Phillips Brooks Quotes

A collection of quotes by Phillips Brooks.

Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) was an influential American Episcopal clergyman and author. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in a prominent family. After completing his education at Harvard College, he initially pursued a career as a teacher before deciding to study theology.

Brooks's eloquence and powerful sermons quickly gained recognition, establishing him as one of the leading preachers of his time. In 1869, he was appointed rector of Trinity Church in Boston, a position he held for more than two decades. His dynamic preaching style, combined with his progressive views, attracted a large congregation and helped him shape public opinion on significant social and political matters.

Renowned for his deep spirituality and commitment to social justice, Brooks played an important role in advocating for the abolition of slavery and promoting racial equality. He also championed women's suffrage and was actively involved in philanthropic endeavors. Outside the pulpit, Brooks became known as an accomplished writer and poet, gaining international recognition for his sacred hymns. His most famous composition, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," is still widely sung today during the Christmas season.

Sadly, Brooks's life was cut short when he died at the age of 58. However, his legacy continues to inspire generations of clergy, scholars, and social activists. Phillips Brooks's dedication to faith, justice, and compassion ensured his enduring impact on American religious and cultural life.

To say, 'well done' to any bit of good work is to take hold

To say, 'well done' to any bit of good work is to take hold of the powers which have made the effort and strengthen them beyond our knowledge.

Phillips Brooks

Pray the largest prayers. You cannot think a prayer so large

Pray the largest prayers. You cannot think a prayer so large that God, in answering it, will not wish you had made it larger. Pray not for crutches but for wings.

Phillips Brooks

Prayer Inspirational

Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers

Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.

Phillips Brooks

The earth has grown old with its burden of care, but at Chri

The earth has grown old with its burden of care, but at Christmas it always is young, the heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair, and its soul full of music breaks the air, when the song of angels is sung.

Phillips Brooks

Be patient and understanding. Life is too short to be vengef

Be patient and understanding. Life is too short to be vengeful or malicious.

Phillips Brooks

Christianity helps us face the music even when we don't like

Christianity helps us face the music even when we don't like the tune.

Phillips Brooks

Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is

Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones.

Phillips Brooks

Happiness is the natural flower of duty.

Happiness is the natural flower of duty.

Phillips Brooks

Sad will be the day for any man when he becomes contented wi

Sad will be the day for any man when he becomes contented with the thoughts he is thinking and the deeds he is doing - where there is not forever beating at the doors of his soul some great desire to do something larger which he knows he was meant and made to do.

Phillips Brooks

The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smal

The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is.

Phillips Brooks

Dreadful will be the day when the world becomes contented, w

Dreadful will be the day when the world becomes contented, when one great universal satisfaction spreads itself over the world. Sad will be the day for every man when he becomes absolutely contented with the life that he is living, with the thoughts that he is thinking, with the deeds that he is doing, when there is not forever beating at the doors of his soul some great desire to do something larger which he knows that he was meant and made to do because he is a child of God.

Phillips Brooks

Charity should begin at home, but should not stay there.

Charity should begin at home, but should not stay there.

Phillips Brooks

Self-confidence is either a petty pride in our own narrownes

Self-confidence is either a petty pride in our own narrowness, or the realization of our duty and privilege as God's children.

Phillips Brooks

No man has come to true greatness who has not felt that his

No man has come to true greatness who has not felt that his life belongs to his race, and that which God gives to him, He gives him for mankind.

Phillips Brooks

I do not pray for a lighter load, but for a stronger back.

I do not pray for a lighter load, but for a stronger back.

Phillips Brooks

A prayer in its simplest definition is merely a wish turned

A prayer in its simplest definition is merely a wish turned Godward.

Phillips Brooks

Wishes Wish Wishing

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.

Phillips Brooks

Jesus Christ, the condescension of divinity, and the exaltat

Jesus Christ, the condescension of divinity, and the exaltation of humanity.

Phillips Brooks

No man or woman can be strong, gentle, pure, and good, witho

No man or woman can be strong, gentle, pure, and good, without the world being better for it and without someone being helped and comforted by the very existence of that goodness.

Phillips Brooks

Be such a man, and live such a life, that if every man were

Be such a man, and live such a life, that if every man were such as you, and every life a life like yours, this earth would be God's Paradise.

Phillips Brooks