A doctor who keeps a person from becoming ill deserves more merit than one who cures him.

There is no act of charity that is not accompanied by justice or that permits us to do more than we reasonably can.

Would that God, Monsieur, had rendered us worthy of spending our lives, as Our Lord did, for the salvation of those poor souls so far removed from all assistance.

It is a maxim of ours to work in the service of the people, with the good pleasure of the pastors, and never to act contrary to their wishes. And, at the opening and closing of each mission, we get their blessing in a spirit of dependence.

If you think something should be done, take the trouble to write to me about it, and together we will decide the time and manner of doing it.

There is nothing good that does not meet with opposition, and it should not be valued any less because it encounters objections.

It is true that zeal is the soul of the virtues, but most certainly, Monsieur, it must be according to knowledge, as Saint Paul says; that means: according to knowledge of experience. And because young people ordinarily do not possess this experiential knowledge, their zeal goes to excess, especially in those who have a natural asperity.