Even a saint may take pleasure, in retrospect, in having been once desired

Of all the reports that fly about the world, ill news is the surest of all to arrive!

Despair is deadly sin, but worse, it is mortal folly.

Every man has within him only one life and one nature ... It behooves a man to look within himself and turn to the best dedication possible those endowments he has from his Maker. You do no wrong in questioning what once you held to be right for you, if now it has come to seem wrong. Put away all thought of being bound. We do not want you bound. No one who is not free can give freely.

Bitter though it may be to many, Cadfael concluded, there is no substitute for truth, in this or any case.

To have faith in Divine protection is good, but even beter if backed by the pratical assistance heaven has a right to expect from sensible mortals.

the success of a holiday depends on what you find for yourself on the spot, not what you bring with you.