Happy the heart where love has come to birth.

Lord, how you afflict your lovers! But everything is small in comparison to what you give them afterwards.

Pain is never permanent.

The important thing is not to think much but to love much; do, then, whatever most arouses you to love.

Hope, O my soul, hope. You know neither the day nor the hour.

They deceive themselves who believe that union with God consists in ecstasies or raptures, and in the enjoyment of Him. For it consists in nothing except the surrender and subjection of our will - with our thoughts, words and actions - to the will of God.

As to the aridity you are suffering from, it seems to me our Lord is treating you like someone He considers strong: He wants to test you and see if you love Him as much at times of aridity as when He sends you consolations. I think this is a very great favor for God to show you.