Quotes by Saint Francis de Sales

It is a perpetual exercise of mortification...In spite of the bitter nature of its juice, you may be able to draw and make the honey of the holy life.

The state of marriage is one that requires more virtue and constancy than any other.

Never be in a hurry, do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.

And what does it matter whether God speaks to us from amongst the thorns or the flowers?

Have patience with all things. But, first of all with yourself.

If, when stung by slander or ill-nature, we wax proud and swell with anger, it is a proof that our gentleness and humility are unreal, and mere artificial show.

Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit.
Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.
What is anything in life compared to peace of soul?

Have patience with all things but first of all with yourself.

Do not become upset when difficulty comes your way. Laugh in its face and know that you are in the hands of God.

During the night we must wait for the light.

Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself…do not be disheartened by your imperfections, but always rise up with fresh courage.

Humility consists in not esteeming ourselves above other men, and in not seeking to be esteemed above them.

I see crosses at every turn. My flesh shudders over it, but my heart adores them. Yes, I hail you, crosses little and great, I hail you, and kiss your feet, unworthy of the honor of your shadow.

God will either shield you from suffering or give you unfailing strength to bear it.

The Devil doesn't fear austerity but holy obedience.

Faith is like a bright ray of sun light. It enables us to see God in all things as well as all things in God.

When charity requires it we must freely and mildly communicate to our neighbor not only what is his instruction, but also what is profitable for his consolation.

Charity and devotion differ no more, the one from the other, than the flame from the fire.

Examine from time to time what are the dominant passions of your soul, and having ascertained this, mold your life, so that in thought, word, and deed you may as far as possible counteract them.

Hell is full of good intentions and wills.

All of us can attain to Christian virtue and holiness, no matter in what condition of life we live and no matter what our life work may be.

Do not desire crosses, unless you have borne those already laid upon you well -- it is an abuse to long after martyrdom while unable to bear an insult patiently.

I have made a pact with my tongue, not to speak when my heart is disturbed.

Humor is the foundation of reconciliation.

All the science of the Saints is included in these two things: To do, and to suffer. And whoever had done these two things best, has made himself most saintly.

One single act done with aridity of spirit is worth more than many done with feelings of devotion.

True virtue has no limits, but goes on and on, and especially holy charity, which is the virtue of virtues, and which having a definite object, would become infinite if it could meet with a heart capable of infinity.

Anxiety is the greatest evil that can befall a soul, except sin. God commands you to pray, but He forbids you to worry.

Let God be the air in which your heart breathes at ease.

Is it not a great temptation to be so valiant in imagination and so cowardly in execution?

Every vocation becomes more agreeable when united with devotion.

God requires a faithful fulfillment of the merest trifle given us to do, rather than the most ardent aspiration to things to which we are not called.

Do not fret under such assistance as is needful; therein lies one great grace of poverty. It were overambitious to aim at being poor without suffering any inconvenience, in other words, to have the credit of poverty and the convenience of riches.

Nothing appeases an enraged elephant so much as the sight of a little lamb.

There is no artifice as good and desirable as simplicity.

Many who confess their venial sins out of custom and concern for order but without thought of amendment remain burdened with them for their whole life and thus lose many spiritual benefits and advantages.

We must fear God out of love, not love Him out of fear.

God takes pleasure to see you take your little steps; and like a good father who holds his child by the hand, He will accommodate His steps to yours and will be content to go no faster than you. Why do you worry?

He who can preserve gentleness amid pains, and peace amid worry multitude of affairs, is almost perfect.

Pride dies 20 minutes after death.

Be who you are and do that well.

There is no better means of attainment to the spiritual life Than by continually beginning again.

We are sometimes so busy being good angels that we neglect to be good men and women.

Be not miserable about what may happen tomorrow. The same everlasting Father, who cares for you today, will care for you tomorrow.

Obedience is a consecration of the heart, chastity of the body, and poverty of all worldly goods to the Love and Service of God. Blessed indeed are the obedient, for God will never permit them to go astray.

Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself.

Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. I mean do not be disheartened by your imperfections, but always rise up with fresh courage.

Big fires flare up in a wind, but little ones are blown out unless they are carried in under cover.

Friendship requires great communication.

The merit of the cross does not consist in its heaviness, but in the manner in which we carry it. I would even say that it is sometimes more virtuous to carry a cross of straw than a heavy cross because we have to be more attentive for fear of losing it.

The spirit cannot endure the body when overfed, but, if underfed, the body cannot endure the spirit.

By giving yourself to God, You not only receive Himself in exchange, but eternal life as well.

Professions of humility are the very cream, the very essence of pride; the really humble person wishes to be, and not to appear so. Humility is timorous, and starts at her shadow; and so delicate that if she hears her name pronounced it endangers her existence.

Have Jesus always for your patron, His Cross for a mast on which you must spread your resolutions as a sail. Your anchor shall be a profound confidence in Him, and you shall sail prosperously.

Souls do not wish to be bullied, but gently brought back; such is the nature of man.

Mount Calvary is the academy of love.

Never be hurried in anything. Do all things calmly and in a spirit of repose. Do not lose your inward peace even if everything seems to be going wrong. What is anything in life compared to peace of soul?

Do not complain then of your poverty, my daughter, -- we only complain of that which is unwelcome, and if poverty is unwelcome to you, you are no longer poor in spirit.

To be pleased at correction and reproofs shows that one loves the virtues which are contrary to those faults for which he is corrected and reproved. And, therefore, it is a great sign of advancement in perfection.

Great occasions for serving God come seldom, but little ones surround us daily.

I recommend to you holy simplicity.

A judicious silence is always better than truth spoken without charity.

Take care of your health, that it may serve you to serve God.

It is not those who commit the least faults who are the most holy, but those who have the greatest courage, the greatest generosity, the greatest love, who make the boldest efforts to overcome themselves, and are not immediately apprehensive about tripping.

Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.

Strive to see God in all things without exception. Do not smother yourself...If you start smothering yourself with a host of cares and longings and wishes ... you will be disabling yourself from serving God with all your heart.

Have patience to walk with short steps until you have wings to fly.

One single day of devotion is worth more than a thousand years of worldly life.

Every Christian needs a half-hour of prayer each day, except when he is busy, then he needs an hour.

The declared enemies of God and His Church, heretics and schismatics, must be criticized as much as possible, as long as truth is not denied. It is a work of charity to shout: 'Here is the wolf!' when it enters the flock or anywhere else.

Humility makes our lives acceptable to God, meekness makes us acceptable to men.

I have the same opinion of dances that physicians have of mushrooms: the best of them are good for nothing.

Obedience is a virtue of so excellent a nature, that Our Lord was pleased to mark its observance upon the whole course of His life; thus He often says, He did not come to do His Own will, but that of His Heavenly Father.

A dance is the devil's procession, and he that entereth into a dance, entereth into his possession.

Let the enemy rage at the gate; let him knock, pound, scream, howl; let him do his worst. We know for certain that he cannot enter our soul except by the door of our consent.

The state of marriage is one that requires more virtue and constancy than any other; it is a perpetual exercise in mortification.

We may be excused for not always being bright, but we are not excused for not being gracious, yielding and considerate.

It is to those who have the most need of us that we ought to show our love more especially.

What we need is a cup of understanding, a barrel of love, and an ocean of patience.

If you would fall into any extreme, let it be on the side of gentleness. The human mind is so constructed that it resists rigor, and yields to softness.

Whatever happens, abide steadfast in a determination to cling simply to God.

The greatest method of praying is to pray the Rosary.

While extremely sensitive as to the slightest approach to slander, you must also guard against an extreme into which some people fall, who, in their desire to speak evil of no one, actually uphold and speak well of vice.

It is right that you should begin again every day. There is no better way to complete the spiritual life than to be ever beginning it over again.