Top 200 Ezra Taft Benson Quotes (2025 Update)
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101. “There is, however, a far more common ailment among us – and that is pride from the bottom looking up. It is manifest in so many ways, such as faultfinding, gossiping, backbiting, and murmuring, living beyond our means, envying, coveting, withholding gratitude and praise that might lift another, and being unforgiving and jealous.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

102. “Essentially, pride is a ‘my will’ rather than ‘thy will’ approach to life.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

103. “If we have any criticism of our leaders, we invite Satan into our lives and beliefs.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

104. “Pride is competition-competition between God and Man.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

105. “The way to feel better about your own situation is to improve someone else’s circumstances.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

106. “Ours is a representative republic with a Constitution in which is recognized the natural law and the natural rights of man. It is a republic with a spiritual foundation characterized by freedom – freedom for the individual and for his society.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

107. “What does it mean to love someone with all your heart? It means to love with all your emotional feelings and with all your devotion. Surely when you love your wife with all your heart, you cannot demean her, criticize her, find fault with her, or abuse her by words, sullen behavior, or actions.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

108. “A father’s calling is eternal and its importance transcends time. It is a calling for both time and eternity.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

109. “There are times when you simply have to righteous hang on and outlast the devil.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

110. “Bad experience is a school that only fools keep going to.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

111. “If we do not feel like praying, then we should pray until we do feel like praying.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

112. “Pride adversely affects all our relationships – our relationship with God and His servants, between husband and wife, parent and child, employer and employee, teacher and student, and all mankind.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

113. “Above all else, children need to know and feel they are loved, wanted, and appreciated. They need to be assured of that often. Obviously, this is a role parents should fill, and most often the mother can do it best.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

114. “When we set goals, we are in command. Clearly understood goals bring our lives into focus just as a magnifying glass focuses a beam of light into a burning point. Without goals our efforts may be scattered and unproductive.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

115. “Pride is ugly. It says ‘If you succeed I am a failure.’”

— Ezra Taft Benson

116. “Strong families cultivate an attribute of effective communication. They talk out their problems, make plans together, and cooperate toward common objectives.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

117. “A father’s duty is to make his home a place of happiness and joy.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

118. “We need missionaries to match our message.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

119. “Beware of those who would pit the dead prophets against the living prophets, for the living prophets always take precedence.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

120. “Have good associates or don’t associate at all. Be careful in the selection of your friends. If in the presence of certain persons you are lifted to nobler heights, you are in good company. But if your friends or associates encourage base thoughts, then you had best leave them.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

121. “It is the mark of a truly educated man to know what not to read.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

122. “There is no greater Church calling than that of a home teacher. There is no greater Church service rendered to our Father in Heaven’s children than the service rendered by a humble, dedicated, committed home teacher.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

123. “The expression “follow the Brethren” has a broader meaning than some would apply to it. It means not only to agree with the counsel given to the Church by the Brethren, but also to follow their example in appearance and deportment.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

124. “Modesty in dress and language and deportment is a true mark of refinement and a hallmark of a virtuous Latter-day Saint woman.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

125. “Beguiling voices in the world cry out for ‘alternative lifestyles’ for women. They maintain that some women are better suited for careers than for marriage and motherhood.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

126. “There could not be a restoration of the gospel without freedom. God provided this country as the base of his operations in these the last days, a place where there would be freedom, where he could restore his gospel.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

127. “Contention in our families drives the Spirit of the Lord away. It also drives many of our family members away. Contention ranges from a hostile spoken word to worldwide conflicts. The scriptures tell us that “Only by pride cometh contention”.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

128. “This latter day work is spiritual. It takes spirituality to comprehend it, to love it, to discern it. Therefore, seek the spirit in all you do. Keep it with you continually. That is our challenge.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

129. “If you turn your life over to the Lord he can do so much more with it than we can.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

130. “Scouting teaches a boy to take care of himself and stand on his own two feet.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

131. “The time is long overdue for a massive flooding of the earth with the Book of Mormon for the many reasons which the Lord has given. In this age of electronic media and mass distribution of the printed word, God will hold us accountable if we do not now move the Book of Mormon in a monumental way.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

132. “We must be devoted to sound principles in word and deed: principle above party, principle above pocketbook, principle above popularity.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

133. “An almost forgotten means of economic self-reliance is the home production of food. We are too accustomed to going to stores and purchasing what we need.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

134. “Right and wrong as moral principles do not change. They are applicable and reliable determinants whether the situations with which we deal are simple or complicated. There is always a right and wrong to every question which requires our solution.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

135. “If we would truly seek to be more like our Savior and Master, learning to love as He loves should be our highest goal.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

136. “Any Christian constitutionalist who retreats from this battle jeopardizes his life here and hereafter. Seldom has so much responsibility hung on so few, so heavily; but our numbers are increasing, and we who have been warned have a responsibility to warn our neighbor.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

137. “A positive self-image has little relationship to our material circumstances.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

138. “We should know why paternalism, collectivism, or unnecessary federal supervision will hold our standard of living down and reduce productivity just as it has in every country where it has been tried. We should also know why the communist leaders consider socialism the highroad to communism.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

139. “No society will long survive without mothers who care for their young and provide that nurturing care so essential for their normal development.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

140. “Young people, your parents, with their maturity of years and experience you have not had, can provide wisdom, knowledge, and blessings to help you over life’s pitfalls. You may find, that life’s sweetest experiences come when you go to Mom and Dad for help.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

141. “Man is at his best when complimented by the influence of a good woman.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

142. “Those who are heavy-laden with despair should come unto the Lord.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

143. “A mother’s role is God-ordained. Mothers are to conceive, bear, nourish, love, and train. They are to be helpmates and are to counsel with their husbands.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

144. “I grew up believing that the willingness and ability to work is the basic ingredient of successful farming. Hard, intelligent work is the key. Use it, and your chances for success are good.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

145. “One of the cardinal sins in our country is profanity – the taking of the name of the Lord in vain.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

146. “The deepest joys and blessings in life are associated with family, parenthood, and sacrifice.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

147. “Mothers, train up your children in righteousness; do not attempt to save the world and let your own family fall apart.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

148. “Every Latter-day Saint should make the study of this book a lifetime pursuit. Otherwise, he is placing his soul in jeopardy and neglecting that which could give spiritual and intellectual unity to his whole life.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

149. “I rode horseback three miles each way to get to high school, and in bad weather it was a problem sometimes to make my eight o’clock class on time. Like others, I often missed school to help on the farm, especially in the fall, until after harvest, and in the spring, during planting season.”

— Ezra Taft Benson

150. “The Holy Ghost causes out feelings to be more tender. We feel more charitable and compassionate. We are calmer. We have a greater capacity to love. People want to be around us because our very countenances radiate the influence of the Spirit. We are more godly in character. As a result, we are more sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and thus able to comprehend spiritual things.”

— Ezra Taft Benson