In 2008, my first Shaker book, The Outsider, was published. I eventually wrote seven more Shaker books. The Refuge is the last Shaker book I’ve written. Since I’m having a giveaway here for that Shaker book, this seemed a perfect time to share once again some of the sayings attributed to the Shakers. I liked being able to includes some of these sayings in my stories. I thought it helped readers see more about how the Shakers thought.
They were a very practical people in many of their ways and they believed in “putting their hands to work and giving their hearts to God.” That saying might be the best well known saying by anyone who has visited a Shaker village that has been turned into a historical site or by those who have read about Shakers to try to understand their beliefs and ways. For Shakers, work was a way to worship and that work had to be using their hands.
Here are some more sayings that are often attributed to the Shakers or were used by the Shakers as a guide to how to live.
Shaker Sayings
~“Do your work as if you had a thousand years to live, and as if you were to die tomorrow.”
The Shakers wanted to do their work as perfectly as possible but at the same time as efficiently as they could.
“He did not think when sowing those wild oats in his youth how uncomfortable the gritty oatmeal would prove to be for his aged teeth.”
I think I worked this one into a story once, but don’t remember which story.
“Never wish a thing done; do it!”
Good advice for anyone, especially someone wanting to write a book. Maybe I need to print that up and paste it over my desk.
“It is just as much a duty to commend a person for doing well as it is to reprove him for doing ill.”
That’s a good one to practice it.
“A place for everything and everything in its place.”
This one is another I need to practice. Really need to. Of course, the Shakers didn’t believe in having anything that didn’t have a use for cleaning or working. They kept everything as simple as they could. No knickknacks sitting about. Nothing in the way of sweeping their floors. They even hung their chairs upside down on peg boards they put around their rooms for the purpose of keeping the floor uncluttered. Oh, and the chairs were hung upside down so the seats wouldn’t get dusty. The Shakers did not abide dirt in any corner or spot.
“Our thoughts are character molds. They shape language and actions.”
The Shakers intended to root out what they considered wrong thoughts. One of the things required of Shaker members was to confess their sins to an elder.
I’ve used the above in my Shaker books and many others Shaker sayings as well. Some of my favorites that have appeared often in my stories are:
- “None preaches better than the ant, and it says nothing.”
- “Engaged in thy duty, fear no danger.”
- “Happiness does not so much depend on circumstances as we think. Within our souls the foundations must abide.”
Chance to Win a Book
Still not a lot of entries in my giveaway for The Refuge. So leave a comment on this post and I’ll drop your name in my giveaway hat for a chance to win. If you’ve already commented on the previous posts that are part of the giveaway, comment here again and get another entry. That might help you turn out to be the winner. Oh, you do need to be 18 or older to enter. Deadline to enter is midnight EST October 10, 2026. That means this is the last chance to enter.
Which saying do you like best or do you remember from one of my stories?
Comments 13
Author
Sorry to be slow responding to your comments but I was visiting my daughter for a few days. Thanks so much for responding to my question. The Shakers had many saying about right living.
Diana, I’m not sure which one you’re calling the first one, but I like the one about putting your hands to work and giving your heart to God. And I often used the one in my stories about doing your work as if you had a thousand years to live or you might die on the morrow.
Chris, we might all do better if we worked for what we wanted instead of merely wishing and hoping. A writer can certainly get more stories told if you keep that in mind.
Vangie, I’m fine with readers entering as many times as I have blog posts when I’m doing a giveaway here. I love that one about the ant preaching to us and have used it in my Shaker books several times.
Diana D, Una, Brenda, Lucy – You all are for this practical one. It’s one I should keep in mind along with the unspoken part about not keeping what you don’t have a place to keep it or a purpose for keeping whatever it is. Except if you’re talking about books. Those you have to make a place for. 🙂
Susan F, I do believe we need to pay attention to our thoughts and what we read and watch or listen to. Keep the good thoughts front and center for a better life.
A place for everything and everything in its place. We grew up on that one. Blessings
I like your posts on the Shakers. They had/have a lot of great sayings. The one I like best is –
“Our thoughts are character molds. They shape language and actions.”
I loved “The Refuge”. The Shakers are very interesting to read about, but I sure wouldn’t want to be one. Lol
Author
Judi, I wouldn’t want to be a Shaker either. But I liked researching about them and trying to imagine why they might have joined together in such a strict and rule abiding group. But times were different back in the 1700s and 1800s.
My favorite saying is,”A place for everything, and everything in its place.”
I will never not hear my mother’s voice when I hear this phrase. She lived by it, and it has lived in my head, even after she’s been gone all these years.
I like “A place for everything and everything in its place.” I think my mom used to say this.
I love reading your stories!!
Author
I’m so glad you enjoy my stories, Rhonda. Thank you for telling me that.
My dad, although not a Shaker, always said, “A place for everything and everything in its place.”
Hi Ann, I responded previously, but since it is permissible, I’ll respond again and get a second chance to win one of your lovely books. 😊
I love this quote: “None preaches better than the ant, and it says nothing.”
Blessings on you as you continue to write!
Vangie Gober
My favorite Shaker saying–Never wish a thing done, do it.
I like the first one.