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28 Powerful Quotes By William Wilberforce

Famous As: Abolitionist
Born On: August 24, 1759
Died On: July 29, 1833
Born In: Kingston upon Hull
Founder / Co Founder: Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Church Mission Society, St Michael's Primary School, Anti-Slavery Society
Died At Age: 73
William Wilberforce was a leading English politician who spearheaded the anti-slave trade in the United States. Originally from Yorkshire, he was elected as an independent Member of Parliament. The transformation in his life came when he converted to Evangelic Christian. This transformed his belief, thoughts and practices and directed him towards reforming the political and cultural structure of the country. Together with prominent abolitionist such as Thomas Clarkson, Granville Sharp, Hannah More and Charles Middleton, he was instrumental in the passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807. He was associated with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the foundation of an independent colony in Sierra Leone, the establishment of the Church Mission Society and British missionaries in colonial India. ‘Amazing Grace’ is a movie that showcases his noble causes and struggles during anti-slavery activism. Here is a collection of some the most thoughtful quotes from William Wilberforce.
You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.

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

William Wilberforce

If you love someone who is ruining his or her life because of faulty thinking, and you don't do anything about it because you are afraid of what others might think, it would seem that rather than being loving, you are in fact being heartless.

William Wilberforce
Life as we know it, with all its ups and downs, will soon be over. We all will give an accounting to God of how we have lived.

Life as we know it, with all its ups and downs, will soon be over. We all will give an accounting to God of how we have lived.

William Wilberforce
God Almighty has set before me two great objects: the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners.

God Almighty has set before me two great objects: the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners.

William Wilberforce
It is the true duty of every man to promote the happiness of his fellow creatures to the utmost of his power.

It is the true duty of every man to promote the happiness of his fellow creatures to the utmost of his power.

William Wilberforce
We are too young to realize that certain things are impossible... So we will do them anyway.

We are too young to realize that certain things are impossible... So we will do them anyway.

William Wilberforce
Can one serve God and one's nation in parliament?

Can one serve God and one's nation in parliament?

William Wilberforce
Surely the principles of Christianity lead to action as well as meditation.

Surely the principles of Christianity lead to action as well as meditation.

William Wilberforce
Let everyone regulate his conduct... by the golden rule of doing to others as in similar circumstances we would have them do to us, and the path of duty will be clear before him.

Let everyone regulate his conduct... by the golden rule of doing to others as in similar circumstances we would have them do to us, and the path of duty will be clear before him.

William Wilberforce

What should we suppose must naturally be the consequence of our carrying on a slave trade with Africa? With a country, vast in its extent, not utterly barbarous, but civilized in a very small degree? Does any one suppose a slave trade would help their civilization?

William Wilberforce

I am disturbed when I see the majority of so-called Christians having such little understanding of the real nature of the faith they profess. Faith is a subject of such importance that we should not ignore it because of the distractions or the hectic pace of our lives.

William Wilberforce
If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow-creatures is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large.

If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow-creatures is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large.

William Wilberforce
Of all things, guard against neglecting God in the secret place of prayer.

Of all things, guard against neglecting God in the secret place of prayer.

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

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

William Wilberforce
My walk is a public one. My business is in the world, and I must mix in the assemblies of men or quit the post which Providence seems to have assigned me.

My walk is a public one. My business is in the world, and I must mix in the assemblies of men or quit the post which Providence seems to have assigned me.

William Wilberforce
As much pains were taken to make me idle as were ever taken to make me studious.

As much pains were taken to make me idle as were ever taken to make me studious.

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

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

William Wilberforce
I would suggest that faith is everyone's business. The advance or decline of faith is so intimately connected to the welfare of a society that it should be of particular interest to a politician.

I would suggest that faith is everyone's business. The advance or decline of faith is so intimately connected to the welfare of a society that it should be of particular interest to a politician.

William Wilberforce
The first years in Parliament I did nothing - nothing to any purpose. My own distinction was my darling object.

The first years in Parliament I did nothing - nothing to any purpose. My own distinction was my darling object.

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

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

William Wilberforce
Selfishness is one of the principal fruits of the corruption of human nature; and it is obvious that selfishness disposes us to over-rate our good qualities, and to overlook or extenuate our defects.

Selfishness is one of the principal fruits of the corruption of human nature; and it is obvious that selfishness disposes us to over-rate our good qualities, and to overlook or extenuate our defects.

William Wilberforce
Can you tell a plain man the road to heaven? Certainly, turn at once to the right, then go straight forward.

Can you tell a plain man the road to heaven? Certainly, turn at once to the right, then go straight forward.

William Wilberforce
What a difference it would be if our system of morality were based on the Bible instead of the standards devised by cultural Christians.

What a difference it would be if our system of morality were based on the Bible instead of the standards devised by cultural Christians.

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

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

William Wilberforce
It must be conceded by those who admit the authority of Scripture (such only he is addressing) that from the decision of the word of God there can be no appeal.

It must be conceded by those who admit the authority of Scripture (such only he is addressing) that from the decision of the word of God there can be no appeal.

William Wilberforce
God Almighty has set before me two Great Objects: the supression of the Slave Trade and the Reformation of Manners.

God Almighty has set before me two Great Objects: the supression of the Slave Trade and the Reformation of Manners.

William Wilberforce
Because they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, he gave them over to a reprobate mind

Because they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, he gave them over to a reprobate mind

William Wilberforce
No man, ever indulged more freely or happily in that playful facetiousness which gratifies all without wounding any.

No man, ever indulged more freely or happily in that playful facetiousness which gratifies all without wounding any.

William Wilberforce