In a time when Victorian England turned a blind eye to the suffering of the poor, one man heard their cries and devoted his life to answering them. William Booth, a Methodist preacher from Nottingham, became a towering figure of faith and compassion through his founding of The Salvation Army in 1865. His mission was simple but radical: bring the gospel to the streets, serve the destitute, and fight for justice in the darkest corners of society.
More than just a religious leader, Booth was a reformer, a humanitarian, and a tireless advocate for the poor. His approach to ministry was both spiritual and practical—he believed in saving souls and meeting physical needs alike. With his wife Catherine Booth by his side, The Salvation Army expanded globally, becoming a beacon of hope through food kitchens, shelters, and addiction recovery programs.
Booth’s passion, boldness, and visionary leadership still echo today—not just through the enduring legacy of The Salvation Army, but through his own words. Here are 15 of William Booth’s most famous and inspiring quotes, each one a glimpse into the heart of a man wholly devoted to serving others.
15 Famous William Booth Quotes
- “While women weep, as they do now, I’ll fight.
While little children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll fight.
While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I’ll fight.
While there is a drunkard left,
While there is a poor lost girl upon the streets,
While there remains one dark soul without the light of God—I’ll fight! I’ll fight to the very end!” - “Go straight for souls, and go for the worst.”
- “The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.”
- “You cannot warm the hearts of people with God’s love if they have an empty stomach and cold feet.”
- “Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin.”
- “Work as if everything depended upon your work, and pray as if everything depended upon your prayer.”
- “Faith and works should travel side by side, step answering to step, like the legs of men walking.”
- “Some men’s passion is for gold. Some men’s passion is for art. Some men’s passion is for fame. My passion is for souls.”
- “If you want to change the future, then change the present.”
- “God loves with a great love the man whose heart is bursting with a passion for the impossible.”
- “We must wake ourselves up! Or somebody else will take our place, and bear our cross, and thereby rob us of our crown.”
- “I am not waiting for a move of God, I am a move of God.”
- “The tendency of fire is to go out; watch the fire on the altar of your heart.”
- “There is no reward equal to that of doing the most good to the most people in the most need.”
- “Without holiness, no one shall see the Lord. I mean real holiness—righteous living, sacrificial love, and fearless faith.”
A Legacy that Still Fights
William Booth didn’t just preach hope—he put it into action. His legacy, The Salvation Army, is now active in over 130 countries, providing food, shelter, disaster relief, addiction treatment, and spiritual support to millions. Booth’s words, rooted in Scripture and charged with urgency, remain a call to action for believers everywhere.
He challenged complacency, shook the religious establishment, and raised an army—not of soldiers with weapons, but of servants armed with compassion and unwavering faith.
So if you ever wonder what one life, fully surrendered to God, can do—look no further than William Booth.
Which of Booth’s quotes speaks to you the most? Share your thoughts or stories in the comments—let’s keep the fire burning.
