Lovely flowers are the smiles of God’s goodness.
– William Wilberforce
Philosophy
God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners.
– William Wilberforce
Compassion | Service
And, sir, when we think of eternity, and of the future consequences of all human conduct, what is there in this life that should make any man contradict the dictates of his conscience, the principles of justice, the laws of religion, and of God?
– William Wilberforce
Eternity | Conscience | Justice
Africa, your sufferings have been the theme that has arrested and engaged my heart. Your sufferings no tongue can express, no language impart.
– William Wilberforce
Compassion
If any country were indeed filled with men, each thus diligently discharging the duties of his own station without breaking in upon the rights of others, but on the contrary endeavoring, so far as he might be able, to forward their views and promote their happiness, all would be active and harmonious in the goodly frame of human society.
– William Wilberforce
Morality | Diligence
When blessed with wealth, let them withdraw from the competition of vanity and be modest, retiring from ostentation, and not be the slaves of fashion.
– William Wilberforce
Wealth | Modesty
If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow-creatures is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large.
– William Wilberforce
Compassion
You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.
– William Wilberforce
Apathy
Can you tell a plain man the road to heaven? Certainly, turn at once to the right, then go straight forward.
– William Wilberforce
Heaven
Their more lowly paths have been allotted to them by the hand of God. It is their part faithfully to discharge its duties, and contentedly to bear its inconveniences.
– William Wilberforce
Humility
So enormous, so dreadful, so irremediable did the Trade’s wickedness appear that my own mind was completely made up for Abolition. Let the consequences be what they would, I from this time determined that I would never rest until I had effected its abolition.
– William Wilberforce
Compassion | Justice
The objects of the present life fill the human eye with a false magnification because of their immediacy.
– William Wilberforce
Anxiety
Of all things, guard against neglecting God in the secret place of prayer.
– William Wilberforce
Prayer
They know indeed that they are mortal, but they do not feel it.
– William Wilberforce
Holiness
I take courage – I determine to forget all my other fears, and I march forward with a firmer step in the full assurance that my cause will bear me out, and that I shall be able to justify upon the clearest principles, every resolution in my hand, the avowed end of which is, the total abolition of the slave trade.
– William Wilberforce
Justice
O what a blessing is Sunday, interposed between the waves of worldly business like the divine path of the Israelites through the sea! There is nothing in which I would advise you to be more strictly conscientious than in keeping the Sabbath day holy. I can truly declare that to me the Sabbath has been invaluable.
– William Wilberforce
Worship
I continually find it necessary to guard against that natural love of wealth and grandeur which prompts us always, when we come to apply our general doctrine to our own case, to claim an exception.
– William Wilberforce
Finances | Greed | Doctrine
Let everyone regulate his conduct by the golden rule of doing to others as in similar circumstances we would have them do to us, and the path of duty will be clear before him.
– William Wilberforce
Service | Circumstances
Men of authority and influence may promote good morals. Let them in their several stations encourage virtue. Let them favor and take part in any plans which may be formed for the advancement of morality.
– William Wilberforce
Morality | Authority | Men
Our motto must continue to be perseverance. And ultimately I trust the Almighty will crown our efforts with success.
– William Wilberforce
Perseverance | Success
A trade founded in iniquity, and carried on as this was, must be abolished, let the policy be what it might, let the consequences be what they would, I from this time determined that I would never rest till I had effected its abolition.
– William Wilberforce
Compassion | Achievement
There are four things that we ought to do with the Word of God – admit it as the Word of God, commit it to our hearts and minds, submit to it, and transmit it to the world.
– William Wilberforce
Scripture | Evangelism
Is it not the great end of religion, and, in particular, the glory of Christianity, to extinguish the malignant passions; to curb the violence, to control the appetites, and to smooth the asperities of man; to make us compassionate and kind, and forgiving one to another; to make us good husbands, good fathers, good friends; and to render us active and useful in the discharge of the relative social and civil duties?
– William Wilberforce
Christianity
Never, never will we desist till we extinguish every trace of this bloody traffic, of which our posterity, looking back to the history of these enlightened times will scarce believe that it has been suffered to exist so long a disgrace and dishonor to this country.
– William Wilberforce
Justice | Perseverance