Robert South Quotes

Powerful Robert South for Daily Growth

About Robert South

Robert South (1634-1716), an English nonconformist divine and eminent Puritan preacher, was born on October 18, 1634 in London, England. He was the son of Robert South, a prominent lawyer, and Anne Gifford, who came from a family deeply rooted in the Puritan tradition. South's early education took place at Westminster School under the tutelage of Dr. Richard Busby and Dr. John Cosin, who instilled in him a deep love for the classics and a profound respect for the Church of England. However, his religious convictions were significantly influenced by his Puritan upbringing and the preaching of prominent Puritan ministers such as Richard Baxter and Thomas Manton. In 1654, South enrolled at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1657 and a Master of Arts in 1660. Despite his academic achievements, he was unable to secure a fellowship due to his Puritan beliefs, which were increasingly viewed as heretical by the Church of England. South became a minister without a formal licence and began preaching in various London churches. In 1689, after the Glorious Revolution, he was finally licensed to preach by the Church of England. He went on to become the rector of St. Andrew's Holborn, where he served for nearly three decades. South is best known for his works "Sermons Preached at the Three Several Openings of the Fast" (1689), a series of sermons delivered in response to the Exclusion Crisis and the Popish Plot; "A Sinner's Progress" (1687), a narrative poem that depicts the spiritual journey of a sinner from ignorance to salvation; and his posthumously published "Sermons on Several Occasions," which includes his famous sermon "The Providence of God in the Case of Job." Robert South's influence extended beyond his own time, with his works continuing to be widely read and respected for their eloquence, biblical scholarship, and pastoral sensitivity. He died on December 29, 1716, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the world of literature and religion.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The best way to keep a man in office is to keep him doing nothing."

This quote by Robert South suggests that inactivity or lack of progress can contribute to maintaining someone's position in power, as there will be no significant actions or accomplishments that might prompt criticism or call for change. In essence, the longer a person remains inactive in their role, the less they risk upsetting those who hold them accountable. However, it is important to note that this quote implies a negative connotation, suggesting that stagnation and inaction can lead to poor governance and missed opportunities for growth and progress.


"We have no right to lay any other foundation than that which is laid in God's word."

This quote emphasizes a belief in absolute adherence to divine guidance, as expressed in sacred scriptures. It suggests that when establishing principles, values, or foundations for oneself or society, one should rely solely on the teachings of God as written in religious texts. This view underscores the idea that human wisdom alone is not sufficient and must be aligned with divine wisdom to ensure a solid foundation for any endeavor.


"Religion without morality is like the body without the soul; nay, it is worse, for it professes to carry about a principle of life in the body, but has none itself."

This quote by Robert South suggests that a religious faith devoid of moral principles is hollow and ineffective, as morality provides the ethical compass that guides one's actions. He further emphasizes that this lack of morality not only fails to bring life or purpose but, in fact, can be worse, because it presents an image of righteousness while lacking the essential qualities of moral goodness itself.


"God hath not left us to our own judgments and reasonings as to what we shall believe, but hath given us his word in Scripture, to which he binds our faith, and upon which he requires us to determine all matters of religion."

This quote by Robert South suggests that God does not rely solely on individuals' personal judgments or reasoning for belief, but rather provides a guiding principle - the scripture - for religious understanding. He is implying that adherence to scripture is essential in determining matters of faith, and that these beliefs should be based on what is written rather than individual opinions. This perspective underscores the importance of sacred texts as a foundation for religious belief and practice.


"The truth is the truth, whether it comes from Greece or England."

This quote emphasizes that truth, regardless of its origin, remains constant. The source of information - be it Greek or English, ancient or modern - does not affect the validity of the truth itself. It underscores the universal nature of truth and encourages a global approach to seeking and accepting knowledge.


Most of the appearance of mirth in the world is not mirth, it is art. The wounded spirit is not seen, but walks under a disguise.

- Robert South

Most, Walks, Wounded, Mirth

Guilt upon the conscience, like rust upon iron, both defiles and consumes it, gnawing and creeping into it, as that does which at last eats out the very heart and substance of the metal.

- Robert South

Guilt, Gnawing, Which, Creeping

Let a man be but in earnest in praying against a temptation as the tempter is in pressing it, and he needs not proceed by a surer measure.

- Robert South

Measure, Needs, Proceed, Pressing

Innocence is like polished armor; it adorns and defends.

- Robert South

Innocence, Armor, Like, Polished

Anger is a transient hatred; or at least very like it.

- Robert South

Anger, Hatred, Very, Transient

It is idleness that creates impossibilities; and where people don't care to do anything, they shelter themselves under a permission that it cannot be done.

- Robert South

People, Shelter, Permission, Impossibilities

Folly enlarges men's desires while it lessens their capacities.

- Robert South

Men, Desires, Folly, Capacities

In all worldly things that a man pursues with the greatest eagerness he finds not half the pleasure in the possession that he proposed to himself in the expectation.

- Robert South

Pleasure, Possession, Half, Worldly

God expects from men something more than at such times, and that it were much to be wished for the credit of their religion as well as the satisfaction of their conscience that their Easter devotions would in some measure come up to their Easter dress.

- Robert South

Dress, Some, Conscience, Expects

Action is the highest perfection and drawing forth of the utmost power, vigor, and activity of man's nature.

- Robert South

Nature, Activity, Highest, Perfection

Loquacity storms the ear, but modesty takes the heart.

- Robert South

Modesty, Ear, Takes, Storms

Similes prove nothing, but yet greatly lighten and relieve the tedium of argument.

- Robert South

Argument, Prove, Lighten, Greatly

The seven wise men of Greece, so famous for their wisdom all the world over, acquired all that fame, each of them, by a single sentence consisting of two or three words.

- Robert South

Famous, Over, Sentence, Consisting

Defeat should never be a source of discouragement but rather a fresh stimulus.

- Robert South

Defeat, Never, Rather, Fresh

An Aristotle was but the rubbish of an Adam, and Athens but the rudiments of Paradise.

- Robert South

Paradise, Aristotle, Adam, Athens

Problems can become opportunities when the right people come together.

- Robert South

Opportunities, Right, Come, Together

Speech was given to the ordinary sort or men, whereby to communicate their mind; but to wise men, whereby to conceal it.

- Robert South

Mind, Conceal, Given, Whereby

Abstinence is the great strengthener and clearer of reason.

- Robert South

Great, Reason, Abstinence, Clearer

Passion is the drunkenness of the mind.

- Robert South

Passion, Mind, Drunkenness

Truth will lose its credit, if delivered by a person that has none.

- Robert South

Truth, Will, Person, Credit

It is the work of fancy to enlarge, but of judgment to shorten and contract; and therefore this must be as far above the other as judgment is a greater and nobler faculty than fancy or imagination.

- Robert South

Work, Fancy, Other, Faculty

If there be any truer measure of a man than by what he does, it must be by what he gives.

- Robert South

Measure, Measure Of A Man, Gives

God afflicts with the mind of a father, and kills for no other purpose but that he may raise again.

- Robert South

Mind, Other, May, Raise

The mind begins to boggle at unnatural substances as things paradoxical and incomprehensible.

- Robert South

Mind, Begins, Substances, Paradoxical

Novelty is the great parent of pleasure.

- Robert South

Great, Parent, Pleasure, Novelty

Wonder is from surprise, and surprise stops with experience.

- Robert South

Experience, Surprise, Wonder, Stops

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