Teresa of Avila Quotes

Never do anything which you could not do in the sight of all.

We may speak of love and humility as the true flowers of spiritual growth; and they give off a wonderful scent, which benefits all those who come near.

Much more is accomplished by a single word of the Our Father said, now and then, from our heart, than by the whole prayer repeated many times in haste and without attention.

People in the world pay little heed to reason where their own interests are involved.

Oh, how everything that is suffered with love is healed again!

God has been very good to me, for I never dwell upon anything wrong which a person has done, so as to remember it afterwards. If I do remember it, I always see some other virtue in that person.

Nothing is small if God accepts it.

If you fall sometimes, you must not be discouraged.

Alas, O Lord, to what a state dost Thou bring those who love Thee!

How poor is the wisdom of men, and how uncertain their forecast!

Learn to self-conquest, persevere thus for a time, and you will perceive very clearly the advantage which you gain from it.

It is of great importance, when we begin to practise prayer, not to let ourselves be frightened by our own thoughts.

Do you know when people really become spiritual? It is when they become the slaves of God and are branded with His sign, which is the sign of the Cross, in token that they have given Him their freedom.

I thought of the soul as resembling a castle, formed of a single diamond or a very transparent crystal, and containing many rooms, just as in Heaven there are many mansions.

I fully realize that this gratitude of mine is not in the least a sign of perfection: it must be my nature - I could be suborned with a sardine.

If you seek to carry no other crosses but those whose reason you understand, perfection is not for you.

God gave us faculties for our use; each of them will receive its proper reward. Then do not let us try to charm them to sleep, but permit them to do their work until divinely called to something higher.

We bloomed in Spring. Our bodies are the leaves of God. The apparent seasons of life and death our eyes can suffer; but our souls, dear, I will just say this forthright: they are God Himself, we will never perish until He does.

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.

God never changes; Patient endurance Attains to all things; Who God possesses In nothing is wanting; Alone God suffices.