That is how His Majesty [the Lord] rewards our good works---I mean, by predisposing us to perform better ones.

Suffering is a great favor. Remember that everything soon comes to an end . . . and take courage. Think of how our gain is eternal.

You ought to make every effort to free yourselves even from venial sin, and to do what is most perfect.

Let him never cease from prayer who has once begun it, be his life ever so wicked; for prayer is the way to amend it, and without prayer such amendment will be much more difficult.

It will be as well, I think, to explain these locutions of God, and to describe what the soul feels when it receives them.

We may think it humility not to realize that the Lord is bestowing gifts upon us. Let us understand very, very clearly, how this matter stands. God gives us these gifts for no merit of ours. Let us be grateful to His Majesty for them, for, unless we recognize that we are receiving them, we shall not be aroused to love Him. And it is a most certain thing that, if we remember all the time that we are poor, the richer we find ourselves, the greater will be the profit that comes to us and the more genuine our humility.

The tree that is beside the running water is fresher and gives more fruit.