Servile, and base, and mercenary, is the notion of Christian practice among the bulk of nominal Christians. They give no more than they dare not with-hold; they abstain from nothing but what they must not practice.

— William Wilberforce

The distemper of which, as a community, we are sick, should be considered rather as a moral than a political malady.

— William Wilberforce

The instructive admonitions, “give an account of thy stewardship,“—“occupy till I come;” are forgotten. Thus, the generous and wakeful spirit of Christian Benevolence, seeking and finding everywhere occasions for its exercise, is exploded, and a system of decent selfishness is avowedly established in its stead; a system scarcely more to be abjured for its impiety, than to be abhorred for its cold insensibility to the opportunities of diffusing happiness.

— William Wilberforce

The objects of the present life fill the human eye with a false magnification because of their immediacy.

— William Wilberforce

This perpetual hurry of business and company ruins me in soul if not in body. More solitude and earlier hours!

— William Wilberforce

True Christians consider themselves not as satisfying some rigorous creditor, but as discharging a debt of gratitude

— William Wilberforce

We can scarcely indeed look into any part of the sacred volume without meeting abundant proofs, that it is the religion of the Affections which God particularly requires. Love, Zeal, Gratitude, Joy, Hope, Trust, are each of them specified; and are not allowed to us as weaknesses, but enjoined on us as our bounden duty, and commended to us as our acceptable worship.

— William Wilberforce

We have different forms assigned to us in the school of life, different gifts imparted. All is not attractive that is good. Iron is useful, though it does not sparkle like the diamond. Gold has not the fragrance of a flower. So different persons have various modes of excellence, and we must have an eye to all.

— William Wilberforce

Why is it so hard to get people to study the Scriptures? Common sense tells us what revelation commands: 'Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God'--'Search the Scriptures'--'Be ready to give to every one a reason of the hope that is in you.' These are the words of the inspired writers, and these injunctions are confirmed by praising those who obey the admonition. And yet, for all that we have the Bible in our houses, we are ignorant of its contents. No wonder that so many Christians know so little about what Christ actually taught; no wonder that they are so mistaken about the faith that they profess.

— William Wilberforce

You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know.

— William Wilberforce