You cannot study Pleasure in the moment of the nuptial embrace, nor repentance while repenting, nor analyze the nature of humour while roaring with laughter.

It is natural for us to wish that God had designed for us a less glorious and less arduous destiny; but then we are wishing not for more love but for less.

We might think that God wanted simply obedience to a set of rules: whereas He really wants people of a particular sort.

Are the gods not just?' 'Oh no, child. What would become us us if they were?

I have been wandering to find him and my happiness is so great that it even weakens me like a wound. And this is the marvel of marvels, that he called me Beloved, me who am but as a dog.

Redeemed humanity is still young, it has hardly come to its full strength. But already there is joy enough in the little finger of a great saint such as yonder lady to waken all the dead things of the universe into life.

Do you not know how bashful friendship is? Friends - comrades - do not look at each other. Friendship would be ashamed.