Of what use is a long life, if we amend so little? Alas, a long life often adds to our sins rather than to our virtue!
Faith is required of thee, and a sincere life, not loftiness of intellect, nor deepness in the mysteries of God.
Occasions of adversity best discover how great virtue or strength each one hath. For occasions do not make a man frail, but they show what he is.
We should have much more peace if we would not busy ourselves with the sayings and doings of others.
Blessed are the simple, for they shall have much peace.
Two wings lift a person up from earthly concerns: Simplicity in intention, and Purity in feeling.
So fixed are our spirits in slothfulness and cold indifference that we seldom overcome so much as one evil habit.
No confict is so severe as his who labors to subdue himself.
If you cast away one cross, you will certainly find another, and perhaps a heavier.
Do not be influenced by the importance of the writer, and whether his learning be great or small, but let the love of pure truth draw you to read. Do not inquire, Who said this? but pay attention to what is said.
In Jesus and for Him, enemies and friends alike are to be loved.
Endeavor to be always patient of the faults and imperfections of others; for thou hast many faults and imperfections of thine own that require forbearance. If thou art not able to make thyself that which thou wishest, how canst thou expect to mold another in conformity to thy will?
Thy peace shall be in much patience.
At the least bear patiently, if thou canst not joyfully.
Confidence is the illusion born of accidental success.
Whoever puts his confidence in men or in any creature is very foolish.
The enemy is more easily overcome if he be not suffered to enter the door of our hearts, but be resisted without the gate at his first knock.
A man of peace does more good than a very learned man.
He is truly great who hath a great charity.
He has great tranquillity of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men. He will easily be content and pacified, whose conscience is pure. You are not holier if you are praised, nor the more worthless if you are found fault with. What you are, that you are; neither by word can you be made greater than what you are in the sight of God.
We must live in charity with all men, but familiarity with them is not desirable. It sometimes happens that someone personally unknown to us enjoys a high reputation, but that when we meet him, we are not impressed. Similarly, we sometimes imagine that our company is pleasing, when in reality we offend others by our ill behaviour.