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.
John of the CrossYearning: It needs to hurt in order to be worthy of the word. Otherwise it is just wanting.
John of the CrossAbide in peace, banish cares, take no account of all that happens, and you will serve God according to his good pleasure and rest in him.
John of the CrossFor true devotion must issue from the heart, and consist in the truth and substances alone of what is represented by spiritual things; all the rest is affection and attachment proceeding from imperfection; and in order that one may pass to any kind of perfection it is necessary for such desires to be killed.
John of the Cross