No human power can force the intrenchments of the human mind: compulsion never persuades; it only makes hypocrites.

It is this unquiet self-love that renders us so sensitive. The sick man, who sleeps ill, thinks the night long. We exaggerate, from cowardice, all the evils which we encounter; they are great, but our sensibility increases them. The true way to bear them is to yield ourselves up with confidence to God.

We must truly serve those whom we appear to command; we must bear with their imperfections, correct them with gentleness and patience, and lead them in the way to heaven.

The smallest things become great when God requires them of us; they are small only in themselves; they are always great when they are done for God.

All earthly delights are sweeter in expectation than in enjoyment; but all spiritual pleasures more in fruition than in expectation.

Do not make best friends with a melancholy sad soul. They always are heavily loaded, and you must bear half.

The best use one can make of his mind is to distrust it.