We cannot unthink ourselves out of his realism, out of his boundless pity, out of his consuming earnestness.

He has taught us all to know that the very bad man can be changed into the very good man, and he has brought us back, albeit by a violent method, to the first simple and absolute principles of the only faith which purifies and exalts humanity.
"When the dust has blown away, we shall see him as perhaps the greatest of our time." The Post of Berlin "What he aimed at, for the solution of the Social question and the uplifting of the lowest classes of people by their own works, assures for him the respect of the entire civilised world." Berlin Local Gazette "In the person of General Booth was embodied one part of the Social question, and, if any man succeeded in bringing any part of it even nearer to a solution one must say it was William Booth.
"His plainness as a man, his genial gift as an organiser, his burning zeal, his self-sacrificing devotion to his aim, prepared and levelled the road for him, and no man, friend or foe, will withhold from him their tribute of high respect as he lies on his bed of death." The Morning Post of Berlin "General Booth, the ancient blind man, always kept his glad heart.

He was able to point his opponents, who brought up their theoretical maxims against him (and who latterly became ever fewer) to his practical work." The Berlin Evening Paper "There has hardly ever been a General who in an almost unbroken career of victory subdued so many men and conquered so many countries as William Booth.

His person gained the high respect of his contemporaries through his long, priestly life, and he will ever remain an example of how much, even in a time of confusion and division, one man can do who knows what he wants, and keeps a clear conscience." Berlin Midday Paper "In General Booth we have, undoubtedly, lost one of the most successful organisers of the day." Berlin Day Paper (Tageblatt) "Whoever has seen and heard Booth in a huge Meeting in Circus Busch will never forget him--the snow-white, flowing beard and the great, upright figure in the blue uniform, with the red-figured jersey, the furrowed face of typical English character, and the finely mobile orator's mouth, with the searching eyes under the noble forehead, and the prominent nose that gave him almost the aspect of an eagle." German Watchman "With that constant will power which sprang from deep and upright conviction, and with a faculty for organisation which won hearty recognition from all who knew him, he was able to do such great things." National Gazette, Berlin "His unselfishness and his zealous devotion to his creation (The Army) was beyond all question." Berlin Exchange Courier "Whoever saw and heard him knows that he remained, after all, the simple, unassuming, humble man.

The secret of this personality was the embodiment of an unshakable religious devotion.