If then you are wise, you will show yourself rather as a reservoir than as a canal. For a canal spreads abroad water as it receives it, but a reservoir waits until it is filled before overflowing, and thus communicates, without loss to itself, its superabundant water. In the Church at the present day, we have many canals, few reservoirs.

God will either give us what we ask, or what He knows to be better for us.

How beautiful then is modesty and what a gem among virtues it is.

Grace is necessary to salvation, free will equally so - but grace in order to give salvation, free will in order to receive it.

If then you are wise, you will show yourself rather as a reservoir than as a canal. For a canal spreads abroad water as it receives it, but a reservoir waits until it is filled before overflowing, and thus communicates, without loss to itself, its superabundant water. In the Church at the present day, we have many canals, few reservoirs.

I have no other masters than the beeches and the oaks.

Let your prayer for temporal blessings be strictly limited to things absolutely necessary.