Each person with his or her history of being accepted or rejected, with his or her past history of inner pain and difficulties in relationships, is different. But in each one there is a yearning for communion and belonging, but at the same time a fear of it. Love is what we most want, yet it is what we fear the most.
Jean VanierTo invite others to live with us is a sign that we aren't afraid, that we have a treasure of truth and of peace to share.
Jean VanierA Christian community should do as Jesus did: propose and not impose. Its attraction must lie in the radiance cast by the love of brothers.
Jean Vanier[Happiness] comes when we choose to be who we are, to be ourselves, at this present moment in our lives.
Jean VanierA tension or difficulty can signal the approach of a new grace of God. But it has to be looked at wisely and humanly.
Jean VanierMachines help us do things more quickly and efficiently, but they can also destroy some community activities. Machines can also throw the weakest people out of work and this would be sad, because their small contribution to the housework or cooking is their way of giving something to the community. People who are capable of doing things very quickly with the help of machines become tremendously busy, always active, in charge of everyone - a bit like machines themselves.
Jean Vanier