of education to create a just and equal society. Explore the life and ideas of this remarkable thinker whose philosophies continue to resonate today.

As the true object of education is not to render the pupil the mere copy of his preceptor, it is rather to be rejoiced in, than lamented, that various reading should lead him into new trains of thinking.

- William Godwin

One of the prerogatives by which man is eminently distinguished from all other living beings inhabiting this globe of earth, consists in the gift of reason.

- William Godwin

Study with desire is real activity; without desire it is but the semblance and mockery of activity.

- William Godwin

We cannot perform our tasks to the best of our power, unless we think well of our own capacity.

- William Godwin

What can be more clear and sound in explanation, than the love of a parent to his child?

- William Godwin

If a thing be really good, it can be shown to be such.

- William Godwin

God himself has no right to be a tyrant.

- William Godwin

It is probable that there is no one thing that it is of eminent importance for a child to learn.

- William Godwin

Government will not fail to employ education, to strengthen its hands, and perpetuate its institutions.

- William Godwin

They held it their duty to live but for their country.

- William Godwin

Let us not, in the eagerness of our haste to educate, forget all the ends of education.

- William Godwin

The real or supposed rights of man are of two kinds, active and passive; the right in certain cases to do as we list; and the right we possess to the forbearance or assistance of other men.

- William Godwin

The philosophy of the wisest man that ever existed, is mainly derived from the act of introspection.

- William Godwin

Perseverance is an active principle, and cannot continue to operate but under the influence of desire.

- William Godwin

To him it is an ocean, unfathomable, and without a shore.

- William Godwin

There must be room for the imagination to exercise its powers; we must conceive and apprehend a thousand things which we do not actually witness.

- William Godwin

He that loves reading has everything within his reach.

- William Godwin

Make men wise, and by that very operation you make them free. Civil liberty follows as a consequence of this; no usurped power can stand against the artillery of opinion.

- William Godwin

But the watchful care of the parent is endless. The youth is never free from the danger of grating interference.

- William Godwin

There is reverence that we owe to everything in human shape.

- William Godwin

The lessons of their early youth regulated the conduct of their riper years.

- William Godwin

Learning is the ally, not the adversary of genius... he who reads in a proper spirit, can scarcely read too much.

- William Godwin

There can be no passion, and by consequence no love, where there is not imagination.

- William Godwin

Man is the only creature we know, that, when the term of his natural life is ended, leaves the memory of himself behind him.

- William Godwin

My thoughts will be taken up with the future or the past, with what is to come or what has been. Of the present there is necessarily no image.

- William Godwin

The execution of any thing considerable implies in the first place previous persevering meditation.

- William Godwin

The cause of justice is the cause of humanity. Its advocates should overflow with universal good will. We should love this cause, for it conduces to the general happiness of mankind.

- William Godwin

Revolutions are the produce of passion, not of sober and tranquil reason.

- William Godwin

He has no right to his life when his duty calls him to resign it. Other men are bound... to deprive him of life or liberty, if that should appear in any case to be indispensably necessary to prevent a greater evil.

- William Godwin

In cases where every thing is understood, and measured, and reduced to rule, love is out of the question.

- William Godwin