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

Revolution is engendered by an indignation with tyranny, yet is itself pregnant with tyranny.
William Godwin

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

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

The diligent scholar is he that loves himself, and desires to have reason to applaud and love himself.
William Godwin

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

The great model of the affection of love in human beings is the sentiment which subsists between parents and children.
William Godwin

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

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

The proper method for hastening the decay of error is by teaching every man to think for himself.
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

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

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

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

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

What indeed is life, unless so far as it is enjoyed? It does not merit the name.
William Godwin