His Majesty knows best what is suitable for us. There's no need for us to be advising Him about what He should give us, for He can rightly tell us that we don't know what we're asking for (cf. Mt. 20:22). The whole aim of any person who is beginning prayer ? and don't forget this, because it's very important ? should be that he work and prepare himself with determination and every possible effort to bring his will into conformity with God's will.

Whenever conscience commands anything, there is only one thing to fear, and that is fear.

Do you think it is only a little thing to possess a house from which lovely things can be seen?

Settle yourself in solitude, and you will come upon God in yourself.

All things pass... Patience attains all it strives for.

No one should think or say anything of another which he would not wish thought or said of himself.

We know only that we are living in these bodies and have a vague idea, because we have heard it, and because our faith tells us so, that we possess souls. As to what good qualities there may be in our souls, or who dwells within them, or how precious they are, those are things which seldom consider and so we trouble little about carefully preserving the soul's beauty.