Some Fruits of Solitude (1905) (Linked Table of Contents)

After he was deprived of his leadership role, William Penn determined to put down in his retirement such Maxims on different subjects as he thought he could warrant as substantial, and, when thus collected, to publish them. This book he accordingly completed after no small labour, and brought it out under the title of "Some Fruits of Solitude, in Reflections and Maxims relating to the Conduct of human Life."

Penn writes that "he has now had some time he could call his own, a property he was never so much master of before, in which he has taken a view of himself and the world, and observed wherein he has hit or missed the mark; what might have been done; what mended and what avoided in human conduct; together with the omissions and excesses of others, as well societies and governments as private families and persons. And he verily thinks, were he to live over his life again, he could not only with God's grace serve him, but his neighbour and himself, better than he hath done, and have seven years of his time to spare. And yet perhaps he hath not been the worst or the idlest man in the world, nor is he the oldest. And this is the rather said, that it might quicken thee, Reader, to lose none of the time that is yet thine."

Penn describes this book quite accurately when he says it contains "Hints that may serve the reader for texts to preach to himself upon."

The serious reader will find every part of it worthy of a careful perusal.