The vine-stock bears fruit as long as it is attached to its stem; apart from that, no.

It is not easy to find perfect men in whom there is nothing to criticize.

With whose imperfections will you bear, and what insult are you capable of enduring, if a thoughtless word from your own Superior is unbearable?

Nature makes trees put down deep roots before having them bear fruit, and even this is done gradually.

It is a good sign when He burdens us with [crosses] and we carry them well, but woe to the person who runs away from them, for he will find such heavy ones that they will overwhelm him.

. . . [A]s a rule, the most learned persons do not produce the greatest results. We see that only too often.

Our Lord is pleased to deprive us of temporal goods; may it please His Divine Goodness to give us spiritual ones!