Quotes from Vincent de Paul

We should spend as much time in thanking God for his benefits as we do in asking him for them.

All comes at the proper time to him who knows how to wait.

Experience has shown us that virtue puts down only shallow roots in those who are there for just a short time

You can give me no greater consolation nor render greater service to your neighbor than to place yourself in a condition to serve him for a long time

He is greatly honored by the time we take to weigh with mature deliberation matters having to do with his service, as are all those with which we deal.

We must love our neighbor as being made in the image of God and as an object of His love.

Be acted upon rather than active. In this way, God will do through you alone what all men put together could not do without Him.

Naturally, everyone loves his freedom, but we must beware of this as of a broad road that leads to perdition.

[I]t is His good pleasure that we remain always in the holy joy of His love.

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.

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

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

The kingdom of God is peace in the Holy Spirit; He will reign in you if your heart is at peace. So, be at peace, Mademoiselle, and you will honor in a sovereign way the God of peace and love.

[W]isdom consists in following Providence step by step. And you can be sure of the truth of a maxim which seems paradoxical, namely, that he who is hasty falls back in the interests of God.

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.

All of you desire to belong entirely to God, and God also wants all of you to belong to Him

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

Fear not; calm will follow the storm, and perhaps soon.

We should take as a maxim never to be surprised at current difficulties, no more than at a passing breeze, because with a little patience we shall see them disappear. Time changes everything.

There are good, God-fearing persons who still fall into certain faults, and it is better to bear with them than to be hard on them.

Naturally, everyone is disheartened by sharp reprimands, and by the most amiable corrections as well, if they are frequent, immoderate, or given inappropriately.

Indeed, good is not good if one does not suffer in doing it.

Peace is worth more than all worldly possessions; in addition, God rewards it even in this life.

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