Reform must come from within, not from without. You cannot legislate for virtue.

Reform must come from within, not from without. You cannot legislate for virtue.

The church is always trying to get other people to reform; it might not be a bad idea to reform read more

The church is always trying to get other people to reform; it might not be a bad idea to reform itself.

What is a man born for but to be a reformer, a remaker of what has been made, a denouncer read more

What is a man born for but to be a reformer, a remaker of what has been made, a denouncer of lies, a restorer of truth and good?

At twenty a man is full of fight and hope. He wants to reform the world. When he is seventy read more

At twenty a man is full of fight and hope. He wants to reform the world. When he is seventy he still wants to reform the world, but he knows he can't.

Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits.

Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits.

The oyster-women lock'd their fish up,
And trudged away to cry, No Bishop.

The oyster-women lock'd their fish up,
And trudged away to cry, No Bishop.

All zeal for a reform, that gives offence
To peace and charity, is mere pretence.

All zeal for a reform, that gives offence
To peace and charity, is mere pretence.

My desolation does begin to make
A better life.

My desolation does begin to make
A better life.

Every reform, however necessary, will by weak minds be carried to an excess which will itself need reforming.

Every reform, however necessary, will by weak minds be carried to an excess which will itself need reforming.