Hosea Ballou Character Quotations

Education commences at the mother's knee, and every word spoken within the hearsay of little children tends toward the formation of character

A single bad habit will mar an otherwise faultless character, as an ink-drop soileth the pure white page.

Servility is disgusting to a truly noble character, and engenders only contempt.

O sin, how you paint your face! how you flatter us poor mortals on to death! You never appear to the sinner in your true character; you make fair promises, but you never fulfil one; your tongue is smoother than oil, but the poison of asps is under your lip!

There is no better rule to try a doctrine by than the question, Is it merciful, or is it unmerciful? If its character is that of mercy, it has the image of Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life.