Sunday, August 23, 2026

More Fruits of Solitude by William Penn (1718) Part 2 14-51 (The World’s Able Man)

More Fruits of Solitude by William Penn (1718) Part 2 14-51 (The World’s Able Man)

Bonus: 

 

The Ablest Squad

Summary: Be honest.

Commentary: I liked the shorter entries in Part 1 better. 40ish on one gets excessive.

50. Art thou a Magistrate? Prefer such as have clean Characters where they live, and of Estates to secure a just Discharge of their Trusts; that are under no Temptation to strain Points for a Fortune: For sometimes such may be found, sooner than they are Employed.  

We already went over this! 

Friday, August 21, 2026

More Fruits of Solitude by William Penn (1718) Part 1 Intro-13 (Intro and The Right Moralist)

More Fruits of Solitude by William Penn (1718) Part 1 Intro-13 (Intro and The Right Moralist)

Bonus: 

 

Double the large plastic geese!

Summary: But wait, there's more!

Commentary:

3. They think it enough, not to defraud a Man of his Pay, or betray his Friend; but never consider, That the Law forbids the one at his Peril, and that Virtue is seldom the Reason of the other.
This is a bit more selective than part one.

4. But certainly he that Covets, can no more be a Moral Man, than he that Steals; since he does so in his Mind. Nor can he be one that Robs his Neighbor of his Credit, or that craftily undermines him of his Trade or Office.

Apparently resisting temptation isn't good enough anymore.

 

  

Thursday, August 20, 2026

Some Fruits of Solitude By William Penn (1682) Part 34 #511-556 (Religion)

 Some Fruits of Solitude By William Penn (1682) Part 34 #511-556 (Religion)

Bonus: 

No Christianity for Metcalfe

Summary: God exists because he exists. Make sure you do religion correctly and learn the right one. Love is good.

Commentary: 

534. If he that is without Bowels, is not a Man; How then can he be a Christian?

No Christianity for you, guy with a colonoscopy bag. 

 

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Some Fruits of Solitude By William Penn (1682) Part 33 #473-510 (Religion)

Some Fruits of Solitude By William Penn (1682) Part 33 #473-510 (Religion)

Bonus: 

 

Every once in a while, I link something that's so 00s Internet.

Summary: The best way to serve God is to be a good person. Life is temporary, soul is eternal.

Commentary:

478. God is better served in resisting a Temptation to Evil, than in many formal Prayers.
 

I like how this isn't even active service. It's not "you have to go on 500 missionary trips" or whatever. Just don't be a jackass. If we all started there, it'd be a big improvement.

 

Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Some Fruits of Solitude By William Penn (1682) Part 32 #453-472 (Religion)


Bonus: 
It will take me one of these amounts of time to finish this.

Summary: Christ=Good 

Commentary: Oh my god this section is like 1/5 of the whole book.

454. Religion is the Fear of God, and its Demonstration on good Works; and Faith is the Root of both; For without Faith we cannot please God, nor can we fear what we do not believe.

Quick, someone who took a formal logic class diagram this for me. (I don't think it works)

455. The Devils also believe and know abundance: But in this is the Difference, their Faith works not by Love, nor their Knowledge by Obedience; and therefore they are never the better for them. And if ours be such, we shall be of their Church, not of Christ's: For as the Head is, so must the Body be.

But what does it work by? Someone call Anton LeVay.

459. That Minister whose Life is not the Model of his Doctrine, is a Babler rather than a Preacher; a Quack rather than a Physician of Value.

Sick burns.


 

 

Sunday, August 16, 2026

Some Fruits of Solitude By William Penn (1682) Part 31 #442-452 (Compleat Virtue)

Some Fruits of Solitude By William Penn (1682) Part 31 #442-452 (Compleat Virtue)

Bonus:

This is the vibe

Summary: Try being a good person.

Commentary:  

444. Innocent, is not to be Guilty: But Virtuous is to overcome our evil Inclinations.

William Penn is like, happy metal.

450. 'T is no Sin to be tempted, but to be overcome.

451. What Man in his right Mind, would conspire his own hurt? Men are beside themselves, when they transgress their Convictions.

It is pleasant to be a good person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, August 15, 2026

Some Fruits of Solitude By William Penn (1682) Part 30 #423-441 (Indifferency, Neutrality, A Party, Ostentation)

Some Fruits of Solitude By William Penn (1682) Part 30 #423-441 (Indifferency, Neutrality, A Party, Ostentation)

Bonus: 

I think I've used this already.

Summary: Be loyal to ideals, not to parties.

Commentary:

425. Neutrality is something else than Indifferency; and yet of kin to it too.

Real insightful, Penn. 

426. A Judge ought to be Indifferent, and yet he cannot be said to be Neutral.

427. The one being to be Even in Judgment, and the other not to meddle at all.

This is pretty good though.

435. Nor must we always be Neutral where our Neighbors are concerned: For tho' Medling is a Fault, Helping is a Duty.

This is a good secret order oath. 

 

 

 

More Fruits of Solitude by William Penn (1718) Part 2 14-51 (The World’s Able Man)

More Fruits of Solitude by William Penn (1718) Part 2 14-51 (The World’s Able Man) Bonus:    The Ablest Squad Summary:  Be honest. Commenta...