There is more joy in heaven over a converted sinner than over a righteous person standing firm. A leader in battle has more love for a soldier who returns after fleeing, and who valiantly pursues the enemy, than for one who never turned back, but who never acted valiantly either. A farmer has greater love for land which bears fruitfully, after he has cleared it of thorns, than for land which never had thorns but which never yielded a fruitful harvest.

The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.

God is called jealous, angered, repentant, merciful, and foreknowing. These simply mean that, because He guards the chastity of every soul, He can, in human fashion, be called jealous, although He is not subject to any mental torment.

The greatness of contemplation can be given to none but those who love.

Because He moves against faults, God is said to be angered, although He is moved by no disturbance of equanimity.

Ignorance is a dangerous and spiritual poison, which all men ought warily to shun.

I despise the proper constructions and cases, because I think it very unfitting that the words of the celestial oracle should be restricted by the rules of Donatus [a well-known grammarian].