God uproots the vine that He Himself has not planted.

Scandal often does as much harm to the listeners as to those who devise it, even if it were to do no other harm than disturb the mind, as it does, and give rise to temptations to speak or write about it to others.

It will be easier for you to bring him around to where you want him more by gentleness and patience than by being too uncompromising.

Peace is worth far more than anything they might take from you.

Use gentle methods to get whatever good you can from priests and monks who are slaves, as well as from merchants and captives. Resort to severe measures only in extreme cases, for fear lest the hardship they are already enduring in their state of captivity, joined to the strictness you might want to exercise in virtue of your authority, drive them to despair. . . . It is not light they need, but strength, and strength permeates through the external balm of words and good example.

... I am sure that you are the first to do what you teach them.

Put your trust in Him and following His example, always act humbly, graciously, and in good faith.