“The silence we value is not the mere outward silence of the lips. It is a deep quietness of heart and mind, a laying aside of all preoccupation with passing things — yes, even with the workings of our own minds; a resolute fixing of the heart upon that which is unchangeable and eternal.”
“It is time that Christians were judged more by their likeness to Christ than their notions of Christ.”
“Deep within us all there is an amazing inner sanctuary of the soul, a holy place, a Divine Center, a speaking Voice, to which we may continuously return. Eternity is at our hearts, pressing upon our time-torn lives, warming us with intimations of an astounding destiny, calling us home unto Itself.”
“We need, in every community, a group of angelic troublemakers. The only weapon we have is our bodies, and we need to tuck them in places so that wheels don’t turn.”
“I believe there is something in the mind, or in the heart, that shows its approbation when we do right. I give myself this advice: Do not fear truth, let it be so contrary to inclination and feeling. Never give up the search after it: and let me take courage, and try from the bottom of my heart to do that which I believe truth dictates, if it leads me to be a Quaker or not.”
“We are a people that follow after those things that make for peace, love and unity; it is our desire that others’ feet may walk in the same, and do deny and bear our testimony against all strife, and wars, and contentions….”
“You will say, Christ saith this, and the apostles say this; but what canst thou say? Art thou a child of Light and hast walked in the Light, and what thou speakest is it inwardly from God?”
October 2026: This is a collection of some of the most famous quotes among Friends, and a few powerful quotes by famous Quakers that deserve to be more widely heard. This is a great place for Quaker-curious website visitors to start, or for Friends to revisit familiar favorites to look for new Light.
“Today, on World Quaker Day (Tenth month/October 4), we’ll gather for an extended, international, online meeting for worship. Each hour will be dedicated to a part of the world where prayers for peace are particularly needed—you’re welcome to join for as little or as long as you’d like. We’ll hear in particular from Quakers facing conflict where they live. This will be an opportunity to listen deeply to one another’s experience and learn how our faith shapes the way we each interact with the world.”
“The task of the Christian in this world is the establishment of the kingdom of God, of the supremacy of love. The natural and obviously rational way to achieve this aim is for each to practice love to all. It has always been the Quaker conviction that this practice of love is incompatible with warfare and that, if persisted in, it will in the long run achieve every right result that a war in the interests of justice has been held to achieve, and without the fatal drawbacks of war.”
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