What could you do to a man who owns nothing? You can’t starve a fasting man, you can’t steal from someone who has no money, you can’t ruin someone who hates prestige.
Grant me the treasure of sublime poverty.
Blessed is the servant who esteems himself no more highly when he is praised and exalted by people than when he is considered worthless, foolish, and to be despised; since what a man is before God, that he is and nothing more.
You damned spirits! You can only do what the hand of God allows you to do.
There is absolutely no man in the whole world who can possess one among you unless he first die.
I beg you to show the greatest possible reverence and honor for the most holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things, whether on earth or in heaven, have been brought to peace and reconciled with Almighty God.
The tree of love its roots hath spread Deep in my heart, and rears its head; Rich are its fruits: they joy dispense; Transport the heart, and ravish sense. In love’s sweet swoon to thee I cleave, Bless’d source of love.
Here is one of the best means to acquire humility; fix well in mind this maxim: One is as much as he is in the sight of God, and no more.
Water is the mirror of nature.
Preach always. Use words if necessary.
The only thing ever achieved in life without effort is failure.
Our actions are our own; their consequences belong to Heaven.
Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial.
A promise is a child of the understanding and the will; the understanding begets it, the will brings it forth.
Pleased be you, my Lord, with all your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun, who is the day and through whom you give us light. And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendours and bears likeness of you, Most High One.
Where there is charity and wisdom there is neither fear nor ignorance. Where there is patience and humility there is neither anger nor worry.
A man sins who wishes to receive more from his neighbor than he is himself willing to give to the Lord God.
Preach the Gospel, if necessary use words.
You wanderer on the path! There is no path, only wandering”.
Preach always. If necessary, use words.
Upon this, Bernard went and sold all that he had. Now he was very rich, and with great joy he distributed his wealth to widows, to orphans, to prisoners, to monasteries, to hospitals, and to pilgrims, in all which St Francis assisted him with prudence and fidelity.