God only pours out his light into the mind after having subdued the rebellion of the will by an altogether heavenly gentleness which charms and wins it.

Religion is so great a thing that it is right that those who will not take the trouble to seek it if it be obscure, should be deprived of it.

We must know where to doubt, where to feel certain, where to submit. He who does not do so, understands not the force of reason.

Those we call the ancients were really new in everything.

Put the world's greatest philosopher on a plank that is wider than need be; if there is a precipe below, although his reason may convince him that he is safe, his imagination will prevail.

Concupiscence and force are the source of all our actions; concupiscence causes voluntary actions, force involuntary ones.

So we can only know God well by knowing our iniquities. Therefore those who have known God, without knowing their wretchedness, have not glorified Him, but have glorified themselves.