He who loses an opportunity is like the man who lets a bird fly from his hand, for he will never recover it.

Though the path is plain and smooth for men of good will, he who walks it will not travel far, and will do so only with difficulty, if he does not have good feet: that is, courage and a persevering spirit.

Never relax, for you will not attain to the possession of true spiritual delights if first you do not learn to deny your every desire.

However high be your endeavors, unless you renounce and subjugate your own will - unless you forget yourself and all that pertains to yourself - not one step will you advance on the road to perfection.

Seek in reading and thou shalt find in meditation; knock in prayer and it shall be opened in contemplation.

Would that men might come at last to see that it is quite impossible to reach the thicket of the riches and wisdom of God except by first entering the thicket of much suffering, in such a way that the soul finds there its consolation and desire. The soul that longs for divine wisdom chooses first, and in truth, to enter the thicket of the cross.

If you lose an opportunity you will be like one who lets the bird fly away; you will never get it back.