You must moderate yourself according to your strength. When you have done all that you can to see that no Christian is perverted, you must find your consolation in Our Lord, who could prevent this misfortune and who is not doing so.
Do not be afraid of undertaking too much of what you can do without coming and going; but fear only the thought of doing more than you are doing and more than God is giving you the means to do.
Is it not better to fail after asking advice than to risk acting on our own?
If, in order to succeed in an enterprise, I were obliged to choose between fifty deer commanded by a lion, and fifty lions commanded by a deer, I should consider myself more certain of success with the first group than with the second.
Naturally, everyone loves his freedom, but we must beware of this as of a broad road that leads to perdition.
I cannot think of the results of your labors without shame at the little we do.
The wisest persons, surprised by some passion, often say things they later regret.
If there is any danger in the present weather, in the name of God, Monsieur, wait until spring.
You should not open your mouth except to express gratitude for benefits you have received, and never to mention your discontent.
The vine-stock bears fruit as long as it is attached to its stem; apart from that, no.
Indeed, good is not good if one does not suffer in doing it.
Naturally, everyone is disheartened by sharp reprimands, and by the most amiable corrections as well, if they are frequent, immoderate, or given inappropriately.
O Monsieur de Sergis, how important a matter is submission of spirit to a superior!
Noise makes no good, good makes no noise.
God always gives a great blessing to humble beginnings than to those that start with the chiming of bells.
If you must be in a hurry, then let it be according to the old adage, and hasten slowly.
If you think something should be done, take the trouble to write to me about it, and together we will decide the time and manner of doing it.
What you are saying is true of those who want everything to give way to them, nothing to oppose them, everything to go their way, people to obey them without comment or delay and, in a manner of speaking, to be adored.
You can give me no greater consolation nor render greater service to your neighbor than to place yourself in a condition to serve him for a long time.
Remember, Monsieur, that the downfall of most Communities comes from the cowardice of Superiors in not holding firm and in not purging them of the troublesome and incorrigible.