Peter Marshall > Quotes

“The world has enough women who know how to be smart. It needs women who are willing to be simple. The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant. It needs some who will be brave. The world has enough women who are popular. It needs more who are pure. We need women, and men, too, who would rather be morally right than socially correct.”
― Peter Marshall

“When we long for life without difficulty,
remind us that oaks grow strong under contrary winds
and diamonds are made under pressure.”
― Peter Marshall

“May we think of freedom not as the right to do as we please but as the opportunity to do what is right.”
― Peter Marshall

“Godly womanhood ... the very phrase sounds strange in our ears. We never hear it now. We hear about every other type of women: beautiful women, smart women, sophisticated women, career women, talented women, divorced women. But so seldom do we hear of a godly woman - or of a godly man either, for that matter.We believe women come nearer to fulfilling their God-given function in the home than anywhere else. It is a much nobler thing to be a good wife, than to be Miss America. It is a greater achievement to establish a Christian home than it is to produce a second-rate novel filled with filth. It is a far, far better thing in the realms of morals to be old-fashioned, than to be ultra-modern. The world has enough women who know how to be smart. It needs women who are willing to be simple. The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant. It needs some who will be brave. The world has enough women who are popular. It needs more who are pure. We need women, and men, too, who would rather be morally right than socially correct.”
― Peter Marshall

“A different world cannot be built by indifferent people.”
― Peter Marshall

“The aim is not therefore to liberate some 'essential self' by throwing off the burden of government and the State, but to develop the self in creative and voluntary relations with others.”
― Peter Marshall

“I need Thee, O Lord, for a curb on my tongue; when I am tempted to making carping criticisms and cruel judgements, keep me from speaking barbed words that hurt, and in which I find perverted satisfaction. Keep me from unkind words and from unkind silences. Restrain my judgements. Make my criticisms kind, generous, and constructive. Make me sweet inside, that I may be gentle with other people, gentle in the things I say, kind in what I do. Create in me that warmth of mercy that shall enable others to find Thy strength for their weakness, Thy peace for their strife, Thy joy for their sorrow, Thy love for their hatred, Thy compassion for their weakness. In thine own strong name, I pray. Amen.”
― Peter Marshall

“Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.”
― Peter Marshall

“The use of the right word, the exact word, is the difference between a pencil with a sharp point and a thick crayon.”
― Peter Marshall

“Lord, where we are wrong, make us willing to change; where we are right, make us easy to live with.”
― Peter Marshall

“No tabloid will ever print the startling news that the mummified body of Jesus of Nazareth has been discovered in old Jerusalem. Christians have no carefully embalmed body enclosed in a glass case to worship. Thank God, we have an empty tomb. The glorious fact that the empty tomb proclaims to us is that life for us does not stop when death comes. Death is not a wall, but a door.”
― Peter Marshall (Congressional Chaplain)

“One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine who have only interests.”
― Peter Marshall

“But," you may ask, "how can we forget the unkind things that are said...the cruel and unfair treatment one has received? How can we simply forget these things? It is not as simple as that!" There is just one sure way. Never talk about them, and never think about them. If you want to forget something, never speak even to your dearest friend about it. When it bobs into your mind, banish it at once. It will surprise you how quickly you can forget anything by that treatment.”
― Peter Marshall

“Lord, when we are wrong, make us willing to change, and when we are right, make us easy to live with.”
― Peter Marshall

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).”
― Peter Marshall, The Light and the Glory

“So I shall make my tribute a plea for Keepers of the Springs, who will be faithful to their tasks. There never has been a time when there was a greater need for Keepers of the Springs, or when there were more polluted springs to be cleansed. If the home fails, the country is doomed. The breakdown of home life and influence will mark the breakdown of the nation. If the Keepers of the Springs desert their posts or are unfaithful to their responsibilities the future outlook of this country is black indeed. This generation needs Keepers of the Springs who will be courageous enough to cleanse the springs that have been polluted. It is not an easy task—nor is it a popular one, but it must be done for the sake of the children, and the young women of today must do it.”
― Peter Marshall (1902-1949), Mr. Jones, Meet the Master: Sermons And Prayers Of Peter Marshall

“We are now at the place where we see that progress simply must be made in the realm of morals and ethics and character, if civilization is to be saved. The time has come when we must face the solving of the world’s true problems—the human problems… The problem of lying—which is called propaganda… the problem of selfishness—which is called nationalism or self-interest… the problem of greed—which is often called profit or good business… the problem of license disguised as liberty… the problem of lust masquerading as love… the challenge of materialism—the hook that is baited with security… These are the problems that confront us now.”
― Peter Marshall, Mr. Jones, Meet the Master: Sermons And Prayers Of Peter Marshall

“Most of us know perfectly well what we ought to do; our trouble is that we don't want to do it.”
― Peter Marshall

“The proof of how real Jesus knew hell to be is that He came to earth to save us from it.”
― Peter Marshall

“The modern challenge to motherhood is the eternal challenge--that of being a godly woman. The very phrase sounds strange in our ears. We never hear it now. We hear about every other type of women: beautiful women, smart women, sophisticated women, career women, talented women, divorced women. But so seldom to we hear of a godly woman--or of a godly man either, for that matter. I believe women come nearer to fulfilling their God-given function in the home than anywhere else.”
― Peter Marshall

“One minister, applying for lodging as however, was addressed by the landlord: "Stranger, I perceive that you are a clergyman. Please let me know whether you are a Presbyterian why Methodist."
"Why do you ask?" responded the preacher.
"Because I wish to please my guests, and I have observed that a Presbyterian minister is very particular about his food and his bed and the Methodist about the care and feeding of his horse."
"Very well," replied the minister, "I am a Presbyterian, but my horse is a Methodist.”
― Peter Marshall

“It remained for the twentieth century, in the name of progress in the name of tolerance in the name of broadmindedness in the name of freedom to pull her down from her throne and try to make her like a man. She wanted equality. For nineteen hundred years she had not been equal—she had been superior. But now, they said, she wanted equality, and in order to obtain it, she had to step down. And so it is, that in the name of broadminded tolerance a man’s vices have now become a woman’s. Twentieth century tolerance has won for woman the right to become intoxicated the right to have an alcoholic breath the right to smoke to work like a man to act like a man— for is she not man’s equal?”
― Peter Marshall (1902-1949), Mr. Jones, Meet the Master: Sermons And Prayers Of Peter Marshall

“Never before in history had the world actually believed in the equality of man.”
― Peter Marshall, The Light and the Glory

“When we long for a live without difficulties, remind us that diamonds are made under pressure and oaks grow strong in contrary winds.”
― Peter Marshall

“And so, this was the final major theme we found: that when a group of people, no matter how small or ordinary, was willing to die out to their selfish desires, the life which came out of that death was immeasurable, and continued to affect lives far into the future.”
― Peter Marshall, The Light and the Glory

“Any man who had foretold such disasters this day last year would have been treated as a madman or a traitor. He would've been told that ere seven months have gone by, the American flag would have been swept from the ocean, the American navy destroyed, and the maritime arsenals reduced to ashes. Yet not one of the American frigates has struck her colors... Nothing chases them, nothing intercepts them, nothing engages them, except to yield…”
― Peter Marshall, From Sea to Shining Sea: God's Plan for America Unfolds

“longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: “that God governs in the affairs of man.” And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”
― Peter Marshall, The Light and the Glory

“One day, Methodist circuit rider Jesse Lee downtime self accosted by two lawyers:
"You are a preacher, sir?"
"Yes, I generally pass for one," replied Lee.
"You preach very often, I suppose?"
"Generally every day; frequently twice a day, or more."
"How do you find time to study, when you preach so often?"
"I study when writing," said Lee. "And read when resting," he added, maintaining a smile, though he could see now where they were heading.
The first lawyer feigned incredulity. "But do you not write your sermons?"
"No, not very often, at least."
"Do you not often make mistakes preaching extemporaneously?" the second lawyer queried.
Lee nodded. "I do, sometimes."
"Well, do you correct them?"
"That depends on the character of the mistake. I was preaching the other day, and I went to quote the text, 'All liars shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone,' and by mistake I said, 'All lawyers shall have their part--'"
The first lawyer interrupted him. "What did you do with that? Did you correct it?"
"Oh, no, it was so nearly true I didn't bother."
"Humph!" said one of the lawyers looking at the other, "I don't know whether you are more a knave than a fool!"
Neither," replied Lee smiling, and looking at the one on his right and the one on his left, "I'd say I was just between the two.”
― Peter Marshall, From Sea to Shining Sea: God's Plan for America Unfolds

“Preaching after the battles of Lexington and Concord, William Stearns had said: We trust that all whose circumstance will admit of it will go. that none such will refuse to enlist in defense of his country. When God, in His providence, calls to take the sword, if any refuse to obey, Heaven’s dread artillery is leveled against them, as you may see ... Cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood! (Jeremiah 48:10). Cursed is the sneaking coward who neglects the sinking state, when called to its defense—O then flee this dire curse—let America’s valorous sons put on the harness, nor take it off till peace shall be to Israel.”
― Peter Marshall, The Light and the Glory

“Our Father, we are beginning to understand at last that the things that are wrong with our world are the sum total of all the things that are wrong with us as individuals. Thou hast made us after Thine image, and our hearts can find no rest until they rest in Thee. We are too Christian really to enjoy sinning and too fond of sinning really to enjoy Christianity. Most of us know perfectly well what we ought to do; our trouble is that we do not want to do it. Thy help is our only hope. Make us want to do what is right, and give us the ability to do it. In the name of Christ our Lord. AMEN.”
― Peter Marshall (1902-1949), Mr. Jones, Meet the Master: Sermons And Prayers Of Peter Marshall