William Paley Quotes

A collection of quotes by William Paley.

William Paley (1743-1805) was an English clergyman, philosopher, and theologian, renowned for his contribution to the field of natural theology. He was born in Peterborough, England and attended Christ's College, Cambridge, where he excelled in his studies. Paley became a prominent figure in the Church of England, serving as a vicar in various locations throughout his career.

Paley's most influential work was "Natural Theology, or Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity," published in 1802. In this book, he presented a teleological argument for the existence of God, commonly known as the "watchmaker analogy." Paley argued that just as a watch implies the existence of a designer, the intricacies and complexity of the natural world similarly pointed towards a supreme creator.

His book gained widespread popularity and became a standard text in philosophy and theology courses. Paley's ideas had a profound impact on subsequent scholars, including Charles Darwin, who initially admired his work before developing his theory of evolution. Although Paley's argument has been criticized in modern times, it remains an essential part of the ongoing discussion between science and religion.

Apart from his theological contributions, Paley was also a gifted teacher. He served as a lecturer and later as the University of Cambridge’s vice-chancellor. His clear and accessible writing style made him a popular communicator of complex ideas, making his works approachable to a wide audience.

William Paley's contributions to the field of philosophy and theology continue to be studied and debated to this day, ensuring his lasting legacy in intellectual thought.

Let's say you're walking around and you find a watch on the

Let's say you're walking around and you find a watch on the ground. As you examine it, you marvel at the intricately complex interweaving of its parts, a means to an end. Surely you wouldn't think this marvel would have come about by itself. The watch must have a maker. Just as the watch has such complex means to an end, so does nature to a much greater extent. Just look at the complexity of the human eye. Thus we must conclude that nature has a maker too!

William Paley

Nature

What we are doing is satisfying the American public. That's

What we are doing is satisfying the American public. That's our job. I always say we have to give most of the people what they want most of the time. That's what they expect from us.

William Paley

Charity

God has been pleased to prescribe limits to his power and to

God has been pleased to prescribe limits to his power and to work out his ends within these limits.

William Paley

God