William Paley Quotes
William Paley was an English Anglican clergyman, philosopher of religion, and moral philosopher and for half a century one of the most read writers in British religious thought. Long-time fellow and tutor of Christ's College, Cambridge, he held a succession of clerical livings and finally the archdeaconry of Carlisle. The quotes below are attributed to William Paley, organized by topic.
Browse William Paley by topic
William Paley on Freedom
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“The great revolution which has taken place in the Western World may probably conduce (and who knows but that it was designed?) to accelerate the fall of this abominable tyranny; and now that this contest, and the passions which attend it are no more, there may succeed perhaps a season for reflecting whether a legislature which had so long lent its assistance to the support of an institution replete with human misery, was fit to be trusted with an empire the most extensive that ever obtained in any age or quarter of the world.”
Vol. I, Book III, Ch. II - Slavery -
“Vol. I, Book III, Ch. II - Slavery”
The great revolution which has taken place in the Western World may probably conduce (and who knows but that it was designed?) to accelerate the fall of this abominable tyranny; and now that this contest, and the passions which attend it are no more, there may succeed perhaps a season for reflecting whether a legislature which had so long lent its assistance to the support of an institution replet
William Paley on God
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Attributed to William Paley:
“Suppose I had found a watch upon the ground; the inference is irresistible that it had a maker.”
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Attributed to William Paley:
“Contrivance proves design, and design proves a designer.”
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Attributed to William Paley:
“The will of God is the rule of right action.”
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“God, when he created the human species, wished their happiness; and made for them the provision which he has made, with that view, and for that purpose.”
Vol. I, Book II, Ch. V. -
“Wherefore rejecting the intervention of a compact , as unfounded in its principle, and dangerous in the application, we assign for the only ground of the subjects' obligation, THE WILL OF GOD AS COLLECTED FROM EXPEDIENCY.”
The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy(1785) | Vol. II, Book VI, Ch. III.
William Paley on Happiness
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Attributed to William Paley:
“Happiness is the end of moral action; duty is its means.”
William Paley on Knowledge
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“The infidelity of the Gentile world, and that more especially of men of rank and learning in it, is resolved into a principle which, in my judgment, will account for the inefficacy of any argument, or any evidence whatever, viz . contempt prior to examination.”
A View of the Evidences of Christianity (1794). | Variant: There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all argument, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance. This principle is, contempt prior to examination. As quoted or paraphrased in Anglo-Israel or, The British Nation: The Lost Tribes of Israel (1879) by Rev. William H. Poole. A simil -
“A View of the Evidences of Christianity (1794).”
The infidelity of the Gentile world, and that more especially of men of rank and learning in it, is resolved into a principle which, in my judgment, will account for the inefficacy of any argument, or any evidence whatever, viz . contempt prior to examination. -
“Vol. I, Book II, Ch. V.”
God, when he created the human species, wished their happiness; and made for them the provision which he has made, with that view, and for that purpose. -
“Vol. I, Book II, Ch. XI.”
Some excuse seems necessary for the pain and loss which we occasion to brutes , by restraining them of their liberty, mutilating their bodies, and, at last, putting an end to their lives (which we suppose to be the whole of their existence), for our pleasure or conveniency. The reasons alleged in vindication of this practice, are the following: that the several species of brutes being created to p -
“Wanton, and, what is worse, studied cruelty to brutes, is certainly wrong.”
Vol. I, Book II, Ch. XI. -
“Vol. I, Book II, Ch. XI.”
Wanton, and, what is worse, studied cruelty to brutes, is certainly wrong.
William Paley on Life
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“Government, at first, was either patriarchal or military; that of a parent over his family, or of a commander over his fellow warriors. ... Paternal authority, and the order of domestic life, supplied the foundation of civil government . ... A family contains the rudiments of an empire. The authority of one over many, and the disposition to govern and be governed, are in this way incidental to the very nature, and coeval, no doubt, with the existence of the human species.”
Vol. II, Book VI, Ch. I.
William Paley on Virtue
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Attributed to William Paley:
“Virtue is doing good to mankind, in obedience to the will of God, for the sake of everlasting happiness.”