(1) Be convinced that exactness in rising is one of the most important practices in the Company and that as the day begins so the rest of the day continues; (2) give yourselves sincerely to God on going to bed in the evening, asking Him for the strength to overcome yourselves in the morning and to obey His voice without delay.

I have never made any distinction between those who have taken vows and those who have not; some should not be overburdened in order to spare others.

[L]et us believe that all is going along the best in the world when we take no satisfaction in it, provided we humble ourselves for this and redouble our confidence in God.

A man who behaves poorly in a Community will not do well in a parish.

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.

Always be quite simple and sincere and ask God to grant me those two virtues.

I thank God for having given the Company subjects who belong more to Him than to themselves, and who serve the neighbor at the risk of their lives! They are like unrefined gold, which becomes visible in fire and which would otherwise remain hidden under ordinary actions and sometimes under faults and failings.