1001Philosophers

John Henry Newman Quotes

John Henry Newman was an English theologian, religious philosopher, and one of the great prose stylists of Victorian English. A leader of the Oxford Movement within the Church of England, he converted to Roman Catholicism in 1845 and was eventually made a cardinal. The quotes below are attributed to John Henry Newman, organized by topic.

John Henry Newman on God

  • Attributed to John Henry Newman:

    “Conscience is the aboriginal vicar of Christ.”

  • Attributed to John Henry Newman:

    “Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt.”

  • Attributed to John Henry Newman:

    “Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom; lead Thou me on.”

  • Attributed to John Henry Newman:

    “It is as absurd to argue men, as to torture them, into believing.”

Read all John Henry Newman quotes on God

John Henry Newman on Knowledge

  • Attributed to John Henry Newman:

    “An idea is an ambiguous thing; you cannot reach it without long preparation.”

John Henry Newman on Life

  • Attributed to John Henry Newman:

    “To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often.”