One of the prerogatives by which man is eminently distinguished from all other living beings inhabiting this globe of earth, consists in… — William Godwin Copy Share Image
Of Belief Human mathematics, so to speak, like the length of life, are subject to the doctrine of chances. — William Godwin Copy Share Image
We are so curiously made that one atom put in the wrong place in our original structure will often make us unhappy… — William Godwin Copy Share Image
A world of derived beings, an immense, wide creation, requires an extended scale with various ranks and orders of existence. — William Godwin Copy Share Image
What indeed is life, unless so far as it is enjoyed? It does not merit the name. — William Godwin Copy Share Image
The man who plays his part upon the theatre of life almost always maintains what may be called an artificial character. — William Godwin Copy Share Image
Man is the only creature we know, that, when the term of his natural life is ended, leaves the memory of himself… — William Godwin Copy Share Image
There is an indescribable something that ties us to life. For this purpose, it is not necessary that we should be happy.… — William Godwin Copy Share Image
God is a being who is himself the cause of his own existence. His prerogative is to perceive before there was anything… — William Godwin Copy Share Image
The admission of one man, either hereditarily or for life only, into the place of chief of a country, is an evidence… — William Godwin Copy Share Image
My mind was bursting with depression and anguish. I muttered imprecations and murmuring as I passed along. I was full of loathing… — William Godwin Copy Share Image
It is necessary for him who would endure existence with patience that he should conceive himself to be something - that he… — William Godwin Copy Share Image
He has no right to his life when his duty calls him to resign it. Other men are bound... to deprive him… — William Godwin Copy Share Image
I know nothing worth the living for but usefulness and the service of my fellow-creatures. The only object I pursue is to… — William Godwin Copy Share Image
How are the faculties of man to be best developed and his happiness secured? The state of a king is not favorable… — William Godwin Copy Share Image
I believe in this being, not because I have any proper or direct knowledge of His existence, but I am at a… — William Godwin Copy Share Image
During my academical life, and from this time forward, I was indefatigable in my search after truth. I read all the authors… — William Godwin Copy Share Image
“Strange that men, from age to age, should consent to hold their lives at the breath of another, merely that each in… — William Godwin Copy Share Image
I know nothing worth the living for but usefulness and the service of my fellow-creatures. The only object I pursue is to increase, as… — William Godwin Copy Share
There must be room for the imagination to exercise its powers; we must conceive and apprehend a thousand things which we do not actually… — William Godwin Copy Share
In infamy, it is wisely provided that he who stands highest in the ranks of society has the heaviest load to sustain. — William Godwin Copy Share
No man knows the value of innocence and integrity but he who has lost them. — William Godwin Copy Share
Study with desire is real activity; without desire it is but the semblance and mockery of activity. — William Godwin Copy Share
“Godwin on Fenelon and his Valet * Following is an excerpt from William Godwin's Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, Book II, Chapter II: “Of Justice”:… — William Godwin Copy Share
Tenderness is the name for a lover's most exquisite sensation; protection is implied in his most generous and heart-thrilling impulse. — William Godwin Copy Share
Whenever government assumes to deliver us from the trouble of thinking for ourselves, the only consequences it produces are those of torpor and imbecility. — William Godwin Copy Share
During my academical life, and from this time forward, I was indefatigable in my search after truth. I read all the authors of greatest… — William Godwin Copy Share
Was ever a great discovery prosecuted or an important benefit conferred upon the human race by him who was incapable of standing and thinking… — William Godwin Copy Share
The real or supposed rights of man are of two kinds, active and passive; the right in certain cases to do as we list;… — William Godwin Copy Share
Soundness of understanding is connected with freedom of enquiry; consequently, opinion should, as far as public security will admit, be exempted from restraint. — William Godwin Copy Share
Power is not happiness. Security and peace are more to be desired than a man at which nations tremble. — William Godwin Copy Share
“Strange that men, from age to age, should consent to hold their lives at the breath of another, merely that each in his turn… — William Godwin Copy Share
