William Jones Quotes

• The Sanskrit language, whatever be its antiquity is of wonderful structure, more perfect than the Greek, more copious than the Latin and more exquisitely refined than either.

  William Jones

  Latin, Perfect, Greek

  "The Third Anniversary Discourse, on the Hindus" (1786)

  17 Copy quote

• Live as if you already are what you wish to become.

  William Jones

  Wish, Ifs

  18 Copy quote

• Never neglect an opportunity for improvement.

  William Jones

  Hard Work, Opportunity, Self Improvement

  16 Copy quote

• I am no Hindu, but I hold the doctrine of the Hindus concerning a future state (rebirth) to be incomparably more rational, more pious, and more likely to deter men from vice than the horrid opinions inculcated by Christians on punishments without end.

  William Jones

  Christian, Men, Vices

  16 Copy quote

• The Bible is the light of my understanding, the joy of my heart, the fullness of my hope, the clarified of my affections, the mirror of my thoughts, the consoler of my sorrows, the guide of my soul through this gloomy labyrinth of time, the telescope went from heaven to reveal to the eye of man the amazing glories of the far distant world.

  William Jones

  Bible, Christian, Eye

  30 Copy quote

• Cruelty to dumb animals is one of the distinguishing vices of low and base minds. Wherever it is found, it is a certain mark of ignorance and meanness; a mark which all the external advantages of wealth, splendour, and nobility, cannot obliterate. It is consistent neither with learning nor true civility.

  William Jones

  Ignorance, Animal, Dumb

  16 Copy quote

• My opinion is, that power should always be distrusted, in whatever hands it is placed.

  William Jones

  Hands, Opinion, Should

  Letter to Lord Althorpe, 5 October 1782, in Lord Teignmouth 'Life of Sir W. Jones' (1835) vol. 1

  9 Copy quote

• In the whisper of the leaves appears an interchange of love.

  William Jones

  Interchange

  10 Copy quote

• Wherever we direct our attention to Hindu literature the notion of infinity presents itself.

  William Jones

  Attention, Literature, Infinity

  William Jones (1792). “Dissertations and miscellaneous pieces relating to the history and antiquities, the arts, sciences, and literature, of Asia”, p.118

  7 Copy quote

• An experiment in nature, like a text in the Bible, is capable of different interpretations, according to the preconceptions of the interpreter.

  William Jones

  Nature, Science, Different

  William Jones (1801). “The Theological, Philosophical and Miscellaneous Works of the Rev. William Jones ...: To which is Prefixed a Short Account of His Life and Writings”, p.286

  9 Copy quote

• Seven hours to law, to soothing slumber seven,
  Ten to the world allot, and all to heaven.

  William Jones

  Time, Law, Heaven

  Lines in substitution for Sir Edward Coke's lines: 'Six hours in sleep...', in Lord Teignmouth 'Life of Sir W. Jones' (1835) vol. 2.

  5 Copy quote

• Of all the things that it is possible to donate, to donate your own body is infinitely more worthwhile.

  William Jones

  Body, Helping, Public Service

  9 Copy quote

• I have carefully and regularly perused the Holy Scriptures, and am of opinion that the volume contains more sublimity, purer morality, more important history, and finer strains of eloquence, than can be collected from all other books, in whatever language they may have been written.

  William Jones

  Book, Important, May

  William Jones (1821). “Letters: Chronologically Arranged from Lord Teignmouth's Collection”, p.170

  5 Copy quote

• [I]n every part of this eastern world, from Pekin to Damascus, the popular teachers of moral wisdom have immemorially been poets.

  William Jones

  Teacher, Poetry, World

  Sir William Jones (1875). “Eleven Discourses: Containing His Anniversary Addresses on History, Civil and Natural, the Antiquities, Arts, Sciences and Literature of Asia”, p.129

  9 Copy quote

• Go boldly forth, my simple lay,Whose accents flow with artless ease,Like orient pearls at random strung.

  William Jones

  Simple, Ease, Pearls

  Sir William Jones (1783). “A Grammar of the Persian Language ... The third edition, with an index”, p.134

  4 Copy quote

• The only road to the highest stations in this country is that of the law.

  William Jones

  Country, Law, Highest

  William Jones, John Shore (1807). “The Works of Sir William Jones”, p.163

  7 Copy quote

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