All the things in this world are gifts of God, created for us, to be the means by which we can come to know him better, love him more surely, and serve him more faithfully.

We should not have a petty regard for God's gifts, though we may and should despise our own imperfections.

Discouragement is not from God.

A religious ought to dread more being afraid of poverty than experiencing it.

Occupy yourself in beholding and bewailing your own imperfections rather than contemplating the imperfections of others.

Let me look at the foulness and ugliness of my body. Let me see myself as an ulcerous sore running with every horrible and disgusting poison.

Just as the commander of an army pitches his camp, studies the strength and defenses of a fortress, and then attacks it on its weakest side, in like manner, the enemy of our human nature studies from all sides our theological, cardinal, and moral virtues. Wherever he finds us weakest and most in need regarding our eternal salvation, he attacks and tries to take us by storm.